Embracing agile

A guide to effective working methods

At its core, Agile is an iterative approach to project management and software development that prioritises incremental development, close collaboration between cross-functional teams, and the ability to respond to change quickly. Unlike traditional waterfall methods, where the entire project is planned upfront and executed in sequential phases, Agile breaks the project into smaller, manageable chunks called iterations or sprints. These iterations typically last from one to four weeks, allowing for frequent deliveries of working software, and thus constant feedback loops to ensure continuous alignment with customer requirements. Agile embraces uncertainty and welcomes change throughout the project lifecycle. 

Adapting this Agile lifestyle can offer several benefits for your team and organisation. Thereby also your customers will experience the impact and reap the benefits from it.

Scrum relies on several key events to ensure smooth project management and team alignment:

Daily stand-ups are short, daily meetings where team members discuss progress, challenges, and plans for the day. These meetings foster transparency and alignment, keeping the team updated on current tasks and potential roadblocks.

The sprint planning is a collaborative session where the team selects and commits to work items (user stories or tasks) to be completed within the upcoming sprint. The team picks items from a priority-ordered backlog, discusses functionality, and estimates the effort required. This ensures that every team member understands the tasks and can contribute effectively. Effort estimations should be made with the entire team in mind, so any member can handle the task. These estimates can take various forms, such as hours, Fibonacci, t-shirt sizes, or story points.

At the end of each sprint, the team presents their completed work to stakeholders during the sprint review. This session allows for feedback on the product increment and helps align the project with customer expectations.

After the sprint review, the team holds a sprint retrospective to reflect on the sprint. They discuss what went well, what can be improved, and actionable steps for enhancing future performance. This ongoing refinement helps teams adapt and improve continuously.