Outsourcing4work has used Agile project management for years. All of our project managers are specialists in this method, which leads to exceptional results for our clients. But what makes Agile project management so successful?
Agile project management is actually an umbrella term for various methods based mainly on flexibility and adaptation. The term dates back to the Agile manifesto in 2001, in which influential software developers wrote down the following basic principles for successful software development.
The Agile manifesto as a basis for Agile project management
“We uncover better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. We have come to value:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.”
These rather general principles are especially put to use in the Scrum and Kanban methods.
Agile project management methods: Scrum and Kanban
Scrum is an approach to project management. The term comes from rugby, which refers to the players push forward against a similar group from the opposing side. This idea of working closely together has carried over to project management and stands for flexibility, dynamic and daily meetings in which the project workers coordinate their tasks.
Scrum brings clarity into the development process
Scrum teams achieve this with a clear division in the roles of product owner, scrum master and the project team of employees. The product owner represents the users or stakeholders, the scrum master guides the project team.
Rather than working together as an uncoordinated team towards a broadly defined goal, the scrum method breaks down the entire development process into objectives and tasks, which are completed in stages referred to as sprints. Priorities, responsibilities, tasks, and processes are jointly set by the team before each sprint. Short daily meetings and debriefings provide the necessary information exchange.
Kanban boards make the project’s process visible
To ensure that all project employees have clarity on the project status, all tasks are put on tickets on a real, or software based board. This board is also called a Kanban board, and shows what has been done, what is currently being done and what is already finished. It serves the purpose of a sprint backlog, which can be view individually or as one and can be changed. That is Agile project management.
How Agile project management helps in Outsourcing
As an Outsourcing provider we provide first-rate software developers from India to European companies. We don’t leave the communication up to our clients however. Instead, we assist you through Agile project management throughout the entire project phase, and, despite the distance and differences in mentality, bring about efficient implementation. You can therefore benefit from the low rates without sacrificing quality, professionalism or fast implementation.
