Agile Management

The concept of agile management is a new idea for managerial practices. Under this agile management approach, managers work on different projects (such as a software development project) by delivering it through the life cycle. "Velocity and adaptability" are promoted in the software development projects of IT firms because of iterative approaches frequently used by the project management team (for the software development projects). A major benefit behind adopting this iterative approach is that managers following iterative approach are not required to align their managerial practices with a linear path. Instead of this, they openly and freely decide adjustments on any project life cycle if working under the iterative approach of agile management. The word "agile" is also used in software development projects while talking about incremental delivery and continual planning. Furthermore, because of higher efficiency in team collaboration practices managers sometimes also take advantage of this approach when they decide to develop a collaborative work environment for software development project teams(Coram & Bohner, 2005).

Software development starts from the designing stage. Graphic designers and software designers design a software frame and basic component (e.g., buttons and main pages). Then a coding programmer or software developer work on the functionally of this software using coding languages. A "designer" should consider the programming skills and expertise level of a programmer or developer in the designing process.  Thus, they can make software work outstanding. While a "developer" is also required to understand and support the designing skills of a "graphic designer" in the software development team. Thus, team members with different expertise work on the same software or project which indicate a direct association and dependence of both departments to each other. Conclusively, project managers give importance to the agile management approach when they start a software development project(Rico & Sayani, 2009). 

The four core values of agile manifesto are enlisted below:

                               I.            Respond to changes over a pre-defined plan

                            II.            Working software over comprehensive documentation process

                         III.            Another core value is giving preference to the customer collaboration policy instead of contract negotiation.

                         IV.            Individuals working on the project and their interaction with other fellows have higher core value than processes and tools.

There are several agile management principles which concern with the software development projects and other organizational projects. In the following list 7 most relevant agile management principles are stated.

i)                    Embrace changes to improve project outcomes each time.

ii)                  Continuous and early delivery of valuable software solutions are the main objectives

iii)                Face-to-face conversation can eliminate ambiguities regarding work responsibilities and duties

iv)                Frequent Project / Software Delivery should be ensured while considering a shorter timescale target.

v)                  Developers and Businesspeople (designers and managers) should work together for a 100% success rate

vi)                Project managers should give opportunities to motivated individuals to work on software development projects for better results

vii)              Working software is the primary measure of progress. Thus, a finalized software (for delivery) should work properly under pre-defined criteria of functionality.

History of Agile from Concept to Potential innovation methodology

This section is containing information about the early introduction and history of agile management concept. Following the history, the term "agile software development" was introduced in 2001. This was an outcome of a corporate business meeting in Snowbird Utah. At the beginning of 2000s, a small group of software developing firms (17 market leaders) organized a meeting to discuss issues concerning the software development industry. Some well-reputed software development firm's leaders were also present in this meeting. Take the example of Bob Martin, Jon Kern, Martin Fowler, and Jeff Sutherland.  During this meeting, they discussed several methodologies to improve performance outcomes in software development projects. The whole discussion directed towards the agile principles as well.

Later in 2001, they used this term to explain the flexibility and adjustability of software development projects. This term was aligned with the iterative stages and new methodologies employed for performance efficiency. Somehow, a general opinion is that "Agile methodology" is solely owned by Ken Schwaber. He is also known as “Father of Agile Management Approach”. In an interview with VentureFizz, he said that road to agile management was long and filled with his several experiences. "Ken Schwaber" used his personal experiences of managing software development projects to identify a suitable methodology for software developers which is named as “agile software development approach”(Scrum.org, 2020).

