Iteration
Perfecting products one iteration at a time.
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Definition: Agile refers to a set of principles for software development under which requirements and solutions evolve through the collaborative effort of self-organizing and cross-functional teams.
Agile has significantly impacted the way projects are managed and products are developed, focusing primarily on iterative progress, team collaboration, and responsive changes. Initially conceived for software development, Agile’s principles have since been adopted by various other industries due to its adaptability and success in rapidly changing environments.
Agile is a methodology that promotes continuous iteration of development and testing throughout the project lifecycle. It emphasizes adaptability and flexibility, encouraging teams to respond to changes rather than follow a fixed path. Agile is best for projects that are expected to undergo changes and where the end-goal is not set in stone.
The importance of Agile lies in its ability to facilitate a more efficient and effective process that can adapt to changing demands or market conditions. Agile’s incremental approach also allows for quicker releases of portions of a product, enabling teams to gather feedback and incorporate it into future development cycles.
Agile project management is guided by the twelve principles outlined in the Agile Manifesto. These principles emphasize customer satisfaction, welcoming changing requirements, delivering working software frequently, and maintaining a constant pace of work. Collaboration, face-to-face communication, motivated individuals, and measuring progress through working products are also central to Agile.
Several frameworks and practices have been developed based on Agile principles, including but not limited to:
Comparing Agile to traditional project management (often referred to as the Waterfall model), the key differences lie in their approach to planning, execution, and change management. While Waterfall is linear and sequential, Agile is flexible and iterative. Agile also fosters a more collaborative and empowering environment for team members than traditional project management, which can be more rigid and hierarchical.
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