Agile frameworks and process tools such as Scrum, Lean Kanban, Extreme Programming XP and others bring their own characteristics and advantages to the table. Many need to leverage data informed insights from this and often lean on SaaS providers such as propelo.ai. For example, Kanban focuses on improving whichever approach is being used rather than providing its own framework, while Scrum provides a definite framework with essential artifacts. The focus of the Agile approach is to deliver value rather than fixate on the processes themselves. Therefore, organizations can customize several Agile frameworks and methodologies to suit their needs, enabling them to deliver maximum value.
Top 10 Agile Terms
1. Agile Manifesto
The agile manifesto is a great starting point for anyone looking to familiarize themselves with the agile methodology. The manifesto outlines the 4 values and 12 principles of agile software development and was actually created by a group of software developers in an effort to provide a clear and alternative set of processes for developing software. The agile values include prioritizing:
Individuals and Interactions Over Processes and Tools.
Working Software Over Comprehensive Documentation.
Customer Collaboration Over Contract Negotiation.
Responding to Change Over Following a Plan.
2. Scrum
A scum is a daily stand up meeting with the sole focus being to review each team member’s progress on any given project. Scrums help to keep everyone accountable and on the same page, ensuring no one falls too behind or gets too far ahead in the development of a project.
3. Scrum Master
A scrum master oversees the development process and acts as a problem solver for the team; preventing roadblocks and enforcing the agile way of doing things.
4. Stakeholder
A stakeholder refers to anyone with a vested interest in the product. This can be the client, the end user, sales people, legal representatives etc. Stakeholders have an informative role in the development phase, and are critical in defining the project’s requirements.
5. Backlog
The backlog is the ever changing list of the software’s requirements. It’s not to be seen as a to do list so much as a prioritized list of desired features of the product provided by the stakeholders.
6. User Story
A user story is an informal, general explanation of a software feature written from the perspective of the end user. Its purpose is to articulate how a software feature will provide value to the customer.
7. Burndown & Burnup Charts
A burndown chart visually measures the progress of a project over time (the vertical axis is made up of the backlog while the horizontal axis represents time). A burnup chart displays completed work (the vertical axis shows the amount done over the horizontal axis, time). These charts are essential to inspiring the team as they work and help provide a realistic time frame for the project’s completion as well as a working scale of the project.
8. Feature Creep
While changes are expected, and certainly embraced in the agile way of doing things, the phrase “feature creep” refers to features that are added after development has begun. Adding too many features during the development phase can result in feature creep and software that is too complicated or difficult to use.
9. Timeboxing
Timeboxing is kind of like time blocking in that it assigns a specific time frame to accomplish a goal. The definitive feature of timeboxing however, is that the work stops at the end of the timebox, instead of when the work is complete. This is extremely helpful in terms of productivity, and controlling the scale of a project.
10. Sprint
A sprint is a short development phase usually lasting anywhere from 1 week to a month. Sprints help prevent projects from feeling overwhelming and allows feedback to be given at appropriate junctures.
