Agile Software Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Agile Software Development - Essay Example This research will begin with the definition of agile development as a unique way in which IT projects and management teams are organized and managed for effective and efficient software development. Agile software development is a combination of various methodologies in software development which are based on incremental and iterative approaches in software development. These approaches involve software development process which is characterized by a collaboration of teams in the evolution of software from the requirements and the attainment of a solution to the problem. Â  The teams within the agile software development process are usually, cross functional and self-organizing. Agile software development serves to promote adaptability in software planning, efficiency in the evolution of software during its development and effectiveness and speed in delivery of complete and functional software. The iterative approach to agile software development is the most significant aspect of t he process as it prepares the organization for a flexible and often rapid process of change so that their response to the new software is also fast. The agile software development process provides a framework in which the whole software development process and the cycle are designed in a manner which makes it as interactive as possible. Extreme Programming (XP), Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Feature-Driven Development (FDD), Scrum, Lean Development, and Crystal are the most common agile software development methodologies. Â  ... 2010, p. 126). Extreme Programming (XP), Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), Feature-Driven Development (FDD), Scrum, Lean Development and Crystal are the most common agile software development methodologies. The agile software development process unites the various methodologies of software development into common goals, vision and values. Evolution of Agile Development In 2001 a group of IT and software development experts came together to find a solution to the frequent failure of the traditional software development projects which was caused by poor management of the processes and activities of software development within organizations, companies and public agencies. The group decided to share ideas so that they would come up with a better approach to software development. This group came up with the Agile Manifesto from which the agile software development concept is derived. The Agile Manifesto describes core values that the group who proposed it considered the most sign ificant and relevant in the contemporary software development processes and management (Lee and Xia, 2010, p. 87). Agile software development combines the various development methodologies and approaches in an iterative and developmental process which involves continuous feedback which promotes the development of a refined software system and its efficient delivery to the customer (Mishra and Mishra, 2011, p. 54). The processes of the agile software development include planning, testing, integration and evolution of the software in a continuous process. The evolution of the agile software development processes from the traditional approaches is demonstrated by the fact that the agile software development processes are lightweight and thus adaptable and thus efficiency and