We talk about philosophy in agility because it requires discipline in transforming not only the way we manage projects but also the way we work on a daily basis to deliver value continuously and incrementally. Like any philosophy, it has values and principles that form its basis.
The first thing is the customer at the centre, their needs, expectations and satisfaction, collaboration, iteration, continuous improvement, flexibility in the face of change, self-organised and motivated teams.
What are its main characteristics?
- Agility involves short iterations with the customer, which allows value to be delivered and encourages early feedback and adjustments to the approach as necessary.
- It empowers teams to self-organise and make decisions. This fosters motivation, creativity and commitment.
- Instead of creating lengthy documents, agility promotes direct communication and the use of collaborative tools to share information efficiently.
It’s a very exciting way of working!
How does it differ from traditional development?
In several ways. The most radical difference is the way it is planned. In traditional approaches, better known as waterfall, planning is rigid and each phase must be completed before moving on to the next, so the time to deliver value is usually longer.
Planning in agile is more flexible and, in general, depends on the team’s effort.
In the traditional approach, the customer only interacts with the product at the end, whereas in agile, it is in each iteration. The customer is part of the evolution in each delivery, sees the progress, and adjustments are made in the time required by the customer.
In the traditional approach, changes are difficult to implement once the project has started, precisely because you stick to the plan, which is the opposite of agile, where changes are welcome.
Among other things, mistakes in the traditional approach are punished, whereas in agile we see them as an opportunity to improve and learn.
What advantages does it offer over other ways of working?
- In addition to all of the above, it allows for early value delivery.
- Risk reduction. By obtaining early and frequent feedback, teams and organisations can react more efficiently. If you reduce risk, you reduce the associated costs before the risk materialises.
- It encourages innovation, because we try out new ideas without fear of making mistakes.
- Continuous learning as professionals after each iteration.
- Improve the quality of the product or service earlier, which is directly proportional to improved customer satisfaction.
What professional profiles are usually involved in this?
The professional profiles that are usually involved in agility cover various roles, mainly focused on management, development, and collaborative leadership.
- Scrum Master. Facilitates the implementation of Scrum, removes impediments and promotes continuous improvement.
- Agile Coach. Accompanies teams and organisations in the adoption of agile frameworks, culture and practices.
- Product Owner. Defines priorities, manages the backlog and ensures that the product delivers value to the customer.
- Agile Project Manager. Coordinates projects using agile approaches, aligning objectives and resources.
- Software Developers. Work in agile teams applying practices such as continuous integration and iterative development.
- QA/Testers. Ensure quality through automated testing and continuous validation.
- DevOps Engineers. Integrate development and operations to accelerate delivery and improve efficiency.
- Business Analyst. Translates business needs into user stories and acceptance criteria.
- UX/UI Designers. They design user-centred experiences, iterating with rapid feedback.
- Digital transformation leaders. They drive cultural and structural changes towards organisational agility.
What role do new technologies play in the agile philosophy?
New technologies play a key role in the Agile philosophy because they enhance its principles and practices.
- They facilitate collaboration and communication
- Tools such as Microsoft Teams, Jira, and Trello enable transparency, remote working, and real-time synchronisation.
This reinforces the agile principle of constant interaction between individuals and teams.
They automate and accelerate delivery
- Continuous integration, automated testing, and cloud deployment reduce time and errors.
- They enable the agile value of delivering functional software frequently.
They improve adaptability
- Technologies such as Big Data, AI, and advanced analytics help make data-driven decisions, adjusting the product based on feedback.
- This connects with the agile principle of rapid response to change.
They drive innovation
- Cloud computing, microservices, and DevOps allow products to be scaled and experimented with without significant costs.
- They favour the creation of customer-centric solutions.
Enhance Agile philosophy skills combined with technology
- Digital collaboration. Effective communication in virtual environments.
- Adaptability and continuous learning. Ability to learn new technologies
- Analytical thinking and data-driven. Interpretation of metrics and dashboards.
- Visual management and prioritisation. Management of Kanban and Scrum boards.
