Agile software development – is it the right approach for you?

We live in a data-driven world, where new updates and upgrades to existing technologies, and the introduction of new innovations is practically an everyday occurrence.

For businesses and companies looking to make the most of their development budgets and keep their software successfully operational and functional for the longest period of time, agile software development is an approach that should be carefully evaluated and considered when choosing how they will proceed with their software development.

An agile approach is a build style that is designed to account for changing requirements, and gives broader flexibility to operational adjustments, so change and evolution of the software can be undertaken during the lifecycle of the product, and can be a core component of successful business automation.

In short, this allows project managers and software developers to help their teams deliver the most value and results, with the smallest number of issues – instead of holding on for a ‘big’ launch, agile teams work in small incremental sections (known as sprints), making consistent changes that are relevant to the project and software, and are highly focused on the specific requirements needs of the program.

Is an Agile approach for you?

There are pros and cons involved in creating an agile software, and the process is not suitable for every project.

Agile software does not have a pre-designed and developed end-goal or result – each sprint changes the software, and this makes it challenging to predict the time, cost, and resources that will be required for the project over the course of its lifetime.

If a project is relatively simple and does not have a need for urgent (or frequent) updates, then agile development may not be a good fit.

Agile frameworks offer incremental delivery, which is ideal for complex projects – especially those which can be influenced by new processes or technologies, or require flexible redirection on short notice, but if teams are not familiar with working on agile delivery, it can seem like little progress is being made (due to the nature of the sprints) and collaboration can be difficult without the right team setup.

Agile development needs to have support from the company (especially management) and an organised business culture to truly flourish, as the design of the software (and perhaps even the project) will evolve or even change completely throughout the process. Those involved need to have clear lines of communication, a structured team framework, and high levels of collaborative engagement.

Making an informed decision

In order to determine the best approach for your project, seeking expert advice is advised – as well as evaluating the conditions of your project. Here are some questions you should consider to identify if the agile approach for your software development is right for you.

• Is the project urgent?
• Is there a fixed timeframe for completion?
• Is the project complex, or relatively simple?
• Are the project team capable of self-organising?
• Does the project require approvals or sign-off at each developmental phase?
• Is documentation of each cycle required?

How you answer these questions will provide you with vital insight into your own developmental needs, and whether an agile approach is best suited for your project.

Agile software development with Ardent

Our highly experienced software engineers work with an agile approach in order to deliver software excellence to our clients. If you are looking for a credible, reliable software development company with a proven track record to help bring your vision to life, we can help. Our software engineers are proficient in world-leading technologies and take on board your requirements and deliver software that is agile, scalable and secure.

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