Agile Software Development: your way and with our expertise.

On exponential scales, agile development has been popularizing and gaining great prominence in the productive methods of companies and businesses. The main objectives pursued in this technique are to improve productivity, quality and cost reduction.

With just this brief description, it’s not too difficult to understand why agile software development is dominating the market today. Follow this article and understand fundamental questions in depth, such as: what is an agile development process? What is an agile method? When and where did the agile development method come into place?

What is an agile method?

In general terms, the agile software development methodology is a way of building and developing software, which makes it possible to obtain the advantages of the system even before it is ready. In this way, the advantages of its application are numerous, such as differentiating the project life cycle, delivery, planning, execution and cost reduction, for example.

However, before delving into the various ramifications of agile software development, let’s better understand what an agile development process is and how it came about, that is, when and where.

What is an agile development process?

An agile development process is a way of conducting projects that seek, as the name implies, to speed up the processes, mechanisms and completion of pre-established tasks.

In addition, the agile method is based on a more agile, flexible workflow, without so many obstacles, with total interactivity between participants, in which the objective is to create an environment of greater partnership and trust between companies and corporations, making the market a more practical, lighter environment with much more fluid dynamics, impacting the final result in unimaginable and unprecedented ways.

Where did agile development come from?

This process methodology is not something very old. The agile software development method dates back to ca. 2001, in the state of Utah in the United States, where some market professionals were restless and dissatisfied with the limitations that the traditional development system imposed on their way of working. They then organized and created a prototype of what would soon be the agile software development method, the Agile Manifesto.

Branches and models of agile software development method

To better understand the gears of agile software development methodology, it is necessary to keep in mind the four basic pillars that are preached and that are strongly followed. They are: the principle that individuals and interactions are more important and worth more than processes and tools; working software is worth more than comprehensive documentation; customer collaboration is worth more than contract negotiation; and, finally, responding to changes rather than following a plan, that is, always being open to the dynamisms that the market may impose.

Added to this, the search for the best performance of a business through the development of agile software follows three models: Agile Model (Full Agile), Prioritized Scope model and Agile Model “inwards” (Agile to Waterfall Adapter).

Full Agile

Firstly, the Agile model (Full Agile) values the good relationship between commercial or business interests. Planning in this type of strategy is more short-term.

When it comes to deliveries and dates, the didactic is that they are short and frequent, maintaining a certain constancy. Following this line of reasoning, the plans follow the dynamics of non-speculation, that is, they are made to meet demands that are short deliveries, so future speculation is practically non-existent.

Still in this ideal of good relationships and short-term ideas, another strategy of the Agile model (Full Agile) is the participation and availability of the client in the project under development. Thus, the relationship is fluid and the client also acts as a co-participant, directing actions and sharing perspectives. Due to this fluid relationship, in an eventual contract termination process, everything is facilitated.

Prioritized Scope

Moving on to the second model used, in the ideals of Prioritized Scope, the dynamics presented follows a line of thought based on cost limitation and some imposition of scope barriers.

As with Full Agile didactics, interaction with the customer throughout the process is fundamental, but it happens in a more contained way. The client does not act as a co-participant, but is always interconnected with the system, in order to ensure dynamism. In addition, practices such as stable build, continuous deliveries, shared code, visibility and refactoring are fundamental for the functioning and efficiency of this practice and didactics.

Agile to Waterfall Adapter

Finally, the Agile Model “inwards” (Agile to Waterfall Adapter), as the name implies, focuses on agility as an internal dynamic of the company, without so much transparency and direct interaction with supplier and customer, as is the case of other two methodologies. Also, the tactic is to divide the scope into phased deliveries, thinking more in the long term.

Once the scope is definitively worked out, the formal validations of the deliveries are provided for in the contract and the guarantees are better defined, and thus entails high visibility and high decision-making capacity in the face of new challenges for the company and corporation.

Learn more about Objective

Now that you are better acquainted with the gears of agile software development and its implications for the productive market of a company, corporation or business, such as influence on productivity, cost management, intercompany relationships and much more, it is time to get to know deeply Objective’s work and boost your business once and for all.

Objective is a Brazilian multinational created by developer friends and it has a team of more than 300 relentless and creative specialists. We work in breaking down technological and business barriers through digital products, consulting services, training and agile software development focusing on quality beyond delivery, generating value for companies in various market sectors. Get in touch and change the course of your business!