Blog

What is Agile Framework?

Agile is a methodology to manage the development of digital products, which could be software, apps and website development projects. that boosts the productivity of the assigned team. Agile focuses on breaking their project into smaller tasks. These tasks are assigned in short cycles. Where we easily get feedback and direction from the client side. In an agile method, clients are also involved in the whole project. They track work progress and share feedback and reviews on every step.

Agile is a popular framework for collaboration between the team and clients. The team and the client work closely to ensure that the final product meets the client's needs. This approach makes it easier to respond to unexpected changes. In traditional project management, such changes can slow everything down. However, with Agile, teams can pivot and keep moving forward without losing momentum.

Agile methodology is mostly used in software development. But it’s also gaining popularity in marketing or digital product design.

Agile Life Cycle

The Agile methodology follows a life cycle that helps teams deliver projects in an organised way. Each phase moves smoothly with Agile.

Plan

In the planning phase, the team identify project goals and break with smaller tasks, like sprints. And create a roadmap for the team to focus on what needs to be completed first. The purpose of Agile is to initiate the project work neither wait for the complete plan.

Design

After the team planning, the team starts brainstorming solutions and creating UI UX prototypes. The goal is to come up with a simple and clear design that meets the project’s requirements.

Develop

After prototypes, the team starts to build the product iterations or small sprints. During each sprint, developers focus on completing a specific set of tasks. This approach allows them to deliver working pieces of the product quickly.

Test

Testing is an important part of the Agile methodology. Once a sprint is complete, the team tests the product to identify bugs or issues. This process is performed regularly to ensure that each part of the product works as expected. Continuous testing helps find bugs early and makes fixing them faster.

Deploy

After testing, the product or its part is ready to be deployed. In Agile, deployments happen more frequently. Instead of waiting for the entire project to be complete, teams release small updates or features regularly. And client is also involved in those updates and shares feedback accordingly.

Feedback

When the product goes live, client review is very important. It provides insights into what’s working and what needs to improve. The team takes these feedbacks into upcoming sprints. And project continues to evolve and meet the client’s expectations.

What is Scrum in Agile?

Scrum is one of the most popular frameworks with helps teams work together and efficiently. It’s a structured way of managing projects, where we can manage tasks with small pieces, which is the sprint. A sprint use for lasts 1 to 4 weeks, and this time, teams focus on completing specific sprints to contribute to the project goal.

Components of Scrum

1. Sprint: A sprint is a short, time-boxed period where a specific set of tasks. At the end of each sprint, the team reviews their progress and plans for the next sprint.
2. Scrum Master: The Scrum Master is like a TL for the team. Their main job is to ensure that everyone follows the Scrum framework. They remove any obstacles that may slow down the team's progress.
3. Product Owner: The Product Owner is responsible for what needs to be built. They manage the product backlog, which makes the prioritized list of tasks and features.
4. Scrum Team: The Scrum team is a group of developers, designers, and other professionals who work together to deliver the product. Scrum teams are cross-functional.

How Scrum Works

Scrum operates in a cycle method, with each sprint beginning with a Sprint Planning meeting. Here, the team decides what tasks they will focus on during the sprint. After the sprint is completed, the team holds a Sprint Review to show the work done, and what needs to be improved.

One another advantage of Scrum is its collaboration and adaptability. After feedback, the team changed their approach.

What is a Sprint in Agile?

In simple language, The sprint is a short task of the whole project. It’s similar to the Kanban board. Sprint is a fixed-length development cycle. The purpose of a sprint is to break down a project into short tasks and perform completely, for teams progress and deliver the short tasks (Sprint) quickly.

How a Sprint Works

At the start of each sprint, the team decides on sprint planning, and what tasks they will. These tasks are chosen from the backlog, which is incompleted tasks from previous sprints, new features, and improvements. The team commits to complete these tasks with this sprint.

In the sprint, the team focuses on their tasks only, without other work. And it ensures they stay on with project deadlines and goals. Daily stand-up meetings (also known as Daily Scrums) check the progress of the entire sprint.

Sprint Review and Retrospective

Once the sprint ends, the team reviews their work in a Sprint Review meeting. They present what they’ve accomplished to the Product Owner or client, who provides feedback. This helps them understand what needs to make adjustments.

After the review, the team holds a Sprint Retrospective to reflect on their performance. They discuss what went well, what could have been better, and how they can improve in the next sprint. This is one of the best benefits of Agile methodology.

Benefits of Sprint's

• Focus: Sprint keeps the team focused on tasks, without distractions.
• Deliver Fast: By working in a short cycle of tasks, the team delivers a piece of the product.

In Agile, sprints force teams to stay organized, and meet deadlines, and improve their work.

What is Kanban in Agile?

Kanban is also a framework to use in Agile and manage the workflow. Kanban focuses on visualizing the flow of tasks like Scrum and ensures that tasks move from one stage to next. It delivers continuous workflow with ensuring tasks are done.

Kanban Works Flow

Kanban uses a Kanban board to visualize tasks with any Kanban tool. And Kanban board is divided into columns to represent stages of work, like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” Each task is represented as a card, that moves across the progress board. With these visual cards and interface, the performer easily track their work and any bottlenecks.

Key Principles of Kanban

1. Visualizing Work: The Kanban board clearly shows the workflow of tasks. It's easy to find where tasks are stuck and what can be the next step.
2. Limiting Work in Progress: Kanban limits the "in progress" number of tasks at the same time. And this ensures the team doesn’t get distracted from other tasks before its completed.
3. Managing Flow: The goal of Kanban is to make sure work flows smooth until the task is complete. The task performer spots the issue and fixes it to keep moving.
4. Continuous Improving: Teams review their progress on a single screen and improve their workflow.

