Agile management is a project management methodology based on the use of several phases of action. This makes possible to act early to ensure that changes are implemented at each early stage of development, to act quickly based on feedback, and to collaborate within a project’s timeline and budget. These benefits, among others, have made Agile methodology a common practice in the world’s leading technology companies, although many aspects of the process are still misunderstood or misused.
To that end, let’s take a closer look at this methodology. So-called Agile software development refers to a set of best practices, methodologies and team values for producing software code faster, allowing organisations to adapt quickly to changing customer needs and competitors. A particularly interesting issue for anyone who wants to boost their business, which we will look at in detail below, through three clear benefits.
Risk reduction
As we said, agile development encourages short work cycles with more frequent deliveries, which means that the work is reviewed at each cycle or delivery, encouraging a constant audit of the quality of the product or service. By always providing a working version of the product, even from the early stages, this methodology also allows organisations to get to market early and generate revenue while continuously improving the product. As a result, resources are rarely wasted.
In addition to constant testing, agile teams also excel at keeping the customer involved throughout the development process, ensuring alignment of goals and clear expectations. This eliminates the risk of the team spending valuable time on the wrong priorities. Again, resources are optimised.
Improved product quality
Agile methodologies focus on driving real business value. By implementing continuous delivery, teams can increase feedback sessions and eliminate superfluous actions and deadlocks, ensuring that each delivery is fully testable. These constant checks and tests help maintain and improve service quality without sacrificing work speed.
Testing and tuning are an integral part of agile product development cycles. At each stage of the process, and with each release, the team tests the product and makes any changes that may arise internally (bugs or performance issues) or externally, such as a change in customer needs.
The result is the product of constant evolution, so that when it is finished, it has grown and learned from its environment, thus reducing the possibility of not meeting market or customer needs. Agile methodologies also place more value on results than on products, which means that the team’s goal should always be to find the most efficient and simplest way to achieve the customer’s business objectives. An excellent product does not mean the most robust, but the one that addresses the need of its customers most accurately.
High-performance teams
Agility is about team collaboration and communication. Communication among team members increases transparency while reminding them of the common goal, which fosters better work. Increased transparency translates into teams being able to work together effectively and where each member has their own voice.
This starts with the structure of a team where the different roles are clearly established: from the product owner, the product developer, the business quality analyst or the Scrum Master. On the other hand, this methodology allows you to work closely with customer stakeholders, which makes it possible to anticipate changes and rapid readjustments and therefore give your customers exactly what they need when they need it.
In short, now you know how implementing the Agile Methodology can help you meet customer needs in a much faster and more agile work process, ensuring the growth of your business.
