As the Agile Methodology continues to gain momentum in the public sector, we’ve put together a list of insights to help make your next Agile project a success.
- Initial Scope. Many of us rush straight into software development…because it’s Agile. But the most important step in the project is to clearly define the initial scope. The team will need a shared vision of the “Minimum Viable Product” or “MVP” to work towards.
- Educate the Newbies. The fast pace of Agile software development can be very confusing at first. If your team is new to Agile, make sure to take your time in defining project roles and educating the team on Agile rituals (e.g., Daily Scrum Meetings, Sprint Planning Meetings, Playbacks, and so on).
- Implement Organizational Change Management. There is likely a ton of change going on: shifting from waterfall to Agile, improving business processes, updating technology, and more. The best way to gain buy-in from your team and drive adoption of these changes is to take a structured approach to the transition.
- Have a Plan for Testing and Releases. Agile software development aims to produce working software at a fast pace – typically every one to six weeks. It is important to understand: (a) what the content will be for each release, (b) the plan for testing new content and fixing bugs/defects, and (c) how to communicate and roll-out each piece of new functionality to end users.
- Quickly Learn and Adapt. At the end of each sprint, be sure to conduct a retrospective and welcome feedback. One of the most critical components of Agile software development is the ability to learn from mistakes, encourage feedback, and immediately implement corrections to improve the next sprint.
At Highlands, we have gained these insights – and many more! – about how to manage Agile projects that quickly deliver exceptional business value to users.