Agility - what is it actually?
From the Latin “agilis“ – easily movable, movable, active, agile
If these attributes already apply to your system development.
Congratulations. If this is the case, you are certainly belonging to a minority whose need for improvements is comparatively low. You don’t need to read any further.
If this not the case, we recommend you to familiarize with agile methods. With these methods, you will be able to replace the rigid procedures and process models of the last 30 years with agile processes. Combine few essential activities with a large pool of best practices. Draw on methods that have proven in practice to be suitable measures for the project concerned.
What is agility?
"Agility“ in the context of system development means flexible and agile adaptation of the approach applied in the project to current circumstances. On this, the focus is on the essential steps required to carry out the project successfully instead of adhering to a voluminous process model that has precisely been specified down to its last detail.
What is essential?
Agile system development means using the huge pool of best practices which has long been and still is available in the heads of developers and managers. Agile system development always means focussing on what works and, as a result, utilizing this unquestioned knowledge in the next project again. This promotes individual freedom and calls for confidence instead of control. Agility is action and not reaction. It assumes knowledge and demands a high degree of qualification and professionalism from all parties involved. Only those who know how gears mate have the courage and competence to override inappropriate rules.
“Adequacy instead of perfection“ is one of the most essential paradigms of agility. The essential subjects are focused and, therefore, allow for a more flexible adaptation to current circumstances in cases where such is needed.
Which agile approaches are available?
There are a number of different approaches proposed by different authors, among the most-known methods are:
- XP (Kent Beck)
- SCRUM (Ken Schwaber and Mike Beedle)
- CRYSTAL family (Alistair Cockburn)
- ASD (Jim Highsmith)
Agility kompakt book
Further informationen on agility can be found in our "Agility kompakt". (only available in German)