With more organizations choosing to leverage Agile methods either entirely or in a hybrid environment (in conjunction with traditional Waterfall management techniques), there are a few key principles that all Agile methodologies follow. Agile’s core principles welcome changing requirements, seek to get feedback from the customer early, and are motivated around individuals. Along with the core Agile principles across all methodologies, there are specific distinctions that characterize five common Agile methodologies. If your organization has a need for speed and the ability to adapt quickly to changing environments, read on to find out how to choose the right Agile method for your team.
Scrum
Scrum is likely the most widely known of the Agile methods. Scrum focuses on managing sprints (time-boxed periods of work) and is typically helpful for large organizations juggling multiple products and development teams. Is your organization implementing multiple products or managing multiple sprints simultaneously? Could you benefit from multiple scrum masters handling dedicated products or product managers? If so, Scrum may be a good fit for your organization.
Extreme Programming (XP)
XP is specific to the software industry. Projects are managed by two developers cross-checking each other’s work. Is your organization making software-specific products? Is your team co-located and focused on niche products? Does your team possess a range of skills and abilities, and are you looking for your more junior level developers to elevate their skills? Answering yes to these questions may indicate that XP could be the best choice.
Kanban
Kanban is often used within lean organizations – that is, organizations focused on improving efficiency, minimizing waste, and seeking continuous improvement. Kanban focuses specifically on breaking work down into the smallest possible tasks. Is your organization lean or does it want to become lean? Are you in the manufacturing industry? Does every day look different for your team? Does managing large, complex tasks in projects sometimes overwhelm your team? If you have a need to simplify your team’s day-to-day work, even when dealing with large and complex projects, Kanban might be the right choice for you.
Crystal
Crystal is one of the lesser-known Agile methods. Crystal uses a specific ranking method to determine the size of the team working on a project. It allows extreme flexibility in allowing the team to choose how they manage their work. Is your team highly empowered? Does your team understand the needs of the business and react accordingly? Can your team quickly determine the impact of choosing to prioritize working on one feature or defect over another? Crystal takes the Agile principle of self-driven teams to the extreme and can be a good fit for highly skilled and self-managing teams.
Dynamic System Development Method (DSDM)
DSDM, another lesser-known Agile method, is one of the most flexible across both software and non-IT industries. In contrast to other Agile methods, DSDM requires that the project foundations be set and agreed upon by the customer, sponsor, and project members at the project's inception. Have your project teams often found themselves disagreeing about goals and priorities during project implementation? Does your organization like the idea of Agile but struggle to implement rapid change? Are there many approval levels within your organization? Large or corporate environments who are not as familiar with Agile tend to dip their toes in the DSDM approach more readily than other Agile methods.
If any of the above Agile methods struck a chord, it may be time to do a more formal assessment of your organization’s project management practices and/or project management office (PMO). Many organizations are becoming more Agile and using the key tenets of Agile methodologies to drive growth. A consultant well-versed in Agile can help define your needs and identify the best Agile methodologies to drive your team to success.