Conflict Between Lean, Six Sigma and Agile management

Lean, six sigma, and agile management are three approaches to building efficiency. However, all these techniques have different methods for efficiency enhancement and development. The following headings will represent differences and similarities between lean management and agile management approaches.

a)      Agile Management Vs Lean Management:

The lean management approach is mainly used in manufacturing processes. For instance, production of vehicles in the automobile industry will require a lean management approach to bring efficiency in their performance outcomes. While on the other hand, agile management is highly recommended and frequently applied in software development projects. This approach is mainly focused on early delivery, consistency, and quality of software. Both approaches are similar as both gives special attention to the cooperation between employees.

b)      Agile Management Vs Six Sigma

Six sigma aims to bring improvement in the organizational processes. Agile methodologies are focused on better managerial approaches and system. Furthermore, six sigma tries to ensure standardization of processes and systems. While on the other hand, agile management encourages flexibility and adaptability to ensure incremental delivery for each project. Thus, six sigma and agile management are quite different approaches. 

Agile Adoption in Other Sectors

Excluding software development projects, agile management approach is also widely applied in other industries and projects. Manager of insurance and healthcare sectors also apply agile management approaches in their organizations to bring innovation and efficiency in their business services. According to a survey “11^th Annual state of agile survey” 9 industries have highest adoption rate for an agile management approach which includes telecoms, healthcare, insurance, government, transportation, manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and software. The following table will represent the agile adoption rate in different industries. 

Product Testing and Potentially Driving ways

In this modern era, companies are adopting agile management approach for improvement in the product testing methods and enforcing potentially driving ways. In past, agile management approach was primarily focused on the promotion concept. Somehow, from the last 25 years, agile management approach is focused on strict adherence to methodology. Managers following agile management approach at their workplaces specifically pay attention to strict adherence to methodology. How this approach can be used in multiple business operations instead of applying only to software development projects.

Agile testing methodologies concerns with the iterative development methodology. This testing process is continuous. Products are tested at each stage of the development and manufacturing process. For instance, manufacturing systems installed in the automotive industries monitor defects and product quality at each stage from production to assembling. Furthermore, in medicine manufacturing processes, drugs are monitored and tested at all stages to ensure the production of standard quality. In short, the primary objective behind the agile testing methodology is to ensure achievement of high product quality. Another approach used in testing methodology is known as "waterfall testing". Comparatively, the agile testing methodology has several additional benefits and advantages which makes it a better option for testing product quality.

Challenges and Hurdles for Agile Management

Agile management is beneficial for organizations. Although, some critical issues associated with its implementation makes it challenging for adoption. The following are four main challenges and hurdles linked with agile management adoption in organizations.

i)                    Conflict with Organizational Structure

Sometimes organizational structure does not comply with the agile management approach. In rigid and fixed organizational structures, project managers cannot adopt agile management without the permission of corporate management and other related personnel. Sometimes project management decides to adopt an agile management approach, but other people deny to work accordingly. In this situation, organizations face issues for agile adoption.

ii)                  Rushed Testing Cycle

Rushed testing cycle is a common risk factor created by sprints. When managers try to get through sprints quickly, they try to keep short deadlines for each task and activity. In this situation, they miss out some important tests. As a result, defect remains undetected and causes to reduce the importance of agile management approach and agile testing methodology.

iii)                Business Goals and Unclear Impact

Managers also confuse to adopt agile management when they do not have a clear understanding of the overall impact of agile management on organizational goals. Sometimes agile management approach beneficial for a project can draw negative impact on overall organizational goals, therefore, manages to hesitate while adopting it in a project.

iv)                Limited Agile Skills

Another important challenge to be tackled by the organizations is limited agile skills in the project management teams. Majority of organizations are lacking agile skills in project team members and managers; therefore, they cannot adopt this approach in project execution.

