5 Secrets for Success with Agile Transformations

Many organizations are struggling when it comes to transitioning to Agile methodology for software development. Development teams are the heart of a business that caters to the software development industry. Unfortunately, adapting to an Agile methodology is not an easy thing. However, with the right understanding of Agile methodology, your business can achieve phenomenal results.

Let’s get started. First, the basics.

What is Agile Methodology?

The Agile Methodology offers a unique approach towards software development. Agile places importance on speed and flexibility when it comes to software development. This software development methodology introduces the iterative and incremental development method for speedy delivery.

This approach to software development follows a typical development process. The steps include gathering requirements, designing, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. However, when you implement the Agile methodology then the strategy towards each of these steps changes.

Given below is a detailed explanation of what constitutes the Agile methodology.

- Iterative Development

Handling software feature creep and bugs

- Incremental Development

Development of software in smaller segments which adds up to make up the larger product later on

- Working in Time-Boxed Sprints

Setting weekly or monthly cycles to deliver a workable user story

- Cross-Functional Setups

Uninterrupted communication and collaboration between different teams in the organization to bring everyone on the same page

- Efficient Management of Product Design

Making informed decisions when planning for the next sprint cycles in Agile Product Development process

- Retrospective

Learning from past experiences and rectifying the mistakes in the following sprints and projects

However, many organizations often have a little doubt about using Agile for software development.

Why Agile?

Agile came out from the desire to improve traditional software development methods. Traditionally, development methodologies like Waterfall had dominated the software development industry.

But, Waterfall methodology followed a rigid path where one could not add new features. Moreover, this methodology also made software maintenance a challenging process.

On the other hand, Agile methodology addressed this issue by allowing backward tracking and working in increments. So, you could develop smaller parts of a broader feature using time-boxed cycles.

However, putting Agile methodology into practice is hard for large organizations, given the numerous layers of process and structures like HR, finance, and legal functions. Instead of looking at Agile as another process to adapt, companies can integrate it into their software development culture.

Confused how to do that? Keep reading.

The Secrets of Success with Agile Transformations

Given below are 5 secrets that will help you build an Agile team without any hassle.

1. Start From the Top

Any major organizational transformation always starts at the top. The senior management has to be an active participant when deciding the purpose behind a business going Agile, especially when you manage offshore teams. You also have to take into consideration the many cultural barriers and problems that will stand in the way to adoption of Agile methodologies.

Without this, the various components of a business like HR processes, capital allocation, and portfolio management would not let you adapt Agile methodology. It is a reason why not only the team but the leaders are also responsible when adapting Agile.

Keep in mind, the organization leaders have to mobilize the management to move in unfamiliar territory with the adoption of Agile methodology. The software team might feel a little discomfort in adapting a fast-paced and cross-functional software development methodology.

So, the lack of solid support from the top, many organization leaders would try to revert to the old ways.

2. Agile Pilots are Necessary

In large organizations, Agile pilots are required to confirm if Agile methodology will work for the said business and if they will adapt the Agile principles. These play a crucial role in helping a business make the necessary changes to adapt to Agile methodology.

In Scrum, a single product owner takes sole responsibility of managing the relationship between developers and customers. It requires a calculated mix of technical and business skills. An organization might need 2 to 3 people to serve in one role unless they have a multifunctional skill team.

It can become difficult to implement iterative development in all instances, however feedback between the developer and business executives has to be the norm.

3. Managing the Tipping Point

After the pilot phase, next you have to scale up Agile transformation in an organization that is ready to accept it in theory but struggling to do in practical.

HR processes like performance management might not be ready to handle cross-functional teams with focus on the team and not individual. Agile will put strain on budgeting processes even if it is less expensive than the traditional software development activities. In other words, the organization’s IT infrastructure might not be ready for Agile integration and deployment due to long provisioning times.

This is a practical technological and organizational concern for which upper management would have to be active. The higher management has to manage the integration, which will ensure the organization will invest in Agile training and development.

4. Measure the Right Things

The ultimate goal of Agile is to improve a business. So, the ultimate measurement of Agile transformation should be related to business performance. For example, if a bank were to adapt the Agile methodology to minimize dropout rate in credit card applications, the dropout rate has to be the metric.

However, to improve their business, organizations do need to track software reliability, complexity, security, and size. You can use software measurement tools to do this. These help organizations demonstrate empirically the productivity and quality improvement of Agile development and the performance of Agile teams.

5. Never Stop

Agile development is not a one-off plan, but an exercise to continuously improve your organization. Agile requires round-the-clock monitoring for proper functioning. Your organization has to take the right steps to adapt Agile principles to its business model. Many organizations create teams of leaders with each handling an Agile project.

Conclusion

Larger organizations are able to access the benefits that come with Agile development transformation. Agile can help your organization improve its productivity with better employee engagement, help the software teams inculcate new product features, and increase the rate of innovation by minimizing the number of product defects.