20 Agile Project Management Key Principles

Editorial Team

agile principles

Project management is a wide field that forms the basic platform for the organization and planning of projects. New ideologies have been incorporated in this field, and it has seen the development of agile project management which is more feasible than the traditional one. It was originally brought on board by software developers but it has grown to be a larger framework of project management. Let us have a look at some agile management key principles. Read on and find out.

1.    Team Conduct Experiments To See What Works Best

Teamwork is one of the most emphasized aspects when it comes to agile project management. This framework works on a principle that is actionable and there is a need for the team to work towards continuous improvement which involves conducting a series of experiments to see what works best. This improves the performance index because it will be largely based on customer satisfaction and sustainable development. Conducting experiments allows the blending of ideas to come up with software that will meet user needs dimensionally. To achieve this there is a need to conduct an assessment and evaluation to identify whether the goal has been achieved before it is put to use.

2.      Communication Flowing Freely

Communication is very essential in every development team. It helps people to communicate their ideas and ask a question regarding various issues that will promote the implementation and effectiveness of the program. One of the key principles in agile project management is embracing face to face communication. It has been termed as an effective method to pass information because it enhances accuracy and timeliness. This ensures that the response given to the asked questions is reliable and it can be actualized.

Therefore, there is a need for the team to work under one roof because it makes this consultative way of communicating easy and convenient for everyone. Additionally, it can also be interpreted as direct communication where you have a one on one chat with your respondent instead of using computer-generated email response. Technology has made this possible irrespective of the distance because people can now discuss issues through different platforms and conference calls. This boosts the communication flow and it brings some kind of organized information for easy retrieval and implementation.

3.    Self-Organizing

The agile principle emphasizes that a self-driven team provides the best results. This implies that the team members have the independence to put forward their attention to attaining customer satisfaction. When this happens work will be shared by consensus depending on the abilities of the teammates. Members don’t need to be supervised and told what they need to do at a particular point in time. They are given a free will go approach problems and provide the solutions in their way.

If you notice that there is still some micromanagement withing a team then that can be described as a red flag according to the agile principles. The benefit of having a self-driven team is that it increases productivity during the project. It is during such a time that the team acts as one because they bear each other weaknesses and upholds their strengths. The team should be left to run on their own because different people approach issues differently. The best designs and architectures have been noted to emerge from self-driven teams who pursue their purpose until they achieve their goals.

4.    Plan And Projects Could Be Fluid

Planning is very important in every project development. It is the critical stage where it will determine how the project will unfold to completion. Well, the plan and the projects can be fluid as per the agile principles. This implies that the approach to the initially tabled plan is subject to change based on the current situation. If the team by any chance gets to discover a new way of how they can get things on track without wasting so much time then they can embrace that idea.

This is because agile project management doesn’t advocate the traditional way of doing things whereby documentation was more valued. This gives room for the project management teams to improvise on methods that will bring more substantial results. They can blend in different innovations that might have been left out during the planning stages because the ultimate goal is to increase value to the project.

5.    Cross Function

Agile project management principles allow for cross-functional measures to be taken as one way of enhancing performance. This involves having a cross-functional team with multidisciplinary capabilities. The team can consist of members of diverse departments and organizations who are willing g towards a common goal. This principle is very effective because it ensures the team becomes innovative. It discourages group thinking because everyone has a different approach on how to solve a problem. When all these methodologies are tabled and evaluated there will be a better way to handle any upcoming challenges hence it will ensure the project will be successful.

Additionally, it also fosters creativity because of multidisciplinary capabilities among the members of the project development team. Therefore, anyone is free to come up with a unique idea and solution based on his or her field of expertise. This will be coherent with the ore value of agile principles which requires interactions over tools and processes as a way to solve the problem and to get the job well done.

6.    Ultimately Pragmatic

Agile principles discourage comprehensive documentation. This is normally more of a theory-oriented approach to handling a project. Therefore, as an adherence to the principle, there is a need to be ultimately pragmatic. Any idea or solution that is brought on board should be practical. The idea of practicality is to ensure you don’t emphasize on paperwork which might not be actionable when it comes to the actualization of the project. Therefore, when every team member is aware of this then at the end of it all you will have practical options to choose from when comes to solving particular problems. This will save time and ensures the project is handled effectively.

7.    Welcoming Late Changes

In project management, you will experience a couple of changes that should be made. The traditional way of handling projects could not manage to implement late changes because of its rigid framework. Well, the agile project management has made it easy to make late changes even it the last phase of development. This flexibility is one of the biggest advantages that you will enjoy by using this framework. This is allowed to ensure customer satisfaction is not obscured by the time to make changes.

