A is for Agile

Content:

Triggered by the latest inspiring discussion on one of the social networks, we’ve concluded that in IT several perspectives can happen. On the same matter.

Even though it confirms that rare statements are stable, it is still encouraging because it shows a few things:

Frequently, when science is mentioned or technology (or especially software development), it pops up that there are only facts that can’t be discussed.

But here is how we can be convinced of the opposite. Thinking, working, and knowing Agile allowed us to use multi perspectives for finding the right path.

The matter that is currently most searched for in software development organizations and businesses is the ideal setting for management — Agile. The word comes from Agility which means the ability to move and change the direction and position of the body quickly and effectively while under control. It requires quick reflexes, coordination, balance, speed, and correct response to the changing situation.

How is this word applied to software development?

And how is, over time, applied to the other industries that are not technology-oriented?

If we slightly interpret the primary definition, it becomes clear how and why it may be applied in many spheres: the ability to move and change the direction and position of the workflow quickly and effectively while under control. It requires quick reflexes, coordination, balance, speed, and correct response to the changing BUSINESS situation.

By rephrasing this, we still get a broad explanation, but it is an attractive introduction.

Agile is an iterative approach to project management and software development that helps teams deliver value to their customers faster and with fewer problems. An agile team delivers work in small, but consumable, increments. Requirements, plans, and results are evaluated continuously, so teams have a natural mechanism for responding to change quickly.

Organizational agility has become a necessary skill in today’s business world. The idea of agile practices is not something exclusive to IT teams. It can be beneficial for any team that wants their work done quicker and with better quality than before, which will increase productivity as well. But the successful implementation of a new agility training program requires significant cultural changes that go beyond just changing how people work.

It is important to understand the core of Agile and, even with that knowledge, implementation is not easy and fast. Possibly not be beneficial at the start and surely not for every type of organization and industry. But it’s worth trying because the legacy itself improves workflow.

It’s Agile culture and mindset. Values and principles are delivering results.

How do we see the results so fast? Because the agile mindset is about breaking down complex problems into small experiments that can be learned from, and then improved upon. This philosophy has been proven over time when dealing with the ever-changing nature of software development. Learning people to be self-educator is one of the significant parts of Agile culture.

But that could be a referent point why Agile might fail. Shifting the focus from “the boss” to the workers and like that disappearing the role of the executive. Along with it goes that the employee overlooks what makes him/her great and cannot reach the upgrade stage.

Some kind of outcome will be that Agile workflow is suitable for:

Today, agile teams have become more of an umbrella term for many different types. Some examples include those who practice regular standups and retrospectives or who are using certain steps of product management such as backlogs to stay organized. But there are still plenty of others there that do not follow any kind of set process at all, and yet call themselves agile teams.

For example, “agile marketing” is one of the self-created branches. It is gaining power because it offers guidance when creating strategies based on customer feedback while also encouraging open communication within groups. Can we imagine how this approach is adaptive?

The future of agile teams is open, trusting, and autonomous. The cultural currency for companies who want to attract top talent will be autonomy-driven practices that vary across projects as long they’re guided by these three principles:

On the other side, what is mostly spread in Startups is that with these values, a junior employee would be the perfect fit for any type of organization. Why is that so? It is because their professional development is growing along with their learning.

Agile today has been gaining momentum as one of the most popular ways for project management because it’s so flexible and evolutionary.

Wanting to be agile and being agile is not the same thing, although both phases are equally valuable steps toward the organization that you want to build, or you want to work into.

General advice would be: gradual transitioning, carefully looking for the skills that workers offer, and accepting differences that occur. It is a sensitive and long process, and only highly trained and competent managers can “read” this.

To implement Agile as our service, we have to follow certain procedures and we have to be an Agile team. There are some insights in our organizational workflow.

Every department has its processes and frequent deliverables. Internal tasks and meetings are regular. Our focus is on strengthening our internal team. It’s an important part of how we deliver the best possible consulting services for you, and it helps ensure that Phoenix Consultancy continues to grow in strength as well!

How we do the implementation of an Agile methodology through our services by following these settings and letting our trained people, who are adapted to agile, spread their wings.

Let’s see an example from our latest project:

Problem: The client wanted to create the software from scratch — a platform that will connect schools offering horse-riding lessons with customers/users that would like to schedule and attend the lessons. Among other features, the software included payment processing, horses and tutors’ management, scheduling lessons and collecting users’ feedback by reviewing the lessons/tutors.

Solution: After eliciting requirements, the Phoenix team realized there is no need to create the software from scratch, but to integrate with existing tools and build only a few functionalities that were not supported by the existing tools.

Isn’t this an Agile on spot? Clients’ scope, budget, and time didn’t look like that initially. This way, the timeline and budget were both significantly reduced, and the client was more than satisfied. We were agile, open to changes, and adaptive to new circumstances.

There are a few things that are guaranteed by implementing Agile methodology into our processes: flexibility, transparency, frequent deliverables, and risk management. This way, our clients will be able to see and try its product or service frequently. Product quality can be improved within sprints and iterations. These periods are windows for possible deficiency of productivity, and proper prioritization will follow when productivity is noticed.

A highly collaborative working environment is also one of a few of the numerous benefits Agile provides for stakeholders, users, and the team itself.

Agile Alliance must have had some idea when they created a website, we suppose that this might be one of it.

The landing page of the agile manifesto is like some vintage painting, and the word manifesto has an overtone from medieval literature. But the result is inspiring. Just the perfect sign that something thought out and established doesn’t have to be changed.

What could be the secret ingredient? They are gathered over the same idea, and there must be some disagreement, but those contradictions and differences are so mature and successfully implemented which makes this methodology so successful and widespread. This is just perfect advice for future conferences, political assemblies, debates… Who knows what may come out of it?

This would be an homage to various factors that could contribute to any success.

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