如果你是软件开发和项目管理领域的新手,你可能听说过 “敏捷 “这个词。 如果你不知道这是什么意思,也不知道人们为什么要使用这个词,那么你就很难理解为什么敏捷思维方式很重要。
在本文中,我们将对敏捷方法进行定义,并对其内容和重要性进行分析。
什么是敏捷方法论?
敏捷方法是一种变革性的工作流程思想,主要应用于软件开发和项目管理,其突出特点是致力于周期性改进、协作和适应性解决问题。 它以 “敏捷宣言 “创始人阐述的原则为基础,倡导:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change by following a plan
这些原则指导着 Agile 的精神,将客户需求放在首位,确保提供有效的解决方案。 为了将这些原则提炼为可操作的指导方针,请考虑一下:
- Emphasize the importance of customer contentment by consistently providing valuable software through ongoing delivery processes.
- Embrace flexibility by changing priorities and pivoting without missing deadlines.
- Measure success through working software, emphasizing tangible outcomes.
- Facilitate consistent collaboration and communication within project cycles to stay aligned with your team.
这些实用技巧阐明了敏捷方法在工作流程中的应用,优化了其潜在优势。 通过深入研究敏捷的结构和构件,全面了解敏捷。
敏捷方法论结构
敏捷方法并不一定是组织团队的具体方式,而更多的是你们在一起工作时所遵循的意识形态。 在建立团队结构时,还有其他更有效的项目管理策略,但这些策略也属于敏捷提出的一般思想。
这一总体理念使您能够以最有效的方式组建团队,从而创造一个非常灵活的工作环境。
在团队中鼓励灵活性非常重要,因为它直接关系到敏捷所基于的一些价值声明。 这是使用敏捷时唯一需要遵循的关键团队建设原则之一,但在敏捷框架下,还有大量不同的项目管理变体,可以让你进一步构建团队。
Top 5 Agile Methodology Types
敏捷方法包括各种方法和框架,但它们有共同的原则和价值观。 以下是一些常见的敏捷方法类型:
- Scrum: Scrum stands out as a highly prevalent framework within the realm of Agile methodologies. It emphasizes iterative development in fixed time periods called “sprints.” Key roles in Scrum include the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team.
- Kanban: Kanban focuses on visualizing work in progress and optimizing the flow of work. It’s often used for continuous delivery and doesn’t have fixed time frames like Scrum. Teams manage their work based on available capacity and pull tasks from a backlog.
- Extreme Programming (XP): XP is a set of practices that emphasize coding standards, continuous integration, and frequent releases. It’s known for practices like Test-Driven Development (TDD), pair programming, and continuous feedback from customers.
- Lean Software Development: Lean principles aim to minimize waste and maximize value. Lean practices include reducing handoffs, shortening feedback loops, and focusing on delivering what the customer truly values.
- Feature-Driven Development (FDD): FDD is centered around breaking down software development into smaller, more manageable features. It’s a model-driven approach that can be particularly useful for larger projects.
敏捷与其他项目管理战略有何关系?
