In today’s software product market, development firms are increasingly focused towards optimizing the development process of their products with unequivocal attention on innovation, quality, and cost. Firms that have the capability to speedily and economically develop products will gain unmatched advantage and edge over competitors.
Authors Jim Collins and Jerry Porras in their book “Built to Last” posed a question: “What makes the truly exceptional companies different from the other companies?" Answering to the question, they said, “Visionary companies distinguish their timeless core values and enduring purpose, which should never change, from their operating practices and business strategies (which should be changing constantly in response to a changing world)."
This is what we product development firms can achieve with Agile Methodology. Defining “Agile”, Jim Highsmith says, in his book “Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products”, “is a social movement driven by both the desire to create a particular work environment and the belief that this "adaptive" environment is critical to the goal of delivering innovative products to customers.”
Why do software development firms need Agile Development Methodology?
We need Agile Development methodology, as it promotes high levels visibility, predictability, and quality by adapting an iterative development approach. The “Manifesto for Agile Software Development” declares “We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:
Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
Working software over comprehensive documentation
Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.”
....to be continued
Posted by Praveen Panjiar, Blog Evangelist, OutworX Corporation
