Agile Software Teams

Agile software teams thrive on the ability to create great software, but also to respond to change. It is the process they use to deal with and ultimately overcome in an uncertain and sometimes chaotic environment. The teams need to not only know how to deal with change but thrive in it. Agile software teams is a general term that is used to describe the frameworks and practices that address the need for constant change. The principles used in Agile software development provide the structure and principles used to help determine the next steps in any particular situation.

Good Communication

While good communication is key to every personal and business relationship, it becomes a critical factor when working with an agile team. When there are many project stakeholders, and also many team members, it is clear that every detail needs to communicate effectively. Clear and open communication is the key to keeping a project on time and on budget. When every misunderstanding may take days or weeks to correct, it isn’t difficult to see where a project can go off-track. The issue is compounded when you are working with an outsourced software team. A nearshoring development team means you can have open communication in the same time zone as your company, to ensure that communication is effective and responsive. If you have to rely on email messages for communicating with your team, you are running a risk of not completing your project on time or on budget.

Deep Understanding of Agile

Agile is becoming a common term when you are considering an outsourced development team. While many leaders might have a superficial grasp of the key concepts, that understanding really has to be passed on to the rest of the leadership and staff in order for the complete process to work. A developer also needs to know their role in the organization. The structure of agile software development depends on everyone knowing their roles and working within them. The theoretical understanding has to be translated into practical implementation in order for the agile development lifecycle to succeed.

Strong Agile Leadership

While teams can be self-organized, you won’t have the success you need without strong leadership. Strong leadership roles should include product owner, project manager, architect, team coach, and a QA team. Each role can take a leadership role in their own areas, but also they can help improve the momentum in the projects. Many projects can be stalled or stopped altogether by a team member or leader who can’t manage changes to keep the momentum moving on the projects.

Conclusion

Moving from the theoretical to the practical in the agile management process, teams can sometimes forget the true agile values. Incorporating the above 3 attributes should help agile software development teams perform at an optimal level, not just auto-piloting projects without a commitment to how the current tasks fit into the overall project.

WebCreek specializes in providing agile software teams to our clients. Contact us to start the conversation on your next software project.