Advocacy for Agile Methods

Dirk Rejahl — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:13:06 GMT

Agile Methods are commonly applied for software development project and limited to development related disciplines. But Agility can also provide substantial benefits for other kinds of project.

Agility means more than just changing the way how to develop software! Introducing agile thinking means a paradigm shift and is more than just working in a different way.

Agility changes organizations and their culture - change to self-responsible teams rather than traditional command and control structures.

Projects in the telecommunications business are very complex and are executed in unstable environments.
This complexity and permanent change has to be responsed by an adaptive and evolutionary attitude of working.
This attitude is the key concept of Agile Methods beside being driven by business values and customer satisfaction.

A very common misunderstanding is that applying Agile Methods means ad-hoc, unpredictable results, no documentation and chaos.

The opposite is true: Agile Methods like SCRUM are micro management methods which provides continuous control of progress and quality on a daily basis. Agile projects deliver valuable contribution to the business, because of continuous feedback and adaption cycles. Agile project deliver the documentation that is necessary - but not more...
And: Agile project deliver in time due to a strict timeboxed approach that ensures that maximum business value is provided with a fixed budget and a fixed schedule

What is your experience applying Agile Methods?

Please challenge my opinion!

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Advocacy for Agile Methods