It's an all too familiar scenario - software projects come in late, over budget and lacking in quality. Failure of projects means slower time to market and slower time to release, longer testing cycles, and projects that don't meet their functionality objectives.
This adds up to huge financial costs and, when coupled with the human cost of consistent failure - unmotivated teams and high staff turnover - the situation is even more grim.
Forrester Research (2004)
Agile software development has emerged to address the reality of poorly developed software not meeting business needs. It's strength lies in its practices that organisations can implement to improve the software process. These practices are based upon a set of principles that focus on delivering business value.
A common issue felt across organisations is the gap between the software delivery group and the business. At the foundation is a lack of clear communication and times spent on non-value add activity.
Agile techniques use distinct practices such as daily stand ups and retrospectives to increase communication.
Agile ensures teams are focused on delivering the highest business value functionality first. This is based on the 80/20 rule, where Agile teams know that 20% of the functionality delivers 80% of the business value. This cuts time to market, but more importantly, delivers prioritised business value at all stages.
Agile environments help forge a close working relationship between customers (business) and developers. Customers are responsible for steering projects and making business value decisions, whereas developers make technical decisions. The team is one team, with customers and developers often working side by side.
Working with LogicaCMG, Exoftware helped to deliver a Minimum Market Feature set of a new product within 12 weeks. This allowed LogicaCMG to go to market very early, which led to a sale to a tier one mobile provider in a multi million Euro deal. The tangible realisation of revenue was a huge benefit as well as being the advantage of being early to market.
Testing is at the heart of Agile methods. Like TQM or Lean Manufacturing in the manufacturing industry, testing is built into the development cycle, rather than inspected for at the end when the cost of change is the highest. Early and often delivery ensures adequate time for feedback and to make changes.
There is a focus on technical excellence when implementing Agile methodologies, particularly Extreme Programming. By using techniques such as Test Driven Development & Automated Acceptance Testing, quality is delivered & measurable at the code level as well as at the business value delivered level.
Working with GE Mobile over a six week period, Exoftware introduced a fully automated test framework that reduced testing time by over 80%. GE Mobile is so pleased with the results that they have Exoftware on retainer help them continuously improve their delivery to the business.
Exoftware continuously helps companies to slash their test cycles from months to days. In fact many of our clients no longer have a distinct test phase.
Many software companies spend a large amount of time developing functionality they think is important but for which there is no demand in the market. Delivering early and often and with close collaboration between business and IT means that change can be captured as the market changes. Agile methods acknowledge change and use processes and practices to add business value and thereby competitive advantage.
Agile development is a planning driven approach rather than a plan driven approach. This allows the team to continuously steer the project in the right direction and allows changes to be embraced without exorbitant costs.
3Q develops software that supports the sale of financial products to consumers. This is an extremely competitive and fast moving industry, where timing is everything. 3Q was developing a behemoth of a product - with time to market estimated at 18 to 24 months. Exoftware introduced a process allowing them to develop modular products that address immediate market needs. 3Q has made sales sooner than anticipated and can turn out products extremely quickly.
Agile teams are collaborative and the practices enforce a high level of communication and feedback. There is a strong element of shared responsibility, which gives the team a sense of ownership.
By empowering teams to make decisions, continuous improvement through retrospection and fostering a culture of continuous learning and respect, people will enjoy their work and feel a true sense of contribution.
From HP to Egg Bank to BNP Paribas, every client that Exoftware has worked with has noted a distinct increase in morale when working in an Agile way. Managers have noted that teams are more engaged in the project and feel a sense of success.
Want to know how Agile methods can help your project? Contact us.
"Exoftware has extensive knowledge and expertise in the Agile process. Their strong customer base across the IT industry has allowed them to acquire valuable domain knowledge and sector experience. These assets, combined with unending energy, enthusiasm and dedication to us as a customer, have delivered major benefits to Vodafone's software delivery life cycle. The key satisfaction indicators include lower development costs and a happier team."Kieran Murphy, Software Development Manager / Senior Technical Architect, Vodafone Ireland
Our clients are the most eminent companies spanning a wide range of industry sectors.
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