Agile project management is the process of carrying out and managing a project in incremental steps, or iterations, until completion. This is one of the most popular software development methods, and, compared to linear project management, it’s a more recent management strategy.
Several iterations will allow you to adjust and adapt to changes until the product has been finished, instead of carrying it out in a linear path. In that case, you can launch features immediately, rather than waiting until the project’s final stage of completion.
Understanding Agile project management frameworks requires basic knowledge of its concept, principles, and benefits, so here’s an overview of Agile, including its different frameworks.
In an Agile project framework, you will make use of a custom and modified life cycle that is outlined in detail. This will help in processing Agile more efficiently.
You won't be able to execute Agile without sharing sufficient information about the project requirements with the entire team. So, you'll need different tools, like checklists, templates, and other resources, to compile documents that are necessary to create the product.
Each Agile framework comes with different project processes. That's why you have to use the one that works best for your own project.
Agile project management is quite popular in the industry. That's why people tend to use the terms "methodology" and "framework" interchangeably. But are they really the same thing, or are there differences between them?
A methodology refers to the project management's practices, principles, and values that your team should adhere to. On the other hand, a framework will tell you how to follow and achieve them. Simply put, a methodology aims to tell you what to do, and a framework will further explain how you should do it.
One thing that Agile frameworks have in common is that they follow the same principles to execute the project.
If you're wondering what's the most popular Agile framework these days, it's probably Scrum.
The Scrum framework requires you to break down your project into sprints that usually last for a week to a month. Each sprint is supposed to give the client a functioning draft version of the deliverable.
A lot of management teams prefer using Scrum due to its short iterations. This allows your team to develop a working draft of the project as many times as you need.
Kanban is a framework that focuses on visibility. This was originally used as a method for scheduling, until teams began using it to manage certain projects. This allows your team to see the progress of the deliverable, including the next steps that are supposed to be completed.
Aside from this, you can also execute the workflow into small steps. You can consider using Kanban if you want to spot potential issues more quickly, and lessen your wait time.
Extreme Programming (XP) is an Agile framework that was originally designed for software development projects. It mainly focuses on continuous customer delivery and development through sprints. This is why it's similar to Scrum.
Feature-Driven Development (FDD) allows your team to develop bi-weekly software models. Each software model is required to have a development and design plan, which makes this framework more documentation-heavy when compared to others. Teams with advanced skills will likely benefit from this framework the most.
Before choosing an Agile framework, it's best to take a look at different considerations. Evaluate the process and make sure that your team is capable of executing it properly until the project deliverable is finished.
No idea where to start? When in doubt, you can seek help from software development companies like Bydrec. We can provide the right tools and solutions to support you in reaching your business goals. Call us today to get started!