5 Core Values of Agile Software Development

Having an agile framework in a business is the key to adaptability. As the world of technology gets increasingly complex, a business needs to be able to change along with it. In turn, they are seen as a cutting-edge company with a leg up from competitors.

Agile software development covers a wide area from engineering to the deployment phase. Agile software, by definition is incredibly flexible and quick to create solutions to problems. As a team, agile software developers are collaborative and work hand in hand with the client to prioritize what increments of the project need to happen first.

Rather than having a specific “start to finish” timeline, agile software is focused more on brief sprints with very frequent collaboration sessions for the team to solve issues together.

To stay on the same page as a team, members follow along with the same core values. Some of the top five include:

1. Software that works is the key measure of success.

Instead of delaying deployment of the software because of small issues or a software that isn’t “perfect,” agile methodology sets specific intervals for each portion of the project and once that time is up, the team moves on. While the finished project might not be perfect, it will be wrapped up in an extremely fast time span.

2. Great builds come from organized teams that are responsible for themselves.

Agile development teams are self-organized and self-propelling. While they work collaboratively with the client, they are extremely independent and self-reliant individuals. Because they set their deadlines and project outlines, agile software development teams can organize projects on their own.

3. Communication should be two-way and constant.

Communication is arguably the glue that holds the team together. By holding frequent in-person meetings, agile software development teams can brainstorm together for quick solutions to problems and can hold each other accountable (and lend a helping hand if needed).

4. Change is good – and welcomed.

Agile teams are used to change and often find that change is a great way to look at problems from a different angle. Rather than being inflexible with variables, agile software developers are always ready to take on changing factors.

5. Simplicity should be used wherever possible.

The more complex the solution, the harder (and longer) it will take to complete and implement by the team. Agile software development teams often try to integrate automation into their solutions along the way to make it quicker and easier to move on.

While using a regular team is a great for certain projects, it’s often not the method businesses need as technology advances. When it’s time to implement agile software development for your project, call Charter Global.

Scrum as a Service vs. Traditional Contracting

When a business is wanting to find an outside source for a development project, there are a lot of options out there. For the most part, the choices boil down to two different types: Scrum as a service and traditional contracting.

Traditional contracting is just that – the option most businesses have chosen for quite some time. Generally, a rigid timeline for the project is created and the team follows a contract centered on specific deliverable promised by the contractor.

On the other hand, scrum as a service acts as a flexible development option that is rather new to the industry. The scrum team creates an agile framework to produce software quickly being able to solve issues that might arise along the way with innovative solutions.

Three major points must be taken into account when a company is preparing to outsource:

1. Are you looking for a specific task completed or a successful development implementation?

While a contractor will most certainly complete a specific task without having to worry about the overall success of the project. Scrum teams are more focused on a successful development implementation even if it means altering the end goal a bit to ensure the product will be prosperous and effective for its users. Although a business might think they know exactly what they’re looking for in a software, a scrum team can more clearly see what needs to happen for it to be an innovative solution that will better fit the needs at hand.

2. What style of a relationship are you looking for in the team: Independent or Collaborative?

Although contractors will communicate throughout the software development process, their teams don’t tend to problem-solve together. Contractors won’t feel a responsibility for what happens to the software after it is developed and will only produce what their contract requires. Scrum teams by nature are extremely collaborative, brainstorming together for flexible solutions during frequent meetings. Communication is a top priority with a cross-functional scrum team, and they will make it a point to act as an extension of the company they have been hired by.

3. Do you need a cut and dry or cutting-edge software?

Traditional contracting utilizes very little creativity when developing software due to the contract “rules” the team abides by. With little room for movement within the contract, the hiring company can often be frustrated with the result. Innovation is a scrum team’s strong suit. As a scrum team has the freedom and flexibility to try new things and take risks, they are the superior choice for a company wanting original software.

Choosing between a traditional contractor and a scrum team all depends on what a company is looking for in a developer team. If you decide you need a reliable scrum team for your project or a contractor, schedule a consultation with Charter Global to find you the perfect fit.


Read More: https://www.charterglobal.com/scrum-as-a-service-vs-traditional-contracting/

What is Agile Software Development?

As technology has improved, the need for a more flexible development operation has increased. In response, the agile software development process was created.

The agile software development methods are explained as a concise timeline for a project with specific phases that must be completed before moving onto the next. These phases are often called “sprints,” as the phase ends just as quickly as it begins. Even if some people disagree on how complete the phase is, once the time ends out for the sprint, the team must move on to the next phase.

While this might sound detrimental to the project overall, it forces the development team to produce the highest quality work, collaborates effectively with others, and follow along with a strict schedule – making it very difficult to overrun the timeline.

Agile software development is a solution for projects that need flexible solutions. As team members come up against problems during a particular phase, they are much more likely to ask for help or advice in a collaborative sense in this method than a traditional one. The agile framework encourages simple and automated solutions wherever possible to keep the project streamlined and on task.

Instead of having a disconnect between developers and the business side of a project, they often are required to work hand in hand within agile software development. Teams using this method are extremely self-organized and motivated to provide quality work. Although the method stresses individual responsibility, it also requires a lot of face to face communication (often through daily brainstorming meetings) to get everyone on the same page throughout the timeline.

Where the traditional method would focus on a centralized center of authority that makes the most decisions, in agile software development the majority of decisions are made by the team throughout the project. Because they aren’t focused on following the red tape of a traditional process, agile software development gives teams more responsibility and freedom for their part in the project. This also means that most members of an agile team will be cross-functional and able to pick up on the different requirements of the project themselves.

In a rapidly changing technological world, getting your software developed quickly is crucial to staying ahead of your competitors. When you are ready to shed your traditional development method for an agile one, get in contact with the Charter Global team!