Thursday 05 May 2005
The interest in Agile Software Methodologies over the past number of months has soared, receiving widespread coverage in the UK and Irish press with companies such as BNP Paribas highlighted.
DUBLIN, Ireland / 05/01/05 / - Awareness of Agile software methodologies has grown considerably over the past year. A number of reports released by Forrester during the first half of the year, looked at how to adopt Agile development and the feedback from customers that have used it to date. More recently a number of articles in Computer Weekly, IT Week, Silicon, Yahoo News and even the Economist have looked in more detail at companies using Agile approaches.
Agile software development is a disciplined and feedback based approach focused on delivering maximum business value. It looks at a number of best practises that can be used to deliver working software early and often on projects. Focus is on high quality software and speed to market. Highlighting these benefits was a case study on European banking and financial group BNP Paribas, recently published in Computer Weekly and Banking Technology, focused on Fred Tingey, UK head of Risk IT at BNP Paribas and his decision to transition to Agile development. Tingey outlines benefits such as constant feedback and working software delivered early and often. He notes that this allows customers to decide how much functionality an application requires without having to wait for the full system to be developed, allowing for more flexibility. Tingey commented that he believed in five or ten years all software development will be done in this way because of its inherent advantages. In addition, the Economist recently published a special report on the three main trends shaping the future of software development. Beyond lifecycle management, testing and open source, Agile was noted as being a key to “a future where failure is an exception rather than a rule.” “That publications such as the Economist are talking about Agile shows the approach is no longer something being talked about in small enclosed specialist groups, but a concept that is now being widely discussed in the business world,” said Brian Hanly, a director of Exoftware, a leading European specialist in Agile software development. Finally 2004 announced the launch of the Agile Alliance Europe (AAE). As the European arm of the Agile Alliance, the AAE opened up to general membership at the end of October with much coverage from the press. The non-profit organisation offers a forum for software developers, IT managers and business people to share ideas and access data about Agile methods. Hanly, a contributor to the AAE, adds “The uptake in interest in Agile over the past twelve months has been extraordinary. The Agile Alliance Europe has been holding Seminars across Europe for the past eighteen months. These groups allow businesses and IT people interested in Agile to meet up and discuss their individual experiences. The record breaking attendance at each of these events highlights the growing interest in this area throughout Europe.” ENDS
About Exoftware Exoftware is a leading European specialist in Agile software development methods such as Extreme Programming (XP), a lightweight, flexible yet disciplined approach to developing software. Clients in many varied industries such as financial services, telecom, high-tech and government, rely on our proven Agile enablement services.
The team of mentors and coaches at Exoftware bring a wide range of management and technical experience to each client partnership. It is this well of knowledge – not just on Agile processes – but on management, people and technology that clients seek, and allows us to successfully catalyse Agile organisations. As exemplars of Agility, we have assisted companies develop as learning organisations with a focus on technical excellence.
Our client focused ethos ensures we remove development risk, by adapting to client needs, leaving teams better off and with more skills and most importantly, committing whatever it takes to ensure project success.
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with offices in London, Paris and Zurich, Exoftware is a key leader within the European Agile community. Our mentors are frequent contributors to industry and business publications. And as directors of Agile Alliance Europe, hosts of various Agile events and speakers on Agile topics at industry events, we work closely with other Agile minded companies and organisations throughout Europe with one aim: getting the industry Agile.
For more information about Exoftware please visit http://www.exoftware.com Contact: Exoftware Emma Donlon, +44 (0)20 7493 1805 / +353 1 4100 527 edonlon@exoftware.com
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