The Importance of Agile Methodologies

The business world today demands faster implementation of software tools and updates to remain competitive. In the traditional approach, developers abide by the conventional Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which took too much time to release the updates and new software. To curb the predicaments associated with software development methodologies, developers adopt agile methodologies. These software management techniques abide by the norms of SDLC and while doing so promote continuous and rapid iterations of developing and testing software modules—offering faster solutions to clients.

All iterations while enacting agile methodologies last for a span of 1 to 4 weeks and involve cross-functional teams working in all capacities including planning, analysis, design, coding, unit testing, and acceptance testing. After the successful completion of processes in each iteration, the developed product is deployed to facilitate adaptive planning, early delivery, and continual improvement of products and tools. What differentiates agile methodologies from other software development techniques is its efficiency in keeping the stakeholders in the loop while developing and deploying software modules. Customer representatives mediate the conversation between the software team and the stakeholders and they also review progress, and re-evaluate priorities to optimize Return on Investments (ROI). Another factor that has driven the efficiency of agile methodologies to the next level is the daily scrum report, where in team members briefly discuss about their daily work reports and progress towards accomplishing the ongoing iteration’s objectives.

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With their dynamic, non-deterministic and non-linear characteristics, agile software development methodologies target complex systems and simplify them by breaking them into modules. Using specific tools like continuous integration, automated unit testing, pair programming, test-driven development, and behavior-driven development, agile methodologies improve product quality and enhance product development.