The benefits include:
The ability to respond flexibly and openly to any changes. It is possible to promptly introduce conditions transformed by the customer, quickly respond to the actions of a competitive organization, and carry out activities in conditions of uncertainty.
Reducing the risk of failure . At the end of each cycle, analysis, testing of results, communication with the customer are carried out. All this allows you to understand whether there is an error somewhere and correct it in time.
Resistance to missed deadlines . It is possible to flexibly adapt dates in the event that the development of a feature is delayed for various reasons. In extreme cases, it is possible to sacrifice some functions so that the project is completed on time.
High team involvement. Lack of bureaucracy, contacts with managers, responsibility and self-management contribute to the effective work of developers.
High speed of response loan database to problems . If a bug appears, it is quickly fixed in a new cycle. There is no need to completely redesign the project, no need to postpone the deadlines or fix the error later.
Minimum routine . Developers do not have to waste their time on reports and other documentation.
Bezos: The Man Who Created Amazon (2023)
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Flaws:
The project does not have clear plans and structure . As a result, it may turn out to be something completely different from what was programmed. For the customer, this is a significant disadvantage, since it is important for him to strictly adhere to certain principles.
Need for close communication. When using flexible Agile, the customer must be in constant contact with the working group, communicate changed requirements to them, and get acquainted with intermediate results.
"Tied" to the team. During the project implementation, it is not advisable to change developers or the manager, since new specialists will have to be introduced to past and current cycles.
Too much focus on details . Sometimes it happens that while refining features, you can move away from the final goal of the project.
Difficulties with implementation . If the organization previously worked according to a different system, then it is not so easy to build management according to Agile. There will be a need for a separate employee - Agile-management of the project, who is "like a fish in water" versed in flexible methodologies.
Books about Agile in Russian
The amount of specialized literature on Agile in Russian is not very large, only about two dozen publications. The four books listed below can be of the greatest benefit. Two of them are great for getting acquainted with the Agile project and two are for practitioners:
Brilliant Agile. Flexible Project Management with Agile, Scrum, and Kanban. Authors – Rob Cole, Edward Scotcher. This publication is primarily aimed at those who want to make the transition from classical project management to flexible approaches.
The Age of Agile: How Smart Companies Change and Achieve Results . Author: Stephen Denning. The book describes the work of flexible management methods at various levels, teaches how to correctly define goals in the process of developing an organization and how to achieve them.
Scrum: A Revolutionary Project Management Method by Jeff Sutherland. This book is from the founder of the Scrum framework and is recommended for use by Scrum Masters. It is easy to read and explains the benefits of using each element of the methodology.
Scrum and Kanban: Getting the Most Out of It by Henrik Kniberg and Matthias Skarin. This e-book is freely available and features beautifully illustrated examples and a detailed comparison of Scrum and Kanban.
When reading books, remember that there are big differences between theory and practice. Using new methods, technologies, and implementing them is a huge challenge for the entire team. Agile is not a panacea and does not guarantee success, but it can help you determine the right direction of development and its benchmarks.
Author of the article
Dmitry Svistunov
Dmitry Svistunov
Head of SEO and Development
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