What do we mean by agile?
Agile
/ˈadʒʌɪl/
adjective
- able to move quickly and easily.
That might be the dictionary definition of “agile”, but in business, we know there’s more to Agile than meets the eye. A term first coined by a group of 17 software developers, the Agile Manifesto has underpinned the way the IT world develops programs and systems since 2001. And rather than being seen as an outdated approach, Agile is a methodology that naturally evolves with the times.
When you’re looking at creating and launching a new product, the same ways of working and thinking will only ever produce the same kind of products as have come before. When you adopt an Agile approach and mindset, the development process takes on a whole new meaning. Based on 12 core principles, Agile gives you permission to lean into uncertainty by taking hold of flexibility and speed to adapt and be responsive to change.
How does Agile work?
The Agile method has its own manifesto, which says:
“We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.”
Prioritising individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change and the cornerstones of the Agile methodology. It’s a methodology that can be used across different industries, but it was born in the IT industry and it suits the modern way of developing software. Different methodologies have arisen since Agile became popular, including Kanban and Lean, but companies keep coming back to the flexibility and speed offered by the Agile approach.
Most Agile methods work on a 7-step cycle:
- Plan
- Design
- Develop
- Test
- Deploy
- Review
- Launch
Between ‘review’ and ‘plan’, there is a cycle. Here is where teams will gather feedback on the process and product development so far, and act on any learnings they discover. The product, program or system will only launch after the cycle repeats, called an iteration.
Agile prioritises collaboration and teamwork, arranging work into short time periods called sprints. Each sprint has a plan, a set budget, goals, deadlines and deliverables. Typically lasting up to three months, a sprint allows fast development and a test-and-learn approach. Once the sprint is complete, the team will analyse what they achieved, deliver on the goals, assess the feedback and iterate — meaning do it all over again. Either the same sprint will be repeated, in case there are lessons to be learned, or a new sprint will begin, focusing on a new goal.
Outsourcing and Agile
If you need a team to work in a rapid and efficient way, an outsourced IT team might be the answer you’re looking for. An outsourced team can work alongside your in-house team, allowing you to work on two separate projects, or perhaps two sprints of the same project, at any one time. More benefits include:
- Time zone differences to offer round-the-clock working
- Dedicated teams working exclusively on your project
- Lower overhead costs on office space and tech equipment
You can save time and money by using teams in a different location, and embrace the efficiency of offshoring to an Agile team.
Agile BPO teams at Indigo 21
One area of our expertise is outsourcing, which we handle offshore in the Philippines. We’ve been working in the Philippines for over 20 years, and it’s a destination that has proved its abilities over and over again. A dedicated and highly educated workforce is behind our outsourced teams, filled with problem-solving developers, technicians and collaborative mindsets. Whether you need a team of coders, programmers or script writers, we have the right software development team for you.
Get in touch today to find out more.
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