When using the agile methodology, it can lead companies to agile product development to build or make the right product. The classic example of this is sequential development in the automobile industry, where parts are added in sequential phases until the final product is done.
Features of Agile Methodology
Agile methodology involves regular periods of work and project assessment that is conducted throughout the product development cycle. These are called iterations and every stage of the process will be continuously revisited throughout development. Agile is also incremental. After each iteration, the teams are supposed to present a product increment. This could be a feature or a minor change to improve the final version. Agile is designed to reduce the cost it takes to get to market.
Application of Agile Product Development
There are basic steps involved to develop a product using agile methodology principles.
Organize Teams: Agile encourages a self-organizing structure. It’s also possible to organize cross-functional teams and the advantage of this is that you are better able to gather skills and specializations you need for projects. There is no fixed number for the amount of people that should be on the team, but the ideal number is an average of 10.
Create the Backlog: This is the list of work that needs to be done in order of priority. Prioritization is important for the team to adjust the scope of work and to schedule. It will also affect the costs that are incurred and is necessary to make sure the most important tasks are accomplished first. The backlog can be subject to change.
Establish Iterations: You have to divide the work into iterations. Using the requirements that are in the backlog, the team will break these down into smaller amounts, which will be delivered at certain points in the process.
Conduct Risk Mitigation: Agile methodology does accept the existence of the unpredictable. Agile expects the unexpected to happen, which is why there is an importance on risk management. This is why short-term iterations are encouraged because changes can be easier to handle in short periods. Risk management shouldn’t just be a single step, but should be included every step of the way.
Conduct Scrums: The members of the team will need to communicate and collaborate with one another. This will help with the focus on the goal and to not lose sight of the direction. Scrums are daily stand up meetings where members will present an outline of daily progress in order to stay on track.
Conduct Testing: During agile, the testing is done during development. Different members of the team should be tasked with testing the product in increments delivered at the end of every iteration.
Secure Customer Feedback: In agile product development, customers will be able to see the product and different features while it is being developed. Customer input should be included in the final design.
