Definition of Agile Project Management Methodology

What is Agile Project Management? Definition of Agile Methodology

By Community Team April 2nd, 2020

To remain competitive, project managers have to utilize different approaches to project management. Among the most effective approaches is agile management, which involves splitting a project into several simpler tasks. This allows the teams assigned to the project to complete the tasks easily in sprints.

The best thing about agile project management is that it incorporates many existing aspects of conventional project management. As such, transitioning to agile management methodologies is easy for most firms. In fact, most firms will only need to make small adjustments to their systems in order to start enjoying the benefits of agile management. With this system, firms are able to shorten the cycles of their product designs and development, thus allowing them to launch new products at a higher frequency.

Because of its simplicity, agile project management methodology has become popular across different industries. Among the sectors that have benefited from the easy-to-implement methodologies are education, construction, marketing, and software development.

Among the factors that make agile management effective is the fact that each team can customize its approach to project management according to the uniqueness of the project. Moreover, you can use the different resources and tools available to help you adopt and implement the system.

Here are the 4 Core Values of Agile:

Before moving to adopt the agile approach of project management, it is imperative to understand the aspects that define it. Explained in the Agile Manifesto are the core values of the methodology alongside the principles that will guide anyone who wishes to adopt it:

The first core value emphasizes the need for organizations to attach more value to human communications and interactions than they do any of their processes. Moreover, the management must prioritize the well-being of each of its team members before reviewing its tools of operation. This way, the organization is able to take advantage of the flexibility of people when the need arises. Note that it is impossible to shift processes or change the functions of a tool on short notice.
Besides human interaction and individual team members, team leaders should also prioritize usage of software over documentation. With a working software, teams will be more productive because it eliminates the need to review bulky documents manually.
The other core value of the agile methodology is to focus on the customer needs as opposed to rushing them into signing contracts. This means that the firm will be taking care of its greatest asset because customers become loyal when they feel appreciated. Becoming agile, therefore, is all about listening to the customers and engaging them regularly. This way, the firm is able to develop products that meet the specific needs of its customers.
The last core value of agile seeks to emphasize the supremacy of change. Unlike other methodologies of project management that view changes as costly inconveniences, agile allows firms to handle change as an opportunity to improve. This is made possible by the breakdown of projects, which allows the teams to handle numerous smaller and simpler tasks instead of one large project. As a result, the teams are able to accommodate the changes that each of the tasks demands and even alter their approach where necessary.

Here are the 12 Principles of Agile?

Although agile allows each management to design a unique approach for different teams, it has a set of principles that guides its application.

First on the list of principles is a commitment to delivering satisfactory products and services. To satisfy the customers, the management has to prioritize quality, consistence, and speed.
Another principle is to embrace change. This means being ready to make the changes that a client wants at whatever stage of delivery.
The next principle emphasizes the need to be consistent and fast in your service delivery. This means always striving to deliver in under a month.
Building teams that work together on a project is the next principle.
The principle previous combines well with the next one, which requires the management to design projects based on the attributes of the project leader.
Additionally, the management is expected to support such an individual with the resources he/she needs to complete the project.
A need to value human interaction is also one of agile project management’s principles. Here, the emphasis is on face-to-face communications across all levels.
Another principle of agile is that progress is only identifiable through the final products.
The next principle stems from this principle because it demands sustainability in product development.
The next principle of agile focus on design where firms must strive for technical excellence and simplicity.
Penultimate on the list is a principle that helps management define the expectations of the teams. The principle require team leaders to allow teams to self-organize.
Lastly, the final principle requires that teams occasionally review their performance in order to adjust their approaches accordingly. This way, the teams will be more productive.

Here are the 7 Traits Members of Agile Teams Should Possess

The labels assigned to a team member in agile methodology differ from one project to another. However, the attributes that define each team member under agile project management match the definitions discussed in this section.

The first team member is the T-shaped and includes those members who not only possess useful basic knowledge in a particular subject but also have extensive information or are experts in a specific topic or area.
The next characteristic of a team member is being a cross functional person. The cross-functional member has skills that allow him/her to work in different areas.
Another member attribute is being adaptable. An adaptable member does not rely on a specific environment to perform because he or she keeps adapting to emerging conditions.
Team members also need to be curious in order to disrupt the status quo and challenge themselves to become better every day. Curiosity also enables team members to keep an eye open for better ways of doing things.
Each team member must also be entrepreneurial and ready to perform without supervision. Each team member must be spontaneous and capable of stepping up whenever the need arises.
Great teams comprise of team-oriented members who strive for team success. This is to say that each team member must be more concerned about the collective success of the team as opposed to pursuing individual fetes.
Lastly, each team member must be working towards achieving excellence. This way, the team is able to attain the quality levels that each project demands without compromising the speed of delivery.

What are the 6 steps in the agile methodology?

The objective of agile methodology of project management is to ensure each project is easier to complete regardless of its size. This is because it allows project managers to split the large projects into simpler tasks. While working on the smaller tasks, teams are able to respond to changes fast and incorporate new approaches where necessary.

While each team is free to implement whatever agile approach that works best for its project, it is important to note that all agile methodologies involve a standard process. Below is a discussion of the steps that make up the process.

The first step involves laying down the project plan. Unlike other project management systems, project managers using agile have to refrain from stipulating static plans. This is because the methodology is all about embracing changes and being flexible. When laying down the plan, therefore, project managers must leave enough room for changes and additions that might become necessary at different stages of the project delivery.
In the second step, project managers have to create the product roadmap, a process that requires specifying the attributes and features that will make up your products. The fact that the teams will be working on each feature as a separate task makes this step exceptionally critical. It is also important to note that the project manager will have to create products’ backlog in this step too.
The next step is all about planning the feature releases. This is an important step in agile because stakeholders do not have to wait until the product launch to know how the product looks like. Instead, project managers have to plan feature releases after each development cycle or sprint. Moreover, the managers will have a chance to review the progress and make changes where necessary.
After planning the release of the features, project managers have to plan the execution of the cycles in the next step. This is because the each of the cycles has to be broken down into tasks to be handled by each of the teams. Planning allows the managers to assign tasks fairly.
The fifth step stipulates the need for daily meetings. While these meetings are often short, they allow project managers to receive daily reports and review cycle progress.
The last step involves making a detailed review of the development cycle and exchanging feedback with all the stakeholders. Project managers hold meetings after each sprint to present the product released to the client and receive feedback from the stakeholders. The meetings are crucial because they bring all players together. Bringing all stakeholders together allows the project managers to collect information that will help them plan releases, design better cycles, or create tasks that are better suited to their teams.

If you are yet to adopt agile project methodology, the discussion above is set to help you enjoy a smooth transition.