At a glance, working under agile methodologies seems like a trend. Everyone’s doing it at angel-backed startups and at the hottest new software development studios. Bigger, established companies are still using the tried and tested traditional approach, with a rigid hierarchy – and they don’t seem to be struggling much.
When it comes to Agile Product Management, navigating all the terms and ideas can feel like a minefield. Underneath all the keywords and buzzwords are powerful tools that can shape the form that your product ends up taking. These tools can also help determine the speed and quality of your product development flow by giving your teams clarity and understanding.
Are you doing agile – without even knowing it? You probably are if you’re reading this. Most companies today are actually on the agile business roadmap, somewhere. But what’s the destination? If you’ve read our post on setting SMART goals, you’ll know that it takes a goal to make a plan, and that measurement is a huge part of the journey to success. Becoming an agile organisation is no different, and measuring your progress towards your final destination is a key factor.
An agile workflow is crucial for a on organization both large and small to release product updates efficiently and quickly. As many with a technical background are aware the most difficult thing for a software development team is to release a product that works perfectly, in a timely fashion without any bugs and mishaps. In most cases, their product is riddled with bugs and issues that render the software unusable.
As a consultant, I have had the privilege of working with a large number of organisations; from world-class software development powerhouses, to startups just getting their feet wet. No matter the size, the technology, or the market, they all have at least one common interest: to gain a competitive advantage. They might not always word it the same way from company to company, but it’s what they want.
Since its release nearly two decades ago, Jira has always been a firm favourite among software companies. Developed by Atlassian, the agile project management tool is currently used by over 70,000 teams worldwide. It has definitely made its mark and helped shape the entire development sector over the years. However, in recent times Jira has become increasingly unpopular with the teams who were once all too happy to sing its praises from the rooftops.
Agile meetings have two specific features that set them apart from regular meetings: they are focused on delivering value, and are strictly time-boxed. In fact, these two features make them quite productive, in contrast to most other regular meetings. These meetings are inseparable from an effective agile approach to product development. The reason is ingrained in the nature of agile approaches.
Ever thought deeply about what an agile work environment means? An agile work environment is one in which employees have the freedom and flexibility to work in different sections of the workplace whenever they want and whatever they prefer. This freedom of choice in the work environment boosts productivity. However, the concept of a flexible work environment encompasses much more than simply adapting space to meet the demands of employees.
