Going Agile !...

Going Agile in Software Development

With lot of community talk happening on Agile and how it aids/counters CMMI, here’s the crux of what Agile offers for software development :

1.Be Practical Boss:No one can hit bull’s eye !
When one knows the dynamics involved in

real time software development with frequent changes evolving requirements ,

don’t stick to a detailed plan and end up tracking and saying ,

”We couldn’t stick to the plan”.
Prepare a high level plan but plan broadly for all activities.
Plan in detail as project matures.


2.Dont lose your life sticking to Waterfall model
Customers give you more requirements when you give them a little idea

of what’s coming up.
So develop a core functional low version working model with key requirements

and get the real expectations of customer.

3.SW development is not Rocket Science

Iterate your work and freeze requirements , followed by design as you

develop .
Leave the military mantra :Design only after requirements , coding only

after design !

4.Fail early !!!
Develop test cases upfront ;use them to develop; defects early in the

low version model make final acceptance clear as requirements are

spelled out more clearly after that

5.No surprises ..
Do not try to get ‘WOW’ feeling from customer by showing the working

software only at the end. Murphys law has it that , 9/10 times you will

only get a response “Actually , I wanted something different “ !!

6. Documents make sense
Without documentation , success in SW development is a fluke.

Remember Abraham Lincoln words ‘You cant fool all of the people

all of the time ‘!.
Be professional and ensure ‘Just – fit ‘ documentation and

measures are collected to measure our agile moves.