Agile Transformation for SMBs, The Goods and The Bads

Agile transformation has become very popular on the lips of countless team leads especially in SMBs. The last two decades have featured a high change rate from the traditional waterfall Software development methodology to the Agile Software development methodology especially among small and medium businesses.  

As a small or medium scale business owner, you can choose to ignore the pressure to follow other market players into agile transformation. However, you should make this decision based on a solid understanding of agile planning and methodology. Agile transformation is an evolution and may become a key factor in the future. Do not miss future opportunities because of a lack of knowledge. Instead, learn how the system works so you can make an informed decision.

Below is a clear explanation of Agile Transformation. After reading it, you will understand the key concepts, advantages, and disadvantages. This knowledge will help you decide whether to move your team and projects to agile software development methodologies.

Agile is a project management methodology that uses a step-by-step approach for planning, execution, and evaluation.

Unlike the traditional waterfall model, teams perform planning, execution, and evaluation at the same time in incremental phases that last two to eight weeks. This means the team divides the project into phases. In each phase, the team plans, executes, tests, and delivers part of the project to the client for review. The team then incorporates feedback while continuing development. The team evaluates each new increment and repeats this process until completion.

Agile is best for small and medium sized teams or for projects whose designs emerge through trial and error. Agile transformations thrive on client’s availability for extensive meetings on review and planning, and the team’s ability to work with agile collaboration tools.  The following are advantages and disadvantages of Agile transformation. 

Pros: 

Faster turnaround times 

Agile project management reduces redundancies and speeds up deployment. When clients need to capture the market before competitors act, Agile helps teams respond quickly. Scrum helps teams identify and fix issues and misrepresentations early in the development process. This approach makes progress clear and allows teams to track it effectively.

Better adaptability to change 

With the Agile methodology, the possibility of wasting the few available resources is slim. At the end of each phase, you can easily detect and fix defects faster and always work on up-to-date tasks. 

Better quality 

The iterative and flexible nature of the Agile methodology ensures the close collaboration between the project team and the customer. This helps the team to understands the needs of clients at every stage of deployment and is able to give clients quality solutions. 

Reduced cost 

This incremental software development methodology provides strong value for both the project team and the customer. Teams divide deployment into phases and run rapid, iterative cycles, which helps them avoid the need to rerun projects and reduce costs.

Cons: 

Fast-paced environment 

It cannot thrive in a system that features bureaucracy either on the part of the client or the team. 

Limitation by output  

The Agile software development methodology is more suited for product companies over service-providing companies and consultancies. 

Agile Rollout Plan 

Develop Team / Agilists  

The first step to running an Agile transformation is to get the team members onboard. Agility is more people-oriented than number-centric. It takes an agilists team to seamlessly run the agile software development methodology. At this point, the team lead at the SMB is charged with the responsibility of identifying a project through which the team can learn the practicality of agility. 

Review of current processes / gaps and go-to actions 

Once the demo project is identified, the team lead then takes the team through the review of the present software development process, highlights the gaps in the procedure and recommends agile transformation as a solution.  

Agile Education  

Now that the team has realized the lag that the traditional project management method produces, you would have created a good launch pad for introducing the Agile software development methodology. It is obvious to the team that there is a need for a transformation and hence, the team is better prepared to welcome the transformation process and give in their best to the deployment of a seamless transformation. 

Once you have readied the minds of team members then the introduction is made. The team receives a detailed but abstract explanation of what the Agile methodology is and what is expected of an Agile team. 

Agile Game (Lego?) to help with understanding concepts  

Now that the abstract learning phase is over, you can help the team learn Scrum better with games. Introduce the team to the concept of Scrum with the Lego game. It helps the team to get a hands-on experience of the operations of the Agile project management methodology.  

Tools/Roles and Schedule  

At this point the team lead introduces the trial project to the team, allocates roles, schedules tasks, identifies testing resources, sets up testing tools, plans test, decides architecture, maps out tracking tools and sets iteration period. This demo project is the crux of the transformation process and if well deployed will save the team some months of errors, redundancies and fall outs.   

Trial Project  

The execution of the project is rolled out. The planning stage is executed, and team members are up to speed with the details required to execute the project. Now, the team lead carefully directs the team in deploying the agile methodology. 

At this point, the objective is to help team mates to fully understand the procedure rather than achieve great quality. So, entertain as much questions as there are, encourage mistakes, provide practical welcomed.  

Lessons Learnt  

The final stage of deployment is an evaluation of the transformation process. The team lead wants to collect feedbacks about lessons learnt, grey areas, area of strength, and area of improvement. 

In conclusion, Agile transformation is a must-do process for every product offering small or medium scale business. While it is okay to have the team lead chart the course of the transformation process, several consulting services provide this service with topnotch professionalism and excellence. ITSTEADY is a key player within this niche. ITSTEADY consulting service has proven track of successful engagement in Agile Transformation. The detailed and simple transformation procedures employed helps teams around the globe to join the Agile force seamlessly over a little learning period. 

Saying that Scrum is the future of team collaboration is no further from the truth. It is the present. So, if you ever make a decision to join this force, ITSTEADY is your go-to.