When making the change it is advisable to time between the conception and the implementation of the change. This collectively ensures the change is taken in successfully and the customer can also get the opportunity to enjoy the impact brought by the changes made. Therefore, if you are part of the development team know that your idea counts no matter the stage the project has been developed.

However, it is important to know that the requirements and changes can evolve but it is good to do it within the provided time frame. This allows the agile teams to stay updated without lacking behind the schedule.

8.    Active Customer Involvement Is Essential

The main goal of agile principles is to ensure there is customer satisfaction. This involves the implementation of any necessary changes to ensure no stone is left unturned. The agile groups should also work in collaboration and ensure every idea is invited and evaluated if it will bring better results. Additionally, during the entire process, it is recommended that there should be active customer involvement. This ensures that their interest is brought on board so that possible ways can be implemented to see that the customers will be happy with the output.

The customer reaction and suggestions should also be taken positively because it gives some insight o hat to expect upon completion of the project. The customers can participate actively by being part of the agile team. Their multidisciplinary roles in the team will ensure the project meets the objectives that will bring success upon completion.

9.    The Customer Is Closely Involved While Work Is Being Performed.

Customer involvement is mandatory for more substantial results. They play a crucial role because they act as oversight to the project. Well, the most critical question that most people tend to ask is the point of involvement. The customers should be incorporated since the inception of the project through the entire process. The most common mistakes that some project developers tend to make is involving the customers as the late stages of the project. This is inappropriate because you will miss capturing the needs of the customer.

The project should act as a problem-solving tool especially for a case of software developments. This is also an opportunity to edge out technical hitches. This explains why the customer should be involved and given a chance to actively participate in the project. The good thing with agile methodology is that it is flexible and changes can be made all through. This is to ensure the efficiency of the project is uphold because it prioritizes customer satisfaction.

10. Teamwork To Resolve Problems

To succeed in an agile project there is a need to embrace teamwork. The good thing with it is that the teams are self-reliant and there is no micromanagement. This gives a good platform for the team members to collaborate and cooperate. Therefore, there is no room for grudges and ego within the team. All the team members must be willing to be transparent and honest if they want to deliver the best end product. In case of any problem, the team should become together and discuss possible ways to handle the situation. The most recommended way of communication is face to face.

This gives the team a good opportunity to build rapport among themselves who h will enhance strengthen their teamwork. They will learn to embrace their weaknesses and capitalize on their strengths which form a basis of problem-solving skills. However, teamwork doesn’t come naturally by converging in a meeting. It requires effort to promote collaboration and cooperation.

11. Daily Stand Up Meetings To Update Work, Plans, And Challenges

Working on an agile project is very dancing. You will have to fully dedicate yourself and your time to engage actively in the entire process. The good thing is that there is self-dependent teamwork that helps in minimizing the workload through collective responsibility. Therefore, there is a need to have daily stand up meetings to ensure all the work plans and reviews are done appropriately.

It is through such meetings that the team can reflect on their progress by evaluating its performance and coming up with possible interventions for improvement. If things don’t go as planned then it is the right forum to discuss in the meeting and get back on track as soon as possible.

Regular meetings act as an evaluation tool that oversees the progress of the project. If you happen to have a new idea on how a problem can be solved then such meetings provide a good platform to ensure there is smooth running of the project. All the work plans should also be updated and possible changes to be made as early as possible through a consultative approach. The success of the project depends on how issues are discussed and the implementation of possible mitigation measures.

12. Less Focus On Formal And Directive Process

The agile project requires a less formal and directive approach. It is based on the flexibility that everyone can contribute to the success of the project. This enhances teamwork as part of problem-solving through sharing ideas and intervention measures. It requires less management because the team is allowed to manage themselves. This promotes effective communication because the team is self-reliant and self-dependent The individuals are required to be motivated and committed to accomplishing the team objectives. Therefore, there is a need to provide a conducive environment where anyone stands a chance to positively contribute to the actualization of the project.

13. Work Is Delivered In Small And Frequent Releases

An agile project is expected to bring about customer satisfaction through frequent releases. This implies that the customers will get to see the value of what they are paying for because their need is met appropriately. Therefore, to achieve this you need to deliver value frequently on a smaller scale and shorter timeframe. Don’t overwork yourself because you will end up getting overwhelmed and you might not succeed in containing your customers.

That is why it is emphasized that limit the documentation during the planning process and spend more time working on the project. This makes you more agile. Additionally, you need to maintain a sustainable working pace if you want to deliver frequent releases. Optimize the way you work so that you might not be overburdened Along the way. By doing this you will deliver frequently in the market and respond to any possible changes that will make your project more feasible and productive.

