Agile project management evolved for programming projects in the last part of the 1980s. Presently it is a technique utilized in different areas for ventures. It draws in many organizations! In any case, what precisely are we referring to? We should find together the basics of the spry undertaking the board strategy.
What is Agile Project Management?
Definition Of Agile Project Management
An iterative methodology describes the deft technique and the task’s advancement bit by bit. The venture is separated into a few sub-projects. The charge is assessed through its whole cycle, while in the conventional undertaking, the board, just the result is displayed to the client. The last option is straightforwardly incorporated into the advancement interaction.
It is conceivable, and surprisingly alluring, to criticize the item tried all through its plan in genuine circumstances. The group should continually second guess itself, favoring an experimental and item-situated approach. All the venture entertainers impart without a delegate and tend towards a similar goal. Valuable strategies are held while less useful ones are disposed of.
This progressive methodology, like this makes it conceivable to keep away from significant disillusionments, the undertaking adjusting to the assumptions and necessities of the client. The slightest change should be viewed as an open door since it can prompt new functionalities and increase the item’s value.
Significantly more adaptable than its ancestor, whose severe adherence to an arrangement is many times the standard, the coordinated technique permits changes enroute. To be sure, the time between detailing a need and its acknowledgment is fundamentally decreased. The outcome of this strategy can be made sense of specifically by its fantastic flexibility for a wide range of tasks and areas.
The Origins Of Agile Project Management
During the 1980s and 1990s, the rise of new technologies complicated the implementation of projects within companies. So that the final products do not become obsolete when they are released, project managers have to reinvent themselves to keep up with the ever-crazier progress of innovations.
In this context, the agile method was invented, more efficient and adapted to new realities such as telecommunications networks and, a little later, digital technology. It is sometimes a whole model that must be rethought, and 2.0 entrepreneurs have understood this well by creating, from the outset, structures allowing the implementation of agile project management. The teams are trained in this methodology, and the number of intermediaries is then reduced to a minimum.
The competitive gain is enormous, the “traditional” companies taking the risk of being overtaken by these new players, flexible and adapting directly to customer demand. There is no shortage of recent successes: Airbnb, Uber or even Blablacar, to quote a French company. Today, there are hundreds, even thousands, to make this bet.
The Advantages Of Managing A Project In Agile Mode
Unfailing Adaptability
The agile method allows complete control over the production of a product. Each step is independent and can therefore be analyzed as a project in its own right. The client’s priorities and needs may vary, which is expected because he remains attentive to his market; he knows what his potential users want. In a traditional structure, such changes can be a brake in the production of the final product. Still, in agile project management, each modification can give rise to a competitive advantage. It’s all about opportunities.
Productivity Improvement
When an agile methodology is favored, the teams exchange with each other and have direct access to customer feedback. This flexibility increases efficiency by empowering each project member, leaving them more autonomy.
Here, the advantage is twofold. Employees enjoy working and growing in an agile environment. You no longer have to wait days or weeks for approval to make a minor change. Everything is done live, with greater freedom. Also, companies find it easier to retain talent and involve them in their project.
Quality Products
In the agile method, each project stage has its share of iteration: additions and modifications solely focused on improving the final product. The added value of the latter is therefore increased throughout the design process. Tests are regularly carried out to test the product. The sponsor ensures, at the same time as the teams, the quality and proper functioning of its development, with user satisfaction remaining, for all, the project’s goal.
A Better Return On Investment
By its nature and increased efficiency, the agile methodology reduces the final product’s time to market. The competitive advantage is clear: faster marketing means getting ahead of your direct competitors and making your product known more quickly to potential buyers.
The traditional approach, too rigid to support modifications during design, always risks putting on the market a product that does not correspond or no longer corresponds to user expectations. The failure can be benign or catastrophic, depending on the sums invested. The agile method guards against this thanks to permanent iteration and greater flexibility. Each step sees its errors corrected or recovered positively. This reduces the risk and, therefore, the costs it could generate if not treated in time.
An Agile Approach, Agile Methods
Since the 1990s, agile project management has been democratized and has come a long way. Many people have theorized about it and made it evolve. Today there are a multitude of methods that conceptualize and enable the application of agile management. This guide will only introduce you to three of the best-known. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but their effectiveness still needs to be demonstrated.
The SCRUM Method
The SCRUM method is undoubtedly the most widely used. Here, each stage of the project is called a “sprint”, which refers to the primary goal of the method: to minimize the development time of the final product. Each sprint performed is supposed to bring the team closer to this goal. Often used for software production, this approach can also be applied commercially.
When we choose the SCRUM method, we name a team member the “Daily Scrum”. His role will be to optimize the whole team’s planning to check the sprint’s excellent performance and the product’s progress. Generally, a meeting is held every morning between all the project members for coordination.
The Advantages Of The Scrum Method
- Respecting sprints is a good motivation for the team
- Total transparency and better visibility of the project
- Save time with frequent meetings
- Sharing knowledge and skills
The Kanban Method
The Japanese term “kanban” could be translated as “just in time”. This method sets up a table summarizing each task carried out by the teams. Following the project’s development, the painting evolves, creating “maps”, symbolizing the new functions to be accomplished.
The Kanban method is mainly used in the Human Resources and Marketing sectors. As with the previous method, Kanban requires teams to communicate with each other so they can know the progress of each task. Emphasis is therefore placed on transparency and collaboration.
The Advantages Of The Kanban Method
- The concept of “cards” is simple and intuitive
- A straightforward method to set up
- Content the work of the teams on particular tasks
- Limit the number of running tasks
The Lean Method
Lean development offers simple principles and effective practices applicable to agile project management. These principles are seven in number:
- Any step that does not add value to the final product must be eliminated.
- Quality must be the number one criterion for judging the relevance of an action.
- The knowledge acquired during development must be saved to be reused for future projects.
- Emphasis should be placed on understanding the project as a whole.
- The final product must be delivered quickly.
- Communication and conflict management among staff should be a priority for the management team.
- The project must be reviewed as a whole to remove any errors that could reduce the quality of the final product.
The Advantages Of The Lean Method
- Set aside time and cash by taking out pointless advances
- The motivation of the teams is increased because everyone has a global understanding of the project
- This method adapts very quickly to any project
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