How Agile Methodology Enhances the Software Development Process

How Agile Methodology Enhances the Software Development Process
10 min read
30 November 2023

The world is changing, and teams are seeking better and easier ways to execute projects.  The traditional method of executing projects no longer cuts it for most project teams. In Software development, teams struggle to meet up with timelines when using traditional methods.

This is where Agile methodology comes in. Agile methodology offers teams a better and more flexible approach to executing projects. 

In this blog, we take you on a journey through the uniqueness of Agile Methodology, its impact on the software development process, and how it is helping software development teams become more productive.

Agile Methodology

Agile methodology is an iterative process of managing projects that allows teams to deliver high-quality results effectively in a short period. Teams that embrace this approach enjoy a level of flexibility and productivity through their project process.

A lot of teams have adopted this method as a preferred choice for executing both small and large-scale projects because of its many benefits and contribution to the overall success of projects.

Statistics, according to Zippia, show that only 9% of agile projects fail. With this, It’s safe to say the agile model is a winning model.

A closer look at how Agile Methodology gained its way into the hearts of so many project managers and developers shows how much teams seek flexibility in their work processes. 

Teams that use the agile methodology focus more on smooth collaboration among themselves and their customers. It also allows team members to stay prepared for changes that occur during a project while keeping their focus on delivering a working solution through the process.

Most software development teams use Agile Methodology. This is because it helps them achieve the result they want. 

They can make changes when needed, and it helps them stay informed of potential issues.

There is a lot that teams stand to gain from the use of Agile Methodology to execute projects. From easier collaboration to delivery of high-quality results in a short time, everything sums up the overall value that the agile methodology brings to projects.

Also read- Importance of Agile Development in Modern Software Engineering

Software Development Process

The software development process is all the activities carried out in the creation of software from start to finish to meet unique user needs. It usually requires some coding in the process.

The software development process has different stages, and it is these different stages that determine the success of the project.

This means teams must ensure every stage of this project goes right. 

Below are the different stages.

Requirement Gathering:  This refers to the process of gathering all necessary details and requirements about the project. Some of these details include the problem you are trying to solve, the market, and the target audience. 

Design: Now you know the problem you are trying to solve, you need to map out how you will go about it. The design stage is where teams would show the look and functions of the software that is about to be developed.

Development: This stage usually requires a lot of coding. It determines if there will be working software at the end of the process.

Testing: It is in this process that errors or bugs that could cause a critical issue are identified and erased later.

Deploying for use: It is this stage that determines how successful the entire process is. After all the testing is done, the software is uploaded to the internet for users to access it and tell them how great the user experience is.

Documentation: At this stage, stakeholders of the project carefully document all vital information about the software to enable smooth maintenance.

Maintenance: This stage is necessary to enable the smooth running of the software.  

It is the final stage of the software development process; it ensures that the software continues to function the way it is supposed to.

The major focus for teams when developing any software is to solve a problem. 

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Agile Software Development

Agile Methodology has been a game changer for software development teams, helping them deliver great products and create solutions that are relevant to users' needs.

Agile Software Development makes use of the agile methodology framework. This framework is guided by several values that prioritise interactions with individuals, collaboration with customers, and quality delivery.

Every software development team that makes use of the agile methodology does not just focus on the documentation procedures but also sees to it that there are continuous improvements all through the development stages.

Changes are a must in the development process, hence the need to approach it with a lot of flexibility. Compared to the waterfall methodology, which uses a linear method to approach projects, the agile software development process permits iterations and a flexible workflow.

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What is the Software development process with Agile Methodology?

  1. Put together all the necessary Information.  The teams work together with the customer to define what the project is about and assemble all the requirements to execute the project successfully.
  2. Compile a list of tasks to be prioritised. The teams, including the product owner and customers, come together to identify those tasks that need to be completed as soon as possible.
  3. Divide the work process into different sections. These different sections are called sprints. In planning the sprints, the teams make use of the list of priority tasks to determine which comes first.
  4. During each sprint, the teams focus on delivering a specific set of features. It is purely execution time. So, there would be several meetings on how to carry out the process.
  5. It’s feedback time. When a sprint is done, they would show stakeholders the results to get feedback. 
  6. The team reflects on the feedback, outlines changes to be made, and prepares for implementation in the next sprint.

This process listed above is repeated until the end of the project. What makes agile software development a preferred choice for teams is that it allows for continuous improvement of the software or product that is being developed. As each sprint is being executed, more improvements are made to ensure the final result comes out in its best form.

How Agile Methodology Enhances Software Development Process

Agile Methodology is that breath of fresh air software developers have longed for a while. Now that it is here, developers are assured an increased number of successful projects. 

Developing software can be a hard nut to crack sometimes, and that is why doing it the traditional method is not the best option because it could lead to delays in launching a solution. What Agile Methodology does in this case is allow teams to work on this project in sections, ensuring they deliver working software at the end of each section.

One beautiful thing about this method is that because it prioritises feedback from customers,  it helps to ensure that users are satisfied with the outcome of the software and there is no compromise on the quality of the software that is developed.  

The agile model is also highly recognised for its potential to help teams identify bugs and errors early enough and make necessary adjustments where needed to avoid future complications. 

Conclusion

The Agile methodology is now a big motivation for software development teams to achieve quality results in all projects. It has helped teams to meet and surpass the expectations of customers, delivering value around a development cycle.

Teams that are seeking ways to minimise drawbacks during projects are now embracing the agile model. These drawbacks set limits to productivity and could stand as a stumbling block to the progress of any project.

It is now evident that with the use of agile methodology, there are higher chances of success for software development teams. The iterative nature of this process helps teams respond to changes positively and improves the collaboration between the teams and the customers. 

Every business that is committed to not just providing solutions but satisfying the needs of its customers should embrace agile processes and methods. 

FAQs

  1. How Does Agile Methods Improve The Software Development Process?
    Software development teams that adopt agile processes have said a lot about how it has helped them to be more productive at their jobs. From consistently meeting customers' needs to reducing the time it takes to launch a product, agile processes have been instrumental in the entire process.
  2. What is a Sprint?
    A sprint is a short period when an agile team focuses on delivering specific functionalities or features for testing and customer review.
  3. What is a product owner?
    The role of the product owner is to ensure that the software that is developed meets the specific needs of the customers.
  4. What are the major focuses in agile processes?
    Agile processes focus on some major values that guide the workflow of agile teams. These values are individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to changes over following a plan
  5. What Is Software Development?
    Software development is all the activities or processes involved in developing software that solves real-life problems and meets users' needs.
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Kathleen Brown 46
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