14. Rapid Feedback Loops

In an agile development project, there is a need to have a rapid feedback loop because it increases the agility of the individuals or teammates. The purpose of having a rapid feedback loop is centered on customer satisfaction. It is true to say that the market is dynamic and there are a lot of changes that are happening within a very short time. Therefore, to stay on course you will need to have feedback to help in monitoring and evaluation. This prompts the implementation of other intervention measures to help you stay relevant in the market by meeting customer needs.

The feedback loop also increases productivity. Any idea that is implemented in the framework can be counterchecked by the success rate that it brings. Therefore, this is all about taking charge of the entire process starting from the planning stages to the completion of the project. Since you can have various individuals from the different multidisciplinary field it makes it more convenient to have a feedback loop who h helps in gauging the progress of the entire time towards achieving the objectives beforehand.

15. Model Is Focused On Adaption

The agile framework is growing and evolving every day. Most prospective developers are finding it the more innovative approach of project management. This framework is focused on adaption because the teams are expected to be self-reliant and devise ways on how to cope up with emerging challenges and provide timely solutions. Additionally, this framework prioritized customer satisfaction and to achieve it there is a need for coordinated collaboration by having like-minded and motivated individuals to be part of the team.

These individuals come from different fields including the customers. Therefore, this will prompt you to change the way you approach issues because the challenges will have to be tailored in a unique and agile way which is different from the traditional approach. Therefore, to be able to actively participate and bring some impact on the project you need to adapt to change and fit in accordingly. Changes can be done at any point during the process which implies your contribution will be incorporated in the implementation of the project.

16. Meetings Are Held To Discuss Work Done Yesterday, Plans Of Today.

Agile framework emphasis a series of meetings because it is the collective responsibility of every teammate to ensure the projects roll out effectively. Based on the fact that the communication being used is face to face then there is a proper discussion of issues based on the work done the previous days and any upcoming plans. In these meetings, the challenges that have been encountered are also brought to light so that members can look further into possible solutions and if they are practical enough then they can be implemented as soon as possible.

It is during such forums that the monitoring and evaluation of the project are done by checking on the productivity levels. This allows the team to work towards a common goal without losing track. The most important thing is to ensure the subject of the discussion provides some leads on how customer satisfaction will be met regarding the product that will be released to the market.

17. Highly Democratic And Implement A Series Of Short And Repeatable Practices.

The agile framework is based on the set of values and principles which are highly democratic and requires a series of implementation to boost effectiveness. There is less management and focusing on a directive approach to solving issues. The team discusses issues and they resolve to series of repeatable practices to enhance its productivity The customer satisfaction is based on frequent releases which imply there is a need to evaluate every practice in a more substantial way to ensure the dynamics of the market are met.

In this framework, anybody is free to share his idea and the team will collectively work to see if it is practical enough to be implemented in the project. There are no restrictions because everyone plays a role in the success of the project. Most organizations have adopted this framework because there is less management. The teams are expected to be self-driven towards a common purpose.

18. More Focus On Why

The agile principle requires the project managers to be inquisitive enough and have a critical approach on how to handle things. The implementation of any ideology is based on critical thinking rather than group psychology. This requires individuals to develop a practical approach to the implementation of various principles that will set the project on the right path. The good thing is that it is a democratic framework that allows you to find the reason as to why certain mitigation measures should be implemented.

19. Retrospective Review Is Held At The End Of Each Iteration

Agile principles provide for the review of the progress after each iteration. This allows for sustained development and it increases effectiveness. This is because it largely contributes to the monitoring and evaluation scheme which helps in counter checking the productivity rate of the policies implemented at the end of each iteration. Therefore, scheduling meetings can serve as a better platform for taking an in-depth review to ensure the objective of the project is safeguarded until completion.

20. Shared Ownership

This is one of the most fundamental. metrics that promote agility of the project. Everyone has a role to play in realizing the success of the project. The agile framework doesn’t offer for Central point of management. Instead, it advocated for a collective approach and teamwork in coming up with interventions and implementation of policies that will ensure the project progresses successfully. Therefore, through shared ownership, the problem of burnouts among the development teams is eliminated because everyone plays his portion at his own pace. This has an impact on quality and productivity.

Conclusion

Agile principles are going to be more relevant as technology advances. This will.lead to more productive development teams because the principles that I have highlighted in this article greatly help in creating an efficient and collaborative environment. Agile development is an invigorating and exciting approach that offers a rewarding experience for the team to ensure they come up with great software products that will meet the needs of the customers.