Integrating Agile into Existing Management Frameworks

In this era of constant technological shifts and unpredictable consumer bases, many organizations are attempting to adopt Agile project management to improve their flexibility and adaptability. Agile provides the versatility to grow and change with consumer needs. It keeps the development process iterative, malleable and on-track.

Transitioning to Agile is a step-by-step process, as it typically focuses more on flexibility and team collaboration rather than having the team follow a predetermined course. Many businesses are already invested in traditional project management approaches, where processes are typically much more systematic.

Agile and traditional project management frameworks such as Waterfall are not mutually exclusive. Many organizations can actually reap significant benefits when they integrate multiple approaches.

Blending Agile and Waterfall

By studying the strengths of each method, opportunities for integration become apparent. Agile, for example, allows for:

• Faster iteration
• Frequent releases
• Applicable user feedback during a project

Meanwhile, one advantage of the Waterfall methodology is significant planning and QA effort early in a project lifecycle. By incorporating that strategy into an Agile development process, teams can cut down on significant errors for the end user, all the while facilitating fast iteration and user feedback. Organizations can fully customize the extent of their blended integration to suit the needs of their team members and stakeholders.

A Hybrid Approach

Organizations who blend these approaches can do so by breaking projects into small tasks and phases. Each task should be assigned to the methodology proper suited to accomplish the job. Some items, like document requirements, planning the initial project outline, conducting full pre-release testing and launching the final project, often work well within a Waterfall approach.

However, the actual development typically plays to Agile’s strengths – things like two-week sprints, continuous testing and PSPI feedback.

For example, organizations may choose to follow a pattern that incorporates both methodologies into its processes, such as:

1. Document Requirements and User Stories [Waterfall]
2. Create Initial UI Designs and Wireframes [Waterfall]
3. Begin 1- or 2-Week Cycles of Software Development and Design [Agile]

• Test, Create Increments, Apply User Feedback until Beta Testing
• Conduct Beta Testing [Waterfall]
• Launch the Final Release [Waterfall]

Tips to Ease the Transition

Here are a few tips to help simplify the move to the Agile methodology:

1. Trust the Team – Agile teams should be trusted to learn and develop throughout the course of a project. An environment of trust encourages team members to experiment, be creative and discover efficiencies during development.
2. Communicate – Face-to-face communication typically helps encourage collaboration and teamwork. Daily meetings, such as quick 15-minute standups involving all the team members, helps keep everyone on the same page and working together.
3. Listen to the Customers – Customer stakeholders can often provide the quickest and clearest direction for a project. Their feedback is invaluable and should be recorded and applied after each iterative cycle.
4. Empower the Team – Encourage team members to help with planning. Ask for their opinions on strategies and workflows. Respect what they have to say. Facilitate growth and foster empowerment.
5. Prepare for Change – Adopting Agile is a process, not an overnight adjustment. Be prepared to see the change through to the end by setting expectations, communicating with management and supporting team members through transition periods.

Each method on its own offers structure to allow a project to move forward, but together they can increase flexibility while meeting budgets and timelines.