Running a successful software development business can be extremely challenging. This industry is filled with competition, which is why your main focus should be keeping the software development process fast and efficient is a must. If you are able to provide clients with high-quality software in a faster timeframe than your competitor, you should have no problem growing your company over time.
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Did you realize that nearly 54 percent of all project management failures are caused by poor management? One of the best ways to avoid this problem is by adopting the Agile methodology. By embracing the Agile way of doing things, you can enhance the amount of collaboration in your software development project.
Here are some of the things you need to do when attempting to pursue a full Agile software lifecycle in 2019.
1. Getting Your Team Onboard Should Be Priority Number One
Before you can start to reap the benefits of the Agile methodology, you will have to work on convincing your team of its effectiveness. Some software developers are creatures of habit, which means any type of change throws them for a loop. Instead of springing this change on your team all of the sudden, you need to make this a gradual transition.
In the beginning, your scrum team will have to learn just how valuable the agile principles. Once this team has this information, they can start to relay it to other members of your organization. Allowing team members to jump between Agile methodology and the old way of doing things can be time-consuming and expensive. This is why you need to work on phasing out old and inefficient methods used during the software development process.
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2. Embracing Automated Testing is a Must
One of the most time-consuming and frustrating parts of the software development process is manually testing the program every time a change is made. Not only will this manual testing frustrate your team, it can also lead to errors occurring. This is why using automated testing tools during this process is so important.
The longer you allow your team to manually test software, the higher the risk of holes in the coverage will become. With the power of automated testing, your team can see what their changes do to a program in real-time. The last thing you want to do is make it hard for your scrum teams to deliver valuable and glitch-free programs.
Catching the problems with a new software program is easy when using the Papertrail system. This system allows you to access all of the error logs your software creates on the cloud. With this program, finding and fixing software problems will be a breeze.
3. Creating a Clear Roadmap Before Software Development Begins
Having success with the Agile methodology will require you and your team to work very hard. Creating a roadmap of success before this software development process begins is important. With a detailed plan, you can give your team the tools they need to stay on track.
Before you start to create this roadmap, you need to speak with shareholders and loyal customers. With the input from these sources, you can figure out what your new software will be used for. Failing to seek out input from these important sources will lead to a directionless software development process. This means you will be wasting time and resources on a project that may or may not get released.
Often times, business owners try to consolidate power within their company. Ideally, you want to create a company culture that is based on collaboration and teamwork. Not only will this communal structure help you think up ideas for new software programs, it can also help your team get more done.
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4. Keep Your Eyes Peeled For Problems
As most business owners know, implementing the use of new technology or methodologies can be a complex undertaking. If your team has zero experience with the Agile methodology, it is only a matter of time before mistakes occur. It is your job to keep an eye out for these mistakes and address them as they occur.
The more removed you are from the project at hand, the harder you will find it to keep mistakes from delaying the release of a new product. This is why you need to be in the office every day looking over the shoulders of your team members. Instead of coming down hard on a team member when they make mistakes, you need to use this as a teachable moment. As time goes by, your team will start to learn how to use this methodology to their advantage.
5. Don’t Be Afraid of Change
Changing your approach to software development can be a bit intimidating. Rather than running from the challenge of embracing the Agile methodology, you need to meet this challenge head-on.
