Agile Methods – An Introduction to the Methods and Practices

What are Agile Methods? 

Agile methods are approaches to software development and project management that focus on flexibility, collaboration, and rapid response to change. They are based on the principles of the Agile Manifesto, which was formulated in 2001 by a group of software developers. Agile methods uniformly embrace the guiding principle of Customer Centricity. They are characterized by co-creation, iterative processes, rapid prototyping, and user testing.

What Agile Methods Are There?

The most well-known methods are Design Thinking, Business Model Generation, Lean Startup, Kanban and Scrum. Depending on the specific needs and project requirements, these methods can be applied sequentially and in a complementary way throughout the course of a project. Each method focuses on a specific aspect of the development process:

Design Thinking places emphasis on the customer or user and their problems. Building on that foundation, the method generates solution approaches and ensures the "desirability" of the prioritized solution. The primary objective is to understand customer needs and translate them into viable solutions.

The Business Model Generation method is used to develop new business models and/or to analyze or revise existing ones. The focus of this method lies in establishing the economic viability of the product.

Lean Startup is applied for user-centered development of products and services. Through rapid Build-Measure-Learn cycles, the product is continuously developed and tested for its “feasibility.”

Kanban and Scrum then concentrate on the actual implementation of the product or service. Kanban aims to optimize workflow and efficiency in real time by visualizing tasks and organizing them on a Kanban board.
With the Scrum method, teams work in sprints to achieve continuous progress and implement improvements.

A method matrix can be used to select the most suitable method for a given project. Adopting new working methods, principles, and processes helps companies respond effectively to the current challenges of digitalization. Agile methods can rapidly and customer-centrically advance the development of offerings and business models within organizations.

Why Are Agile Methods Important?

Agile methods represent a successful alternative to traditional approaches in project management and offer numerous advantages for project development and management. They provide flexibility in dealing with changing requirements and priorities throughout the entire project lifecycle. This flexibility helps teams respond quickly to changes and ensures that the final product meets current needs.

The iterative approach and the division of the project into smaller, manageable parts help deliver results more quickly and bring the product or service to market faster.
Agile methods promote collaboration and communication within the team and with stakeholders to identify and resolve issues at an early stage. Through continuous review of work throughout the process, agile teams can detect and correct potential errors or issues more quickly, leading to a higher quality end product.

Zusammenfassend tragen agile Methoden zu einer effektiven und flexiblen Herangehensweise an die Projektentwicklung bei und helfen, die Kundenzufriedenheit und die Qualität des Endprodukts zu erhöhen.