Through decades the frameworks for software development & delivery have changed to become more flexible, results-driven, and smart. With the evolution of project management, Agile methods became a revolutionary approach that adapts to the needs and requirements of the demanding digital products delivery world.
In this blog post, the team at Drupfan explores Agile and its focus on continuous improvement.
Agile is a project management approach that focuses on iterative software delivery. Thanks to such an iterative (or incremental) approach, the project is delivered in shorter terms and within budget while remaining adaptable to any on-the-go changes rather than being pre-defined by the initial plan. An Agile mindset helps development teams adjust to any challenges, as well as analyze previous mistakes and eliminate them in the future.
Although the traditional Waterfall approach to project management might seem easier at the project planning stage, its strict frames might cause discrepancies at the development stage and an inability to adapt to any changes.
The Continuous Improvement model in Agile focuses on identifying pitfalls and problem areas, as well as implementing iterative changes to address those issues and achieve better results with the next iteration. Small incremental improvements are a key to success in web development and software delivery. By continuously seeking new opportunities to grow and smarter ways to become more productive, the Agile development teams better adjust to the evolution of technologies, demanding requests, and challenges in the long run.
In addition to the overall enhancement in project management, the Agile approach provides a set of improvements for development teams, customers, and digital agencies. Sticking to the same approach in software delivery not only keeps the progress on the same line but also can reduce it significantly. Thanks to Continuous Improvement, Agile teams review and improve their processes regularly while experimenting with new ideas and techniques. Thus, the collaboration aspect grows making a development team a self-organizing and constantly evolving structure. With such independent and open-to-innovation teams, clients get high-quality products and their customer satisfaction rates skyrocket. Happy customers = happy digital agency!
Here, Drupfan specialists outline the key advantages of Continuous Improvement in Agile:
Implementing and managing Agile Continuous Improvement in web development is a challenging task. Its success depends on the involvement of the whole team, and not only the Project Manager. Let’s see how to manage it effectively:
Every project should have clear goals and objectives, so the team is aware of what they need to achieve and how the final product should look & operate.
Besides project goals, each team should have specific objectives for personal growth & tech stack improvement. Having a clear team goal helps team members to learn & grow professionally while facing challenges and not remaining in the same place.
Set a retrospective meeting after each iteration to analyze mistakes, their potential solutions, as well as points for growth and improvements. It is crucial not only to talk but to develop a plan for improvements and practice new knowledge in the next iteration.
Although each team member should be able to deal with his own set of tasks, each specialist has to be open to assisting others if they need support. The Project Manager is responsible for organizing regular training classes or workshops.
Without clear measured goals, progress can’t be continuous. Identify key metrics to measure during project development, as well as personal goals for each team member. This will help you to see whether your team is growing and improving.
Based on the all points mentioned above, make sure that Continuous Improvement becomes an essential part of web project delivery. Keep track of development results and strive to improve measured metrics regularly.
Metrics are crucial for measuring the success of implemented methods and techniques. They help to see whether Continuous Improvement gives the expected results for you and your team.
Continuous Improvement is a core principle of the Agile mindset in software development. It helps teams to constantly evolve and grow their efficiency & productivity while reducing development defects and delivering high-quality products for end users. By implementing a culture of Continuous Improvement in your team, you get an independent and self-organizing structure that is open for innovation, growth, & challenge solving. Here at Drupfan, we understand the importance of Continuous Improvement and strive to enhance our skills, knowledge, and processes to deliver top-notch digital solutions tailored to customer’s business vision, needs, and requirements. Contact Drupfan today to discuss the details of your web development project.