Advantages and Benefits of Agile Management

The following are key advantages and benefits for agile management approach adopted in the organizational processes and projects. See the following list regarding the expected benefits of agile management in overall organizational business:

i)                    Higher Quality Deliverables

Higher quality deliverables is a major advantage or benefit of agile management approach. Through its application management can reduce overall defects and errors rate in manufacturing or development process. Thus, companies provide higher quality deliverables to their valuable clients.

ii)                  Increased Flexibility

Application of agile management approach can also bring flexibility which supports creativity and innovativeness.

iii)                Increased engagement and satisfaction of stakeholders

Agile management is directly linked with the stakeholder’s satisfaction and engagement in business operations. Better product quality and cost effectiveness increase profit margin for shareholders. Thus, they become more satisfied. 

iv)                Increased Productivity:

Increase in productivity is also possible by the applications of agile management approach. Companies improve their production processes and increase overall productivity with lower defect rate.

v)                  Increase in transparency

A major advantage of agile management is increase in transparency of a company’s operations. Companies take advantage of this situation and support accountability and auditing in executed business operations.

Excluding the above advantages and benefits, a company can also make their turnaround times faster by applying agile management approach. Additionally, optimal project control and customer needs satisfaction are also important benefits of agile management approach in manufacturing sectors and industries.

The following list will represent agile management benefits for projects:

i)                    Optimal project control

ii)                  Faster turnaround times

iii)                Increased flexibility

iv)                Increased adoptability for change

v)                  Increased frequency for project feedback allocation

vi)                Increases attention on specific needs of client 

vii)              A lighter weigh framework

viii)            Minimization of resources utilization to reduce wastes

ix)                Increased focus on improved efforts enhances success rate for carried-out projects

x)                  Defects and issues can be identified and resolved at any project stage

Drawbacks and Disadvantages of Agile Approach

The following are major drawbacks and disadvantages of using agile management approach in a business organization or a project executed by any organization (such as software development projects). Agile approach is not effective for all type of projects in the business. in order to determine the best methodology for implementation in all type of situations, it is recommended to perform adequate analysis. If the client of business is not clear about its goals then the Agile may not work effectively.  when the manager of the project not perform well under the pressure or they have no experience for work , agile not applicable effectively. Normally, in large and traditional organizations, agile approach is not suitable because it is more flexible or less formal according to new criteria. Because these organizations follow rigid teams, Policies and processes.

When the client follow the rigid methods and processes, it is quite difficult to implement the agile approach. Risk of lost of long term vision also occurs when the methodology is focus only on short term aims and targets. Because the progress occur in different cycles so it is quite difficult to measure the progress. Customers and developers must interact with each other and agile demand more energy and time for every project. Because of no clear project end, the project is become everlasting. And it will take too much time. (Two project, 2018)

Common Methodologies of Agile

Methodologies of the agile help in avoiding the risk of consuming lots of time in the process. In a fast and incremental way, it understands the goals of customers and provide effective solution directly instead of trusting employees and teams. These methodologies follow keep it simple principle with the adjustment of process and participants tune. These methodologies are self organizing according to agile team and employees. Team leveraging agile methodology track the speed and success of development process at regular intervals and get regular feedback. It makes the communication more effective through face to face meetings and agile teams within the business communicate at every stage of the project and proper track the conditions changes.

There are some methodologies of the agile that have some characteristics and show some practices. Every methodology has unique practice and tactics according to its need. These methodologies include feature driven development, dynamic systems development method, crystal, extreme programming, kanban, lean software development and agile scrum methodology. These methodologies are very helpful for the business and its relevant projects that include eliminate rework because it considers all the requirements and need of customers at first time. And enhance the value of employees and   increase customer satisfaction. (ALTVATER, 2017)

Scrum and Agile Project Management

In the repetitive and incremental delivery of a product, scrum is one of the agile methodologies develop to team guidance. It allows team to rapidly response, effectively and efficiently brings change and focus on empirical process. In an effort to control requirements, scrum fixes time and cost effectively. scrum is mostly dependingteam and customer collaboration according to development of right product. Scrum methodology is consider as incremental and iterative delivery of product with the collaborative decision making and provide frequent feedback. Scrum performs three different kinds of responsibilities in the agile project management. These roles include scrum master, the product owner and the team.  Scrum master is the protector of team, advocate of and keeper of the process to cover the negotiate with external teams, mediate discussion with team, obstacles and facilitate team communication. Set of ceremonies and meetings also applied for scrum. It also includes sprint retrospective, the sprit review, daily scrum and sprit planning meetings. Its also include multiple application for the development of agile project management which involve release planning, sprit review, tracking progress and sprit planning meeting according to changing requirements of the business. (Sliger, 2011)

Research on __Why Agile Has Not Reached its Potential?