有些人可能最了解敏捷,因为它采用了流行的项目管理策略,如 scrum、看板或瀑布式。 这些都是通过周期性开发提供产品的独特方式,但它们都有自己独特的特点。 下面简要介绍两种最流行的策略。
1. Kanban
看板是一种可视化的工作流程,有助于促进团队内部的沟通和以任务为导向的交付。 它将敏捷的价值观应用于任务管理板,指导团队完成项目。
看板策略中使用的板是看板。 这个板块是围绕小组共享任务的状态建立的,可以查看积压任务、进行中任务和已完成任务。 通过使用这个板块,团队中的任何人都可以一目了然地了解项目的状态。
这种项目管理方法专门针对持续改进和长期建设项目,而这正是敏捷方法所强调的两点。
2. Scrum
Scrum 采用敏捷方法的流动性,并将其转换为严格的两周冲刺。 这些冲刺完成后会进行分析,并作为下一个周期改进工作的基准。
scrum 的关键区别在于其严格的组织结构。 团队使用一个 Scrum 板来组织冲刺,Scrum 团队中有多个角色,每个角色都有特定的工作。
这种项目管理方法围绕增量冲刺展开,每次都能提高速度和效率。 通过这种开发的周期性,团队能够提高速度和工作流程。
对于团队来说,在 scrum 和 kanban 之间做出选择总是很困难。 归根结底,这取决于你所处的工作环境,以及你的团队最擅长的工作方式。 如果严格的期限和僵化的结构更有效率,Scrum 可能会更好用。 如果你的团队在流动性更强的情况下工作得很好,看板可能是更好的选择。 敏捷的主要优势之一是它允许你在最适合你和你的团队的框架内工作,而这最终可能是这些流行策略的融合。
如果您有兴趣,我们将在后面的文章中重点介绍敏捷、Scrum、看板、瀑布和其他流行项目管理策略之间的区别。
了解更多: 你应该知道的 14 个敏捷方法论问题
Agile Methodology Steps
敏捷方法是一种迭代和渐进的软件开发方法,注重灵活性、协作性和客户满意度。 敏捷有多种框架和方法,Scrum 是其中最受欢迎的一种。 以下是通常与敏捷方法(尤其是 Scrum)相关的一般步骤或关键原则:
- Product Backlog: The process starts with creating a product backlog, which is a prioritized list of all the features, tasks, and user stories that need to be addressed in the project.
- Sprint Planning: The development team and the product owner collaborate to select a set of items from the product backlog to work on during the next sprint (a time-boxed development cycle, typically 2-4 weeks).
- Sprint Backlog: During the sprint planning meeting, the team creates a sprint backlog, which is a list of tasks or user stories that will be worked on during the sprint. This is a more detailed breakdown of the selected items.
- Daily Standup (Scrum): Each day of the sprint, the team holds a daily standup or daily scrum meeting to discuss progress, and challenges, and plan for the next 24 hours. It’s a short, time-boxed meeting (usually 15 minutes).
- Development: The development team works on the tasks and user stories in the sprint backlog. They collaborate closely and continuously communicate with the product owner and other stakeholders to ensure they are delivering the right features.
- Review: At the conclusion of each sprint, a sprint review meeting is conducted with the purpose of showcasing the accomplished tasks to stakeholders. Feedback is collected.
- Retrospective: Following the sprint review, the team conducts a retrospective meeting to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and how they can improve their processes in the next sprint.
- Incremental Delivery: The completed work during a sprint is potentially shippable, meaning it can be released if the product owner decides to do so. This allows for continuous delivery of value to the customer.
- Repetition: The process is repeated for multiple sprints, with the product backlog being adjusted and refined based on customer feedback and changing requirements.
- Adaptation: Agile emphasizes the need to adapt to changing circumstances. The team should be willing to change course if necessary and embrace change as a normal part of the process.
值得注意的是,敏捷方法不仅限于软件开发,还可应用于其他各种项目管理和产品开发方案。 具体步骤和仪式可能会根据所使用的敏捷框架和项目的独特需求而有所不同。 如前所述,Scrum 只是敏捷框架的一个例子,还有其他一些敏捷框架,如看板(Kanban)、精益(Lean)和极限编程(XP)。
Benefits of Agile Methodology
敏捷方法具有多种优势,因此成为软件开发和项目管理的热门选择。 其中一些主要优势包括
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile allows teams to respond to changing requirements and priorities. This is crucial in today’s fast-paced business environment, where market conditions and customer needs can change rapidly.
- Customer-Centric: Agile places the customer in a pivotal role within the development process. Regular feedback and involvement of stakeholders ensure that the final product aligns with their expectations and needs.
- Faster Time to Market: Agile development focuses on delivering smaller, incremental updates or features in short timeframes (sprints). This allows for quicker delivery of functional components and often gets a minimum viable product (MVP) to market faster.
- Improved Quality: The continuous integration and testing in Agile lead to higher product quality. Defects and concerns are detected and resolved in the initial stages of the development process.
- Enhanced Communication: Agile encourages frequent communication within the team and with stakeholders. Daily stand-up meetings, regular demos, and retrospectives help keep everyone informed and aligned.
- Transparency: Agile methodologies promote transparency in project progress and issues. This helps in risk identification and mitigation, as problems are addressed as they arise.
