What is agile methodology?

Agile methodology is the modern way of designing and creating software solutions. When the business world first embraced computers, software development was a complex and lengthy task. To bring soe order to it, the waterfall method was created. This methodology was based on the Ford motor factory process and was designed to follow a sequence of events to produce an end product. At the time it was ground-breaking. But it didn’t allow for creativity on the part of the developers and was so rigid so as not to allow any deviation from the original plan.

In 2001, a group of 17 software engineers decided things should be done a little differently and set about designing a new process for software development – agile methodology. They crafted the Agile Manifesto based on 4 key principles of project management which they thought would improve software:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

This radical approach to project management and software design was made possible by huge advancements in technology. It has become simpler to design and program, making it far quicker and easier to take a product to market. But before the introduction of agile methodology, the business world had failed to adapt and realize these new opportunities.

These days, custom software development companies like Vaival work on the basis that collaboration and innovation is the key to creating the best software. Agile methodology allows for a concept to grow organically into what a client actually wants it to be. This is achieved through the Agile Manifesto.

• Individuals interact throughout the process making it flexible
• The focus is not on following a document but on producing software that does the job
• It embraces collaboration towards a shared goal which can be adapted
• It starts with a plan, but from the outset, all parties agree that there will be twists and turns before the final product emerges from creative thinking

Agile methodology simply reflects a more 21st century approach to project management in which the creative process and the end result is deemed more important than the original planning document.