Agile software development refers to methodologies and principles of effective, iterative, and collaborative programming. It becomes more and more popular nowadays as it suggests a more affordable and client-oriented process. Agile nearshoring means delegating programming tasks to dedicate teams in a nearby country to increase business success and get a project released faster.
Author: Anastasia Stefanuk, Mobilunity, https://mobilunity.com/
Agile development methodology originates from the document published in 2001, known as the Agile Manifesto, and describes the new way of the development process. There are several well-known methodologies (frameworks) under this term, such as Scrum or Kanban. Each team decides on their Agile framework, but they all align with the main principles.
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The main difference between Agile and the waterfall methodology is that it is not vertical. In a waterfall type of management, the project is divided into separate stages, where the team starts a new stage after they’ve finished the previous one. Agile software development deals with “sprints”, short-time development tasks that are developed, tested, reviewed, and presented simultaneously. In a waterfall project, the testing will take place after all programming is done, which increases the delivery time and results in many mistakes. Agile allows a more iterative and fast reaction to change and close collaboration between teams and clients.
Agile is all about responding to change and dealing with uncertainty in the most efficient way. The main principles of Agile nearshoring development are:
- Client satisfaction with high-quality development
- Response to all changes in requirements on every stage of programming
- Self-organized cross-functional teams of professionals
- Fast and constant delivery of work (regular presentation after each sprint);
- The success is measured with the result (high-quality software developed);
- Close and everyday collaboration between team members
- Simplicity and attention to detail.
How Popular is Agile Development Now?
Although Agile software development is not a very old concept, it has gained a fair share of popularity among professionals. Forbes even called it the most popular innovation engine, which is based on the survey “The State of Scrum”.
This survey provided valuable insight into the use of this methodology among many IT professionals, including Agile nearshoring companies. The main findings were quite interesting:
- Half of the respondents confirmed that it is used about 50% of the time in their companies.
- 49% the respondents name client satisfaction as the main priority to choose Scrum. They also believe that it is effective and helps business to grow
- 87% of respondents like the Agile framework Scrum and confirm that it improves the quality of the team’s work
Agile software development is popular not only in the private business sector. It has also been adopted by governmental structures, namely by the US government.
The extensive study on this topic shows quite exciting results. In 2012 the Management and Budget (OMB) office issued a policy that recommends adopting a modular approach to IT projects. And federal Digital Services Playbook encourages using Agile and iterative methodologies.
The popularity of the Agile framework has skyrocketed in governmental agencies. In 2011 only 10% of projects called themselves Agile, while in 2017 this number went to 80%.
And it is easy to understand why this methodology is so popular. Agile projects are 28% more successful than the traditional ones and it offers several essential advantages to both programmers and clients.
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Benefits of Agile Nearshore Development
Agile nearshoring companies provide excellent programming services as they take the best from the methodology benefits, such as:
- High-quality software. Any project is divided into smaller and more manageable tasks, which ensures collaborative programming and testing. Each iteration or sprint offers testing and debugging, which helps to find and eliminate any errors at the early stages.
- Client satisfaction. Agile development methodology requires close cooperation with client representatives. It means that with every iteration the client is aware of the progress and can make any changes in requirements to improve the value of the product. Another important factor of client satisfaction is that the product is delivered faster and the project is more affordable.
- Increased transparency. The clients and stakeholders have the opportunity to be invested in work progress. They are aware of all changes and the stages of development.
- Productivity. It helps to make the best of the resources of a company. The productivity is boosted in several ways, such as self-organization, teamwork in close collaboration, and short iterations. The huge project is divided into small sprints that can take 1-4 weeks; there is always a deadline, a clear scope of work for it, which also ensures effectiveness.
- Faster delivery. The sprints allow more predictability and control over the delivery of a product. The current progress is presented frequently and a client or stakeholder can easily see when it will be released. And beta software can be released even earlier.
- Predictable budget. Each sprint is fixed in time and the amount of work is also quite limited by the deadline. It makes the costs for a project more predictable and leaves no room for unexpected disbursements. It also shows the cost of each particular feature of the software, which helps to make decisions on the importance of such features.
- Response to changes. Agile software development allows making changes on any stage of the work and prioritizes the product backlog. The changes can be done in the next iteration, which means the new requirements can be brought to life in a few weeks.
- Collaborative environment. It encourages teamwork, valuable feedback, and sharing of knowledge. The self-organized teams are more motivated and dedicated to complete the task successfully. It puts a focus on a team and values their talent.
In Summary
Although one of the main advantages of Agile is accelerated product delivery, it is not the only one. Agile nearshore development allows a better quality of software created in a transparent and collaborative process. It is about reducing costs and time while releasing excellent products.
About the Author
Anastasia Stefanuk is a passionate writer and Information Technology enthusiast. She works as a Content Manager at Mobilunity, a provider of dedicated development teams around the globe. Anastasia keeps abreast of the latest news in all areas of technology, Agile project management, and software product growth hacking, sharing at the same time her experience online to help tech startups and companies to be up-to-date.
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