A Thorough Introduction to the Agile Framework and Methodologies That Are Used Worldwide
Organizations of all shapes and sizes are embracing Agile methodologies as a way to transform their products, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. Many people with varying levels of work experience are interested in understanding the architecture and nuances of Agile, but it is difficult to know where to start. Numerous practitioner books are available, but there has never been a single source for unbiased information about Agile methodologies–until now. Introduction to Agile Methods is the place to start for students and professionals who want to understand Agile and become conversant with Agile values, principles, framework, and processes.
Authors Sondra Ashmore and Kristin Runyan use academic research and their own experiences with numerous Agile implementations to present a clear description of the essential concepts. They address all key roles and the entire development life cycle, including common roadblocks that must be overcome to be successful. Through the authors’ realistic use cases, practical examples, and thought-provoking interviews with pioneering practitioners, complex concepts are made relatable. No matter what your role or level of experience, this book provides a foundational understanding that can be used to start or enhance any Agile effort.
Coverage includes
- How Agile compares with the Waterfall method and when to use each
- Why Agile demands a cultural transformation–and how that looks to each participant
- Comparing various Agile methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP), Crystal, Feature Driven Development (FDD), Lean, and DSDM
- Understanding the roles within Agile and how they work together to create superior results
- Agile approaches to requirements gathering, planning, estimating, tracking, reporting, testing, quality, and integration
- Extending Agile beyond IT
Table of Contents:
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Authors xix
Chapter 1: The History and Value of Agile Software Development 1
The Beginnings of Software Development as Methodology 2
Cayman Design 8
Conclusion 8
Summary 9
Interview with Robert Martin (Uncle Bob) 9
References and Further Reading 12
Review Questions 13
Chapter 2: Organizational Culture Considerations with Agile 15
What Is Organizational Culture, and Why Does It Matter? 16
The Team Members’ Viewpoint 16
A Manager’s Viewpoint 27
An Executive’s Viewpoint 34
Conclusion 42
Summary 42
Interview with Scott Ambler 44
References and Further Reading 45
Review Questions 47
Chapter 3: Understanding the Different Types of Agile 49
Extreme Programming (XP) 50
Scrum 54
Feature-Driven Development 56
Dynamic Systems Development Method 57
Lean Software Development 59
Kanban Method 60
Crystal Family 62
Certification 64
Implementing Tools and Techniques at Cayman Design 66
Conclusion 66
Summary 66
Interview with Alistair Cockburn 67
References and Further Reading 70
Review Questions 70
Chapter 4: Describing the Different Roles 73
Deep Dive into Scrum Roles 74
Roles in Other Methodologies 95
Kanban 99
Practical Examples of Roles 99
Conclusion 103
Summary 103
Interview with Roman Pichler 105
Interview with Lyssa Adkins 107
References and Further Reading 109
Review Questions 111
Chapter 5: The New Way to Collect and Document Requirements 113
Old Form of Requirements Gathering 114
Agile Requirements in Scrum 114
Additions and Considerations from the Other Methodologies 124
Enhancing Requirements 126
From User Stories to Deliverables 129
Communication 132
Lean Product Development and the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) 137
Conclusion 139
Summary 139
Interview with Ellen Gottesdiener and Mary Gorman 141
References and Further Reading 144
Review Questions 146
Chapter 6: Grooming and Planning 149
Product Backlog (Scrum and XP) 150
Prioritization of Stories 152
Estimating 155
Scrum: Product Backlog Grooming 160
Scrum: Sprint Planning 165
Extreme Programming: XP Planning Game 167
Maintenance of Legacy Code 168
Triple Constraints 169
Kanban 171
Conclusion 171
Summary 171
Interview with Mike Cohn 173
References and Further Reading 176
Review Questions 177
Chapter 7: Testing, Quality, and Integration 179
Quality 180
Refactored Code 182
Conclusion 203
Summary 203
Interview with Tim Ottinger 204
References and Further Reading 208
Review Questions 208
Chapter 8: Tracking and Reporting 211
Kanban 212
Tracking 216
Meetings or Ceremonies 226
Measuring Success in Agile 230
Conclusion 231
Summary 231
Interview with Kent McDonald 233
References and Further Reading 235
Review Questions 236
Chapter 9: Agile beyond IT 239
Products beyond Software Development 240
Speaking to the Market with Agility 248
Agile in Other Organizations 251
Conclusion 255
Summary 256
Interview with Travis Arnold 258
References and Further Reading 260
Review Questions 261
Appendix: John Deere Case Study 263
Glossary 273
Index 289
