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Agile Methodology is one of the most commonly used practices in project management in current times. The benefits that the method provides such as increased business value, faster go to market, greater transparency among the team, and better quality management is enough to push a number of businesses across a range of industries to follow the Agile approach in their everyday work process.

If your business, seeing the benefits that the methodology has to offer, is also planning to take the agile scrum development route, this article is for you.

Agile Method In the context of Mobile App Development

Holistically, the role of Agile in mobile apps is well-renowned and Scrum is the most commonly used subdomain of the agile methodology, which has quickly expanded to handling big, complicated projects that might have otherwise taken a lot of time to finish.

Mobile application development and keeping it updated in the current scenario is quite a complex process. Even more complex is the task of getting it downloaded on the user’s devices, and used frequently. It is because of a large number of apps available in the marketplace. While a majority of users use the smartphone, it is quite easy to get noticed, but it becomes quite challenging to get the user’s attention as in this gigantic sea of options available for them. Hence it becomes quite necessary for the business owners to design the best app in a short span of time and keep their apps updated as per the latest trends.

Before getting into the details about the Agile methodology of mobile app development, it is necessary to have a brief idea of Agile technology.

What