- Reduced Risk: By breaking a project into smaller, manageable pieces, Agile reduces the risk associated with large, monolithic releases. This makes it easier to adapt to unforeseen challenges.
- Higher Customer Satisfaction: Agile allows for ongoing feedback and the ability to change priorities based on customer input. This leads to a product that better meets customer expectations and ultimately results in higher satisfaction.
- Empowered Teams: Agile encourages self-organizing teams that have more autonomy and responsibility. This often leads to higher team morale, creativity, and a stronger sense of ownership.
- Cost Control: Agile can help control costs by addressing issues early and ensuring that resources are used efficiently. It also allows for budget adjustments based on changing priorities.
- Increased Productivity: Agile methodologies promote a focus on delivering value in each sprint, which can lead to increased productivity and a sense of accomplishment among team members.
- Better Risk Management: Agile’s iterative approach allows for the identification of risks and issues early in the project, making it easier to manage and mitigate them.
值得注意的是,虽然敏捷有很多优点,但它并不适合所有项目或组织。 敏捷的成功取决于团队的承诺、有效的沟通以及拥抱变化的能力。 此外,一些有严格监管要求的行业或项目可能会发现采用敏捷实践具有挑战性。 因此,在实施敏捷之前,必须评估敏捷是否适合特定项目或组织。
敏捷方法的优势
正如你所看到的,有很多原因让你有兴趣让你的团队转而采用敏捷思维方式。 使用敏捷方法有很多优点,下面我们将讨论其中的一些。
1. Increases Speed
提高速度是将敏捷方法与团队相结合的最大好处之一。 更快的开发周期对您的团队和客户都有帮助,这意味着每个人都很满意。 敏捷还强调,随着时间的推移,冲刺的效率会不断提高,这意味着你将看到团队的长期进步。
2. Eliminates Waste
敏捷方法通过在整个过程中进行大量沟通,可以很好地减少返工。 特别是在使用类似 Scrum 或 kanban 这样的策略时,你可以用一块物理板来跟踪每个人的任务。 这些任务都在黑板上标注出来,这样就不会出现重复劳动和浪费时间的情况。 这有助于提高团队的整体效率,并为分配的每一项任务提供价值。
3. Builds Team Cohesion
敏捷方法要求团队成员之间进行大量的沟通和协作,一旦你和你的团队完成了几个冲刺,你就会发现大家都在利用常规的协作模式。 这表明,随着时间的推移,在敏捷思维模式下工作如何有助于在团队中建立凝聚力和一致性。
4. Addresses Customer Needs
敏捷之所以如此有价值,其中一点就是它能提高客户的满意度。 敏捷定期为客户提供服务,以适应客户不断变化的需求和环境。 如果您的团队能够应对这些变化,并不断满足客户的要求,客户就会对结果非常满意。
了解更多: 瀑布式 VS 看板式 VS Scrum VS 精益式
敏捷方法应用
敏捷方法及其相关策略主要应用于软件开发。 虽然情况依然如此,但敏捷方法中的每项策略并非都是针对软件开发而制定的。 例如,为改善丰田公司的生产流程,20 世纪 50 年代创建了看板。 然而,从那时起,敏捷方法及其相关策略就主要集中在构建软件和组建开发团队上。
除软件开发外,敏捷方法还可应用于整个组织,影响人们看待和完成项目的方式。 敏捷是一种思维方式,能够根据这些简单的原则建立稳固的模式,会对整个企业产生影响。
例如,敏捷方法的最大原则之一就是能够根据开发周期进行更改。 持续改进的思维方式可以应用于你的销售简报、与团队沟通的方式或定期交付成果的结构。
通过持续改进的视角来审视这些项目,意味着您可以轻松分析其效率,并在必要时进行改进。 这适用于软件开发以外的任何地方,是团队改进流程和产品的好方法。
结论
无论你是开发软件还是从事项目管理工作,为你的团队采用敏捷方法都能在许多方面帮助提高效率。 希望这篇文章能帮助大家了解什么是敏捷方法论以及为什么它如此重要,如果你想进一步了解如何在线实施这些策略,请务必查看Ideascale 白板。