Agile Methods 101 Diane Strode

Primary source The agile methods : an analytical comparison of five agile methods and an investigation of their target environment. Master of Information Sciences (Information Systems) Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Available: http://adt.caul.edu.au/

The agile methods : an analytical comparison of five agile methods and an investigation of their target environment.

Master of Information Sciences (Information Systems) Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Available: http://adt.caul.edu.au/

Proposed Agile Method First Published Journal Article Book 1 Dynamic Systems Development Method DSDM 1995 1997 2 Crystal methods Crystal 1998 2002 3 RUP (configured) dX 1998 4 Extreme Programming XP 1999 2000 5 Adaptive Software Development ASD 2000 6 Scrum Scrum 1999 2002 7 Pragmatic Programming PP 2000 8 Internet Speed Development ISD 1999 9 Agile Modeling AM 2002 10 Feature Driven Development FDD 2002 11 Open Source Software Development OSS 2002 12 Lean Development LD 2002 2003

Purpose DSDM - a framework for RAD development Scrum – a method for project management of iterative development XP – a method for software development in high change environments using small teams and standard software engineering techniques to satisfy customer needs and maintain effective teams ASD - a framework for managing software development projects that are under intense time pressure and have rapidly changing requirements. Based on complex adaptive systems theory. Uses RAD techniques Crystal methods - for designing a methodology to suit a specific project

DSDM - a framework for RAD development

Scrum – a method for project management of iterative development

XP – a method for software development in high change environments using small teams and standard software engineering techniques to satisfy customer needs and maintain effective teams

ASD - a framework for managing software development projects that are under intense time pressure and have rapidly changing requirements. Based on complex adaptive systems theory. Uses RAD techniques

Crystal methods - for designing a methodology to suit a specific project

DSDM, XP, Scrum, ASD, Crystal Methods – common factors Published between 1995 – 2002 in the USA and UK Methods address business problems and provide technical solutions Practitioner based Project manager and developer perspective Incremental development Iterative development with 1 month iterations optimal Projects undergoing constant change

Published between 1995 – 2002 in the USA and UK

Methods address business problems and provide technical solutions

Practitioner based

Project manager and developer perspective

Incremental development

Iterative development with 1 month iterations optimal

Projects undergoing constant change

DSDM, XP, Scrum, ASD, Crystal Methods – common factors Active user involvement Feedback and learning Teamwork and empowered teams Communication between all stakeholders is critical Small teams of 3-10 programmers is optimal Frequent meetings, daily is optimal Working software is the main product of development Modelling techniques are not mandated Minimise documentation

Active user involvement

Feedback and learning

Teamwork and empowered teams

Communication between all stakeholders is critical

Small teams of 3-10 programmers is optimal

Frequent meetings, daily is optimal

Working software is the main product of development

Modelling techniques are not mandated

Minimise documentation

Agile Method Combinations Proposed by others XP and Scrum XP and Crystal methods XP and ASD XP and RUP XP and DSDM RUP and Scrum

Proposed by others

XP and Scrum

XP and Crystal methods

XP and ASD

XP and RUP

XP and DSDM

RUP and Scrum

Agile Method Combinations Proposed from my research DSDM – a framework – use with techniques from any other agile method (XP or Scrum) XP and Scrum – XP provides software development techniques/Scrum provides management practices XP and Crystal - XP acts as the base method which is tailored for each project using Crystal principles Scrum, ASD and Crystal can use any software engineering techniques as long as those techniques achieve the goals of the methodology

Proposed from my research

DSDM – a framework – use with techniques from any other agile method (XP or Scrum)

XP and Scrum – XP provides software development techniques/Scrum provides management practices

XP and Crystal - XP acts as the base method which is tailored for each project using Crystal principles

Scrum, ASD and Crystal can use any software engineering techniques as long as those techniques achieve the goals of the methodology

When should you use an agile method? Research study Nine projects, different organisations, different types of organisation, questionnaire Calculated agile method usage Looked at correlation between agile method usage and factors in the development environment

Research study

Nine projects, different organisations, different types of organisation, questionnaire

Calculated agile method usage

Looked at correlation between agile method usage and factors in the development environment

Factors investigated Organisation factors social interaction is trustful, collaborative, competent… Domain factors Internet application domains … Technological factors automated testing, object-oriented technology… Project factors time pressure, requirements stability… People factors CRACK customers, experienced developers…

Organisation factors

social interaction is trustful, collaborative, competent…

Domain factors

Internet application domains …

Technological factors

automated testing, object-oriented technology…

Project factors

time pressure, requirements stability…

People factors

CRACK customers, experienced developers…

Target environment for agile methods Statistically significant correlation between usage and factor for the following factors (about 32 factors were investigated) 1. The organisation values feedback and learning. Social interaction in the organisation is trustful, collaborative, and competent 2. The organisation values teamwork, is flexible and participative, and encourages social interaction. The project manager acts as a facilitator 3. The organisation enables empowerment of people 4. The management style is that of leadership and collaboration 5. The organisation is results oriented 6. Leadership in the organisation is entrepreneurial, innovative, and risk taking 7. The organisation is based on loyalty and mutual trust and commitment 8. Projects undergoing constant change

Statistically significant correlation between usage and factor for the following factors (about 32 factors were investigated)

1. The organisation values feedback and learning. Social interaction in the organisation is trustful, collaborative, and competent

2. The organisation values teamwork, is flexible and participative, and encourages social interaction. The project manager acts as a facilitator

3. The organisation enables empowerment of people

4. The management style is that of leadership and collaboration

5. The organisation is results oriented

6. Leadership in the organisation is entrepreneurial, innovative, and risk taking

7. The organisation is based on loyalty and mutual trust and commitment

8. Projects undergoing constant change

Is this generalisable, or cause and effect? - No – sample too small, as usual, further studies needed! Keep in mind that you may have fewer problems using an agile method if these factors are present in your organisation or project

Is this generalisable, or cause and effect?

- No –

sample too small, as usual, further studies needed!

Keep in mind that you may have fewer problems using an agile method if these factors are present in your organisation or project