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In this article, we'll discuss why Agile for software development is an ideal approach while working remotely. Being Stuck in traffic, face-to-face demonstrations, and meetings, and a little gossip session at the coffee table in office – Before 2020 this was a routine for every employed individual. After COVID-19, to contain the spread of the virus, people around the world are forced to work remotely from their homes: a new normal for the world. To fulfill the communication gap, conventional teamwork routines need to be revised. Although remote work is not part of agile methodology like scrum, the adaptation of agile methodology can make remote work more efficient.
Benefits Of Scrum and Sprint
Agile Methodology is based on procedures like Scrum and Sprint meetings. Sprint meetings are carried out to schedule activities for the near future. The breakdown of the whole project into sub-tasks allows the stakeholders and product owner to mutually plan the deliverables for the upcoming weeks. Scrum meetings are scheduled daily with the team in which every team member demonstrates the progress of their part and any possible blockage. All these reports are shared with the product owner to avoid any redundancy or clash. Remote teams specifically enjoy the perks of this methodology as it doesn't leave any void for errors caused by miscommunication and the progress of remote team members can be easily monitored with this methodology.
Agile Methodology In A Nutshell
Agile methodology was originally designed for software development now used in many other fields to improve productivity. The methodology first coined at the start of the 21st century as mainstream project management practices experienced the defects in the waterfall model while dealing with lengthy and complex projects. The waterfall model is a linear model that completes a project by finishing one phase after another whereas the overall roadmap is already determined at the start of the project. On the other hand, the agile methodology provides a dynamic roadmap, due to its adaptability and flexibility.
Benefits of Agile for Software Development
Since Agile Methodology can be implied to any area, it has become crucial for remote teams to follow the Agile Development Methodology, which has brought up modern-day Remote Agile Teams. Let’s discuss in detail how Agile Methodology benefits remote teams.
Transparent Objectives
While working with remote employees the product owners usually fail to create clear milestones. Instead, they just order a product or service, and when things crash both sides experience failure. While with Agile the product owners partially act as stakeholders (due to scrum routine) and the whole team set up the roadmap for the project by setting out clear milestones. This level of flexibility allows the remote teams to work from different continents and remain goal-oriented. Making milestones clear also assists in dodging most of the probable hurdles by filtering out the inputs and output first.
Diversity and Freedom
Remote teams can enjoy the overwhelming diversity and fully acknowledge the overall mindset of other team members. Isolated team members lack the same level of creativity and experience which can be very useful for the growth of themselves as well as the organization. Agile supports sharing ideas as it provides an organized base to get the work done as per requirements. While Agile is not immune to the changes that the team suggests thus promote diversity by enabling the freedom of expression for all remote teams.
Flexibility
The primary feature of Agile for software development is flexibility as seen in all other features directly or indirectly. Due to remote work, it becomes mandatory to go for it. Remote teams have different skillsets and working taboos but if we allow the agile methodology to join the room all teams can be made flexible and co-operating. Agile Teams and product owners become more synchronized for successful and on-time completion of the project and due to flexibility offered by Agile methodology, any undesired or unpredictable circumstances can be foreseen and avoided.
Time Factor
A project is defined as something that has a starting date and an ending date. It shows the importance of the time factor in any project. Agile promises you the opportunity to do the work done within the designated time frame. By adopting the agile methodology you get a more picture of milestones and a transparent roadmap with the flexible team so you can surely meet the strict deadlines and it becomes much easier for the remote teams to make timely deliveries.
Reduced Risks and Errors
Remote work routines are highly vulnerable to errors and damages because of communication gaps and time zone differences. But working with dependable Agile Teams, you can dilute the risks of failure. It can save the project from any plausible damage. From the investment risks to productivity risks these risks are not a problem anymore due to the immense level of transparency and connectivity by agile methodology. Primarily due to consistent feedback and responses from the product owners, the risks for any kind of imbalances or damages afterward can be eliminated simultaneously and it also paves the way for the team to mark progress.
Agile Project Management Tools
Agile took over the world like a pandemic. Many organizations have started thinking that it can be a potential tool to help in project management because of its promising results. There exist a variety of agile project management tools in the market among them two most detailed agile project management tools are Jira and Yodiz. Both are very customizable, but Yodiz surpasses Jira when it comes to cost-friendly choices. These tools are heaven for remote teams and allow them to connect and adopt agile principles.
Conclusion
The adaptation of agile methodology is a prolonged process that must be welcomed by the entire team. The role of team leaders also plays a critical role in making the agile routine a new normal for their team members. Although the cultural change in organizations is not something that happens overnight if everyone keeps putting his/her part of the effort and works collaboratively it’s not something that can’t be achieved. In the Post-COVID19 world, Scrum and other agile methodologies proved to be sunshine in dark to keep the team collaboration active despite the long distances, strict lockdown, and remote work. By adapting and merging the aforementioned features and benefits of agile in your project can open new corridors of success for your organization. This way the containment measures and obligation to work remotely also possess an opportunity to mark success in the form of agile methodology – Go Agile.
