What are Agile Methodologies

Todd Burton writes for PM Hut that, the first step to examine what has to be done to launch a lean startup. One of my colleagues noted that “lean startups are all about using project methodologies (agile) to increase agility & flexibility and to fully utilize open-source platforms to lower costs” [Jeong, 2011]. With the goal of launching a startup using offshore development, the question remained how do we develop a lean startup, yet with offshore (not opensource) development teams?

A logical beginning for me was to examine what exactly is an agile methodology? Understanding this will allow clarification and direction moving forward. This piece will outline common agile methodologies and their potential for launching a lean startup.

In order to better understand agile, I examined popular agile methodologies in today’s marketplace. This following section will outline the following methodologies; SCRUM, XP, RUP & RAD.

• SCRUM SCRUM utilizes small teams to deliver increments of software using “sprints”. These sprints may last for 14-30 days, during which all parties strive to achieve a specific goal. Each day begins with a kick-off meeting to assure quality control. Martin Kearns, from IT firm Renewtek states “SCRUM enables developers to prioritize work based on actual business value…which then leads to regular returns on investment and improved communication channels to management and product owners” [Baltzan et al, 2010].
  
  
• XP
  XP (eXtreme Programming) utilizes small project phases that act as tollgates for a developer to proceed (i.e. phase X must be completed before phase Y). Its central focus is on the facilitation of planning, designing, coding and testing, and integrating these throughout each small project. XP stresses customer satisfaction and empowers project staff to change requirements instantly to accommodate customer demand. As XP relies on many parts making up a whole, successful teamwork is inherent in this methodology [Baltzan et al, 2010].
  
  
• RUP
  RUP (rational unified process) is a framework that breaks software development into four gates; inception, elaboration, construction and transition. Each gate has a list of deliverables that must be accepted by stakeholders before advancing to the next stage. Its focus is quickly adding or removing large chunks of reusable software to solve common problems [Baltzan et al, 2010].
  
  
• RAD
  Rapid Application Development, or RAD, is a methodology based on broad user involvement in prototype development to hasten the software development process. It utilizes iteration to collect changing business requirements while proactively involving software users in analysis, design and development. This methodology is often known for prototypes turning into final solutions [Baltzan et al, 2010].

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Struggling to Define your Project Approach?

It doesn’t seem that hard to define a project’s approach. It’s just a description of the project strategies for achieving the project objectives. Simply stated it’s the path the project team will take to get to the desired end result. Simple as it may be it still drives many project managers nuts, causing them to stare at a blank page, unable to articulate anything of value.
Three types of project managers struggle with defining their project’s approach:

• Type 1: those who have always worked on projects of the kind.
• Type 2: those who have worked on similar projects but the conditions of the current project are not at all the same.
• Type 3: those who have never taken on a project of the kind, nor has their organization.

Read full article by Ben Snyder:
Struggling-to-define-your-project-approach

Agile - The new buzzword in Project Management

Agile is popping up everywhere and taking prominence on many Project Management Blog's, websites, etc. Is Agile an extension of current project management principles, and/or a scientific approach to address how projects need to be performed?

According to Michael Hugos, "Given the demands of the real-time global economy, the future of both IT and business is clearly going to be a future where agility is central to success. And the kind of agility that delivers success is going to be composed of something new and something old. It will be a hybrid agility that delivers practical and pragmatic solutions to ever changing business needs."

Read the full article by Michael Hugos for CIO:
Hybrid_agile_moving_agile_development_to_the_next_level