Kanban vs. Scrum

Both Scrum and Kanban, the part of Agile, but they have work a few differences. Scrum uses time-boxed sprints, and Kanban is more flexible. Scrum has more defined roles (like Scrum Master and Product Owner). but Kanban is only focusing on managing the flow of work best.

Benefits of Kanban

• Flexibility: There are no fixed sprints, and It come up with their managing task workflow without changing priorities.
• Improved Workflow: By visualizing the entire process, Kanban helps teams manage tasks more effectively and prevents work from piling up.
• Reduced Bottlenecks: The Kanban board helps identify where tasks are getting stuck, allowing the team to address problems quickly.

Kanban is an excellent choice for teams that want a simple, visual way to manage their work and seeing improvement in their progress.

How to Choose Between Scrum vs. Kanban?

Scrum and Kanban are popular and best frameworks. But they have different strengths. Depends on your project needs. Let’s break down the differences to help you to choose.

Major Differences in Scrum & Kanban?

• Scrum If you have dedicated teams for each project and your team is structured and focused on deadlines. Then your project needs Scrum framework. It’s ideal for project timelines, well-defined goals, and deadlines.
• Kanban if your work requires flexibility, and you want to avoid the rigidness of sprints. It works best for teams that handle multiple short tasks. If you have assigned short tasks from freelancing sites then it suits your workflow. You can change the priority to another task.

Both Scrum and Kanban have their advantages. Your decision should depend on which workflow best suits of your team.

What is a Scrum Master and their Responsibilities?

A Scrum Master has the main role in pursuing the Scrum framework. Scrum Master as a coach for the team. Their job is to make sure that everyone performs the Scrum process. And stays on their assigned task and goals. They ensure to team works smoothly.

Responsibilities of a Scrum Master

1. Guide the Team: The Scrum Master helps the team follow the Scrum framework and collaborate with the whole assigned team and product owner. They are responsible for delivering each sprint on time.
2. Removing Obstacles: If anything is slowing down the team—unclear goals, technical problems, or communication issues. The Scrum Master resolves the problems.
3. Planning and facilitating: Scrum Masters leads Scrum events, such as Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives.
4. Promoting Collaboration: They encourage open communication between team members, the Product Owner, and stakeholders to make sure everyone is on the same page.

The Scrum Master ensures that the team stays focused on Agile principles and delivers sprints on time. The Scrum Master helps the team become more productive.

Benefits of Using Agile Frameworks

Agile frameworks, such as Scrum and Kanban, offer many advantages that teams work productively and efficiently. Here’s below adopting Agile can be a game-changer in your projects.

1. Flexibility and Adaptability

The biggest benefit of, its flexibility. With Agile you can change task priorities whether the client needs or your team needs.

2. Launching Fast

With agile we can deliver short, functional spirints of a project in short iterations. This approach releases parts of the product and functionality frequently.

3. Regular Improvement of product

Agile frameworks encourage a cycle of constant feedback and reflection. After each sprint or phase, the team reviews sprints what went well and what can be improve. This process improves results and the final product.

4. Better Collaboration with Client

Agile frameworks emphasize collaboration between the development team and the client. Regular meetings, daily stand-ups, and sprint reviews keep everyone in sync and ensure transparency. This open communication makes sure the final product meets the client’s needs.

5. Client Satisfaction

With Agile, customers are more involved in the development process. They can see progress and provide inputs. This close collaboration increases client satisfaction surely.

6. Better Risk Management

Agile frameworks reduce risks with manageable tasks. Regular testing and feedback identify errors early and easier to resolve.

8. High Quality Work

With an Agile nature, regular testing, and feedback, the final products are more polished and functional.

I've added 5 Tools to perform Scrum and Kanban

In Agile, we need agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban. These tools help teams stay organized, track progress, and improve communication. we shortlisted some best tools to manage Scrum and Kanban processes.

1. Jira

Jira is one of the most popular tools for both Scrum and Kanban teams. in Jira, create boards, plan sprints, track progress, and manage your backlog.

• For Scrum: Jira helps you set up sprints, track burndown charts, and manage the Agile lifecycle.
• For Kanban: You can use Jira’s Kanban boards to visualize work in progress, assign tasks, and complete tasks.

2. Trello

Trello is a visual tool that is perfect for teams using the Kanban method. You can create boards, lists, and cards to organize your tasks.

• For Kanban: in Trello, easy to move tasks between stages (like “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done”). You can also add labels, due dates, and assign tasks to team members.

3. Asana

Asana is a versatile project management tool, we can use for both Scrum and Kanban. Its features like task assignments, project timelines, and help to track team sprints.

• For Scrum: In Asana, you can set up sprints. Track tasks and team progress. You can create sprint goals and prioritize tasks in your backlog.
• For Kanban: Asana’s Kanban boards help visualize workflows, track progress, and see progress tasks in beautifully visualized columns.

4. ClickUp

ClickUp is an all-in-one project management tool that supports both Scrum and Kanban methodologies.

• For Scrum: ClickUp helps teams manage sprints, track burndown charts, and prioritize tasks in their product backlog.
• For Kanban: ClickUp’s Kanban boards also visualize work in progress and completed tasks.

5. Zoho Sprints

Zoho Sprints is also a great tool for managing Scrum and Kanban projects. Its features like sprint planning, burndown charts, and team collaboration.

• For Scrum: Zoho Sprints helps teams manage their sprint cycles, and track team progress.
• For Kanban: in Zoho, customizable Kanban board to organize tasks and manage work in progress and backlog. All product meets the client's needs. This approach makes it easier to respond to unexpected changes. In traditional project management, such changes can slow everything down. But, with Agile, teams can pivot and keep moving forward without losing momentum.

Agile methodology is mostly used in software development. But it’s also gaining popularity in marketing or product design.