Agility is important for businesses to satisfy consumer needs and evolving trends. In an agile approach, software development teams can easily deliver new products and services, transform operations and even help to redesign the business. Yet agile teams can stumble as they communicate, and rely on others, so that certain choke points in the enterprise can be predicted and mitigated.Consider the mobile app to upgrade a credit card provider so that consumers can quickly verify and withdraw their award points. The organisation maintains an agile team of engineers, designers and an initiative owner who knows customer behaviour. This team upgrades the software in a few weeks, however for another section of the company to provide the data feed from the compensation scheme, and for a longer time yet, the improvements will be incorporated into the app and the latest feature will be postponed.Customers enjoy the latest functionality, but now they want to see action in recent points as they log in. The founders of the original agile team moved on and it takes a few months to create a new team because everybody is busy. This team makes the improvements but overlooks a flaw that causes the upgrade to crash (Berez, 2019).

The Future of Agile Approach

When the operating staff has been fixed, it refuses to issue the code to consumers without further diligent checking. Disagreements between development and operating teams about the scope of this test further postpone the latest release.For several businesses, including those with a heavy technical emphasis, this kind of storey is all too normal. This was the case at Goal many years back. The company had considerable technological debt accrued over years and years of expansion. The monolithic architecture supported vital elements of the enterprise that constrained how easily it could innovate and implement change. This increase has resulted in a dramatic rise in demand for technical services, as Aim reached by substantially growing its workforce with third-party contractors.Since Agile is not a technique, but a mentality, there is still a lot of space for it to expand not just in the spectrum of software production but also in other companies. Care of this. The Agile mentality is a tremendous asset to help companies develop and come up with new products/services. While it may not fit through the conventional methods in business management learned in top-notch business schools across the world, not only can the Agile mentality succeed in the coming years, yet it will also teach us how to improve our business mindset, generally(Smith, 2019).

References

ALTVATER, A. (2017, september 17). What is Agile Methodology? How It Works, Best Practices, Tools. Retrieved from https://stackify.com/agile-methodology/

Berez, W. P. (2019, March 11). Agile Is Not Enough. Retrieved from https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/agile-is-not-enough/

Coram, M., & Bohner, S. (2005). The Impact of Agile Methods on Software Project Management. Proceedings of the 12th IEEE International Conference and Workshops on the Engineering of Computer-Based Systems (ECBS’05), 363-370.

Rico, D. F., & Sayani, H. H. (2009). USE OF AGILE METHODS IN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING EDUCATION . 2009 Agile Conference , 1-12.

Scrum.org. (2020). Founding Father of Agile, on the Journey to Scrum. Retrieved from www.scrum.org: https://www.scrum.org/resources/founding-father-agile-journey-scrum

Sliger, M. (2011, october 22). Agile project management with Scrum. Retrieved from https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/agile-project-management-scrum-6269#:~:text=Scrum%20is%20one%20of%20the,efficiently%2C%20and%20effectively%20to%20change.

Smith. (2019). Agile: Coming to an end or having a bright future? Retrieved from https://medium.com/agileactors/agile-coming-to-an-end-or-having-a-bright-future-82158fdf2485#:~:text=What%20is%20the%20future%20of,across%20other%20businesses%20as%20well.&text=The%20Agile%20mindset%20is%20a,up%20with%20new%20products%2Fservices.

Two project. (2018, august 13). Agile methodology: advantages and disadvantages of an innovative method. Retrieved from https://twproject.com/blog/agile-methodology-advantages-disadvantages-innovative-method/

https://www.cio.com/article/3156998/agile-project-management-a-beginners-guide.html