Methodologies

Agile software development refers to software development methodologies centered around an iterative approach, where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing cross-functional teams. Agile promotes adaptive planning, evolutionary development, early delivery, continual improvement, and rapid and flexible response to change. The key principles of agile methodologies include: Customer satisfaction through early and continuous software…

Misalignment of Traditional Metrics in Agile Traditional project management methodologies relied heavily on upfront planning and rigid adherence to scope, budget, and timeline. Metrics like variance to plan were used to track progress. However, these prove problematic in agile environments centered around flexibility and responding to change. Attempting to measure agile initiatives by traditional metrics…

Understanding Resistance to Agile Transitions The introduction of agile practices often meets resistance from teams accustomed to traditional waterfall development methods. This resistance frequently stems from fear of the unknown, loss of control, and concerns about extra work. Before transitioning teams to agile, it is important to proactively identify areas of anxiety and objection in…

The Challenges of Software Development Approaches The waterfall model provides structure but lacks flexibility to incorporate feedback and adapt to changes. Agile methods like Scrum and Kanban offer more fluidity but can sometimes lack the structure teams need to stay focused and organized. Finding the right balance between structure and flexibility is key for software…

Comparing Scrum and Kanban Methodologies Scrum and Kanban are two popular agile project management frameworks that share some similarities but also have distinct differences. Both Scrum and Kanban aim to deliver work iteratively in small batches, encourage transparency through visualization, and promote continuous improvement. However, Scrum provides a structured framework with specific roles, events, artifacts,…

Overview of Scrum.org and Scrum Alliance Scrum.org and Scrum Alliance are two of the most reputable providers of Scrum training, certification, and resources. Founded in 2009 by Scrum co-creator Ken Schwaber, Scrum.org offers a suite of Scrum-focused courses and credentials. The Scrum Alliance was founded in 2001 and has trained over 1 million Scrum practitioners…

Understanding Kanban Fundamentals Kanban is a workflow management method that aims to help teams optimize work output and efficiency through continuous improvement. The core principles of Kanban include: Visualizing workflow: Mapping out every stage of work to identify bottlenecks and waste Limiting work-in-progress: Setting constraints to smooth flow through the process Focusing on flow: Moving…

Visualizing Workflows with Kanban Boards A Kanban board is a visual project management tool that allows teams to view tasks, track progress, and optimize workflows. Kanban boards use columns to represent different stages of a workflow, with cards or sticky notes moving across the board from left to right to show progress. This provides transparency…

What is Kanban? Kanban is an agile framework that focuses on visualizing workflow, limiting work-in-progress, and managing flow. The goal of Kanban is to create a smooth, continuous flow of work to optimize efficiency, throughput, and responsiveness. Some key principles of Kanban include: Visualize workflow on a kanban board to see bottlenecks Limit work-in-progress to…

What is the core problem? A key challenge in software development is balancing planned work carried out through structured sprints with unplanned work that arrives unpredictably. Using either Scrum or Kanban frameworks alone can make it difficult to efficiently incorporate emerging work while maintaining focus on pre-planned features and objectives. Carefully integrating the two approaches,…