The Agile Approach: Pros and Cons

Undoubtedly, the approach to the development of any software product determines the success of the project. By selecting the correct methodology, it is possible to achieve sustainability in the operation of the product, as well as the safety and stability of functional features. There are many methodologies out there, and it is the Project Manager’s role to try and find the best option out of many, one of which is the Agile approach.

Using the Agile approach, you can maximize efficiency in software product development. The Agile Model includes two separate agile approaches: Scrum and Kanban. In the Agile model, all stages of the project are divided into small periods of time, called sprints, that generally last 1-4 weeks. Each such sprint has its own list of tasks that must be completed by the end of a given period of time. The team members hold frequent meetings, evaluating these tasks, discussing who did what, who is going to do what next, and what problems are appearing, if any. Such meetings keep everyone on the same page and help motivate the team. These meetings are usually led by a Business Analyst or Project Manager who is the liaison between the team and the customer. They can take updates back to the stakeholders, so the team can focus on completing the assigned tasks, which are handled individually by each developer.

So what are the pros and cons of using the Agile approach?

Cons of using Agile:

1. A large number of tools and methods in the Agile approach require a professional and experienced team, which can sometimes be hard to find due to demand. Consistent communication and frequent interaction between teams is imperative creating and releasing a successful and high-quality software product. This may require teams be in the same location, or have a strict communication schedule in place before beginning work.

2. Due to repeated cycles of iterative development and constant improvement of a software product, the team is always at risk of not releasing a finished product on time.

3. Focusing on the customer’s wishes and preferences, the development team may not fully understand and foresee the business goals of the project, and as a result the development of a software product may be of poor quality or completely impossible.