Agile Software Development Methodologies

Directions: Answer the following questions completely and thoughtfully. USE THE ARTICLES ATTACHED. Do not copy and paste text from the article – paraphrase…that is, read the article, understand it, and answer the questions using your own words. 3 Questions, 12.5 points each.

Scores are based on depth and clarity of your response. Please use business professional, college-level writing with correct spelling, grammar and punctuation. Cite all your sources; both in-text citations and a reference section at the end of the document are expected. APA style only please.

Question 1. What is an agile software development methodology?

Question 2. Why did people develop this approach to developing software?

Question 3. Summarize the 12 key principles of the Agile Manifesto.

ANSWER

Agile Software Development Methodologies

What is Agile?

Agile Software Development Methodologies are based on iterative and time-bound development, where solutions and requirements are obtained through self-organizing group collaboration. Agile delivers value faster, produces predictability and high value, and a greater ability to adapt and respond to change. Agile developers focal values are based on individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change.

Reasons Behind Agile Development

As the name suggests, agile software development methodologies were introduced to have easier, faster, and nimbler software development processes. This is to provide a solution to a rapidly growing and volatile Internet market and mobile applications. Previous methodologies referred to as privileged methodologies have tight control, have a linear process, are universal and goa- driven (Abrahamsson et al, 2002). In contrast, agile methodologies are random, have simultaneous processes, are unique, and capricious. This makes privileged methods rigid and not always feasible. Agile methodologies are adaptable and flexible to changes.

People developed agile software development methodologies approach because it is adaptable, it emphasizes flexibility, continuous enhancement and improvement, collaboration, and high quality outcomes. Software development had also met serious challenges as the industry was not swift enough to meet customer desires and requirements. Traditional methods were rigid and not customer oriented. Agile software development methodologies approach was introduced to deal with these challenges through the creation of the agile manifesto.

Key Principles of the Agile Manifesto

The agile movement has various central values that guide it. The movement lays emphasis on the connection and communality of software developers. They have a human approach to the trade, unlike the institutionalized development tools and processes. The manifesto seeks to foster teamwork, a close working environment, and activities to promote team spirit. The main goal of agile is to produce working software. New releases are produced frequently. The code is required to be simple, technically advanced, straightforward with minimal documentation.

Agile software developers do not highly regard strict contracts but their relation and cooperation with clients. The negotiation process is considered a relationship-building process. Changes should be communicated promptly to enable software developers and their clients to respond to them.

Agile has grown from a collaboration tool for software developers to a candidate for use by education institutions. This has led to the development of education manifestos. The Agile Manifesto in the education arena emphasizes the importance of teachers and students, collaboration and competence, marketability and employability, and learning skills and attitude. This preference is made over institutional administration and infrastructure, competition and compliance, grades and syllabus, and aptitude and degree respectively. Increased learning using the agile software development methodologies will facilitate a smoother transition of students in the workforce.

The Agile Manifesto also emphasizes practical application rather than theory (Krehbiel, 2017). Agile movement proponents would rather have a student make his own choices than being controlled and limited. It is more beneficial to learn and apply skills than be taught facts. Instead of competing, learners should be guided to collaborate. This will benefit them more and pooling their knowledge and resources together will lead to better and working software. Standardized and fits all type of learning is discouraged. Agile methodologies prefer customized learning. The teacher or instructor should also not control all the learning. Learning should be co-constructed.

Agile teaching and learning hopes to achieve adaptability, collaboration within software developers, and achievement of learning outcomes rather than personal accomplishment. Learning should be driven by inquiry raised by students rather than through instructor lectures. Accumulation of information is not as important as its demonstration and application. People in this industry should be more concerned with continuous improvement rather than maintenance of prevailing practices. The main focus of agile software development methodologies and their manifestos is to enhance collaboration, hasten processes, be adaptable and flexible to change, and focus on applicability rather than documentation.

References

Abrahamsson, P., Salo, O., Ronkainen, J. and Warsta, J. (2002). Agile software development methods: Review and analysis. VTT publication.

Krehbiel, T. (2017). Agile Manifesto for Teaching and Learning. The Journal of Effective Teaching.