How To Apply the Agile Methodology in Project Implementation.

Do you have an Agile team? If you struggle to answer this or your answer is ‘No’, you need to keep reading closely. B2B companies with small or even large teams should keep looking for ways to meet up with their customers’ project or product demand in more exceptional ways. Now is the best time to start learning about the Agile methodology in project implementation if you must do more in this fast-paced era.

Understanding the Agile Methodology and Scrum Framework 

The Agile methodology is one of the most accepted and most used methodologies. It is a project management framework that focuses on the implementation of various sections of an entire project. In other words, a project is broken down into several stages and implemented by a team with the involvement of the Product Owner. 

There are different approaches to the Agile methodology in project implementation, but we will be taking a look at the Scrum framework in this article. Scrum is a framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. In this framework, there are three main groups of people. They include the Product Owner, the Development Team, and a Scrum Master who all play vital roles in ensuring the successful implementation and delivery of projects. When applying this framework, the development team and Scrum Master must have the qualities of transparency, adaptation, and a free mind towards giving and receiving feedback during the inspection process.

How We Apply Agile Methodology in Project Implementation at Big Field Digital.

The entire process begins with the Product Owner (usually the client or their representative) discussing their brief/project requirement with our Project Manager. Once the Product Owner signs an agreement to kickstart the project, they meet with the entire development team and also present their product backlog. This product backlog contains all the tasks or features they expect the team to implement in order to arrive at the concluded product at the deadline. 

While we have our general team consisting of various talents, we extract sub-teams from them who will focus on the project at hand. We select members of this sub-team based on the expertise required for the successful implementation and delivery of the project. The Scrum Master who is more like the Project Manager is responsible for breaking down the tasks in the product backlog into sprints. 

A sprint is usually a period ranging from a week to about four weeks where the Agile team is expected to implement the project features and present a demo to the client. Here at Big Field Digital, we run a two-week sprint for every project then listen to the feedback from our clients after the demo. With this feedback, the Agile team is able to move forward with the backlog during the next sprint.

Among the various Scrum project management tools, our team uses more of JIRA and Confluence. To ensure every team member plays their part and is accountable, we hold daily standup meetings. These meetings last for 10-15 minutes; every member of the team gets to talk about what they are currently working on, what’s pending, the challenges they are facing, as well as any other updates. The Scrum Master moderates the standup meeting with all team members in attendance but without the Product Owner.

Without any doubts, this project management methodology gives room for greater collaboration. 

Why You Must Embrace The Agile Project Management Methodology

The Agile project management methodology can serve teams in various industries. However, they are very effective when teams developing digital technology products apply them. With this methodology, there’s obviously more to gain than lose. Apart from an increase in the level of collaboration between team members, here are three major reasons to immediately embrace the Agile project management methodology.

1. Rather than working tirelessly on a project for months then the product owner comes with a full rundown of changes and feedback when you deliver the project, this methodology allows your to carry them along every step of the way. You get to implement the feedback after every sprint which erases any form of back and forth in the end.
2. When you apply this project management method, you can avoid scope creep. This is mainly because you are guided by a time frame and cost which the Product Owner cannot easily manipulate.
3. Teams are able to deliver products with top-notch quality due to the careful scrutinising by the Product Owner and other top-level stakeholders. 

There are several other benefits this methodology has to offer without forgetting to mention its cost-effectiveness in the long-run.