Last Updated on September 13, 2023
Agile project management is a prevailing approach for tracking various roles, tasks, deadlines, and additional project factors. More so, project management approach also prioritizes continuous and speedy development and enhancement.
Although the project management approach has emerged from within the software industry, it can be applied to other sectors, such as marketing. For instance, your team can then be more responsive to the consumer, implementing changes rapidly. Such a customer-centric approach can be effectively applied to other fields outside the software industry.
More so, if you are not 100% sure how to go about it or you need help with your project management, the solution is readily obtainable. Simply hire a virtual project manager. But let us contemplate the nature of agile project management.
Agile project management
Agile project management involves an iterative development process and is associated with the approach of developing software projects.
Such a process ensures that criticism can be acted on rapidly, and those responsive alterations can be implemented at every single stage of the product cycle.
So this means the team must work collaboratively within the budget and on time. In this article, we will focus on the general concept of there being no universal agile methodology.
The history of agile project management
The history of agile project management is intertwined with software development. With a rather young history, starting in the 1990s, traditional project management methodologies such as Waterfall were simply not sufficiently effective.
More so, they lacked flexibility, autonomy, and adaptability. Making changes based on the team’s learning was also not that easy to implement.
Yet, the benefit of the traditional approach was that the outcome was known. On the downside, changes would mean additional expenses.
As a result, products did not totally match the consumers’ needs and wants, but more what the developers thought was the right solution.
Change is fundamental
However, in software projects, change is a fundamental factor. But with the agile method, therefore, changes could be made with the goal of producing the best project.
So this meant shorter development cycles, an iterative process, and ongoing testing and feedback. In 2001, the Manifesto for Agile Software Development was born, which reflected the principles and values of this approach.
The 4 core values of the agile approach
The agile method focuses on getting people through their exchanges to build on the product’s value at each early stage.
Here the focus is to gain maximum value. And to ensure that the project remains within budget and time limits. As such, the core principles are:
- Each project must be broken down into smaller, more manageable parts and arranged in order of importance.
- This method promotes a collaborative working style, which should include the client.
- This method makes reflections, learnings, and adjustments at unvarying intervals. The goal is to ensure that the end user is satisfied with the outcomes.
- This method also involves participation planning with implementation, permitting a group to generate a working outlook that assists a team to respond efficiently to the changing wants and needs.
12 core agile project management principles
The 12 key principles of Agile project management based on the Agile Manifesto:
- The key importance is customer satisfaction. For instance, as seen through the early and ongoing focus on offering a valuable product.
- Change is good, even when it occurs in the product’s late development. In fact, with this method, change is harnessed to benefit the customer’s competitive advantage.
- The stages are short, from a few weeks to a few months.
- Everyone, including the product developers and business people, should all work together as a team on the project.
- Motivated people are key, and the project is built around them. One should support them and trust that they will be able to complete the work.
- The most resourceful and effective process of passing on info amongst the team is face-to-face communication.
- The developing product is the main measure of advancement.
- An agile method endorses sustainable progress. All stakeholders must uphold a persistent pace for an indefinite period.
- Nonstop consideration of technical superiority and great design improves agility.
- Simplicity, which is viewed as the skill of making the most of the total of work not done — is vital.
- Top requirements, architectures, and designs will come from self-organizing players.
- At fixed intervals, the team players should consider how they can become even more effective; then adjust and improve their conduct.
The benefits of agile project management
Agile project management is more than a mere trendy project management methodology. This method can offer businesses many benefits. Here are some common benefits:
Additional adaptability with less risk
A key benefit is the ability to cope with changing priorities. With agile’s iterative method and stressing of ongoing feedback, you can give the facts you require throughout the development process.
However, not after that. As such, this method permits the team to make more impactful adoptions based on real circumstances, not based on projected situations.
More so, as the development phases are short and there are regular updates, the product team can make changes and thus reduce the risk.
More customer satisfaction
Customer collaboration is a core value of agile project management. With more customer collaboration comes more customer satisfaction.
In fact, this method is encouraged in working with customers and other stakeholders. The focus is to create a product that resolves the customer’s problem.
More joyful teams
Agile teams have the characteristics of being independent, innovative, focused on problem-solving, and in a place where new ideas are encouraged.
Teams are entrusted with sorting the project. As such, communication and collaboration are fostered. And must be creative, transparent, and efficient. The result is happier individuals who work well as a team.
Time to become agile
Happier clients, better quality products, and a boosted team spirit. However, agile project management isn’t going to give you all these results.
There are many factors that can affect success. There are, however, certain factors to keep in mind. Therefore, start by hiring the best people.
If funds are an issue, then consider hiring a virtual project manager. You can hire someone with the right skills but who will not break the bank to include in your team. Also, remember, when you hire, a focus of agile is that it’s people over processes. You need the best people on board.
Outsourcing allows you to gain access to great talent you would otherwise not have been able to afford.
Also, for agile to work for you, you need the buy-in from everybody. Therefore, that means from the top right down to the bottom.
Using the proper project management tools
To gain the best from the agile method, you need to use the right tools. Therefore, use an agile project management tool that will support your team and the way you work.
A key is that your team should be able to work together effectively, allowing for flexibility in that working space.
As such, there are various tools from which to select. For instance, Scrum, Kanban, Scrumban, or even a hybrid of some of these.
Let’s connect
Aristo Sourcing is there to help you as you scale your business. If you need a project manager, Aristo Sourcing will source you great people to add to your team.
Simply book your complimentary call and speak to our outsourcing expert. Let us support you and your business: we supply the right people with the right skills. Call us today.
