Agile Methods 101

Diane Strode

Primary source

The agile methods : an analytical comparison of five agile methods and an investigation of their target environment.

• Master of Information Sciences (Information Systems) Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

• Available: http://adt.caul.edu.au/

Proposed Agile Method First Published

Journal Article

Book

1 Dynamic Systems Development Method

DSDM 1995 1997

2 Crystal methods Crystal 1998 2002

3 RUP (configured) dX 1998

4 Extreme Programming XP 1999 2000

5 Adaptive Software Development ASD 2000

6 Scrum Scrum 1999 2002

7 Pragmatic Programming PP 2000

8 Internet Speed Development ISD 1999

9 Agile Modeling AM 2002

10 Feature Driven Development FDD 2002

11 Open Source Software Development OSS 2002

12 Lean Development LD 2002 2003

Purpose• DSDM - a framework for RAD development• Scrum – a method for project management of iterative

development• XP – a method for software development in high change

environments using small teams and standard software engineering techniques to satisfy customer needs and maintain effective teams

• ASD - a framework for managing software development projects that are under intense time pressure and have rapidly changing requirements. Based on complex adaptive systems theory. Uses RAD techniques

• Crystal methods - for designing a methodology to suit a specific project

DSDM, XP, Scrum, ASD, Crystal Methods – common factors

• Published between 1995 – 2002 in the USA and UK• Methods address business problems and provide

technical solutions • Practitioner based • Project manager and developer perspective• Incremental development• Iterative development with 1 month iterations

optimal• Projects undergoing constant change

DSDM, XP, Scrum, ASD, Crystal Methods – common factors

• Active user involvement• Feedback and learning• Teamwork and empowered teams• Communication between all stakeholders is critical• Small teams of 3-10 programmers is optimal• Frequent meetings, daily is optimal• Working software is the main product of development• Modelling techniques are not mandated• Minimise documentation

Agile Method Combinations

• Proposed by others

• XP and Scrum• XP and Crystal methods• XP and ASD• XP and RUP• XP and DSDM• RUP and Scrum

Agile Method Combinations

Proposed from my research • DSDM – a framework – use with techniques from

any other agile method (XP or Scrum)• XP and Scrum – XP provides software development

techniques/Scrum provides management practices• XP and Crystal - XP acts as the base method which is

tailored for each project using Crystal principles

• Scrum, ASD and Crystal can use any software engineering techniques as long as those techniques achieve the goals of the methodology

When should you use an agile method?

• Research studyNine projects, different organisations, different types of organisation, questionnaire Calculated agile method usage Looked at correlation between agile method usage and factors in the development environment

Factors investigated• Organisation factors

– social interaction is trustful, collaborative, competent…• Domain factors

– Internet application domains …• Technological factors

– automated testing, object-oriented technology…• Project factors

– time pressure, requirements stability…• People factors

– CRACK customers, experienced developers…

Target environment for agile methods

Statistically significant correlation between usage and factor for the following factors (about 32 factors were investigated)

1. The organisation values feedback and learning. Social interaction in the organisation is trustful, collaborative, and competent

2. The organisation values teamwork, is flexible and participative, and encourages social interaction. The project manager acts as a facilitator

3. The organisation enables empowerment of people4. The management style is that of leadership and collaboration5. The organisation is results oriented6. Leadership in the organisation is entrepreneurial, innovative, and risk taking7. The organisation is based on loyalty and mutual trust and commitment 8. Projects undergoing constant change

• Is this generalisable, or cause and effect?- No –

• sample too small, as usual, further studies needed!

Keep in mind that you may have fewer problems using an agile method if these factors are present in your

organisation or project