How "Agile" Frameworks Can Benefit a Software Team

In the dynamic world of software development, teams are constantly seeking ways to enhance productivity, improve quality, and deliver value to customers swiftly. Enter agile methodology—a game-changing approach that has revolutionized the industry.

In this blog post, we will explore what agile methodology is, delve into two of its popular frameworks, Kanban and Scrum, and discuss what agile looks like in practice for software teams.

What is "Agile Methodology"?

Agile methodology is a set of principles and practices aimed at delivering high-quality software in a flexible and iterative manner. Unlike traditional project management approaches, agile emphasizes collaboration, customer feedback, and small, frequent releases. This methodology allows teams to adapt quickly to changing requirements and deliver value incrementally.

The core values of agile, as outlined in the Agile Manifesto (yes, the "Manifesto" is an actual thing), include:

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.
Working software over comprehensive documentation.
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.
Responding to change over following a plan.

By understanding and embracing the core values of agile methodology, software teams can foster a more collaborative and adaptable work environment. However, to effectively implement these agile principles, teams often rely on specific frameworks that provide structure and guidance. Two of the most popular agile frameworks are Kanban and Scrum.

The Kanban Framework

Kanban is a visual workflow management method designed to help teams visualize their work, limit work-in-progress, and maximize efficiency. Originating from lean manufacturing, Kanban has been adapted for software development to improve process transparency and optimize the flow of work.

A Kanban board typically consists of columns representing different stages of the workflow, such as "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done." Team members move tasks across these columns as they progress, providing a clear visual representation of the project's status.

However, in the past few years the use of Kanban boards has rapidly expanded. More powerful Kanban customization tools have enabled teams to deploy more powerful boards to see this flow in more detail. For example, in Essembi, we enable teams to visualize any workflow in a Kanban board. One of the more popular boards is a ticket flow board that enables leaders and teams to see the flow of tickets between stages such as "Ready for Development", "In Development", "Quality Review", "Failed Quality" and "Ready for Release".

The Scrum Framework

Scrum is a structured framework within the agile methodology that divides work into fixed-length iterations called sprints, usually lasting two to four weeks. Scrum teams aim to deliver a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each sprint.

Scrum involves specific roles, events, and artifacts:

Roles:

Product Owner: Defines the product backlog and prioritizes work.
Scrum Master: Facilitates the Scrum process and removes impediments.
Development Team: Delivers the product incrementally.

Events:

Sprint Planning: Defines the sprint goal and plan the work.
Daily Stand-up: Short daily meeting to synchronize activities.
Sprint Review: Demonstrate the completed work to stakeholders.
Sprint Retrospective: Reflect on the sprint and identify improvements.

Artifacts:

Product Backlog: A prioritized list of features and tasks.
Sprint Backlog: Tasks selected for the current sprint.
Increment: The completed work at the end of the sprint (e.g., the release).

What are the benefits for software teams?

Software teams increasingly prefer agile frameworks for several compelling reasons:

Enhanced Flexibility: Agile frameworks allow teams to quickly adapt to changes in project requirements, ensuring that the final product meets evolving customer needs and market demands.
Improved Collaboration: Agile promotes regular communication and collaboration among team members and stakeholders, fostering a transparent and cohesive work environment.
Faster Delivery: By breaking projects into smaller, manageable sprints or iterations, teams can deliver functional product increments more rapidly, providing value to users sooner.
Continuous Feedback: Agile encourages frequent feedback from stakeholders and end-users, enabling teams to make informed adjustments and improvements throughout the development process.
Higher Quality: The iterative nature of agile allows for ongoing testing and refinement, resulting in more reliable and high-quality software.
Increased Accountability: Self-organizing agile teams take ownership of their work, which enhances accountability and motivation, leading to better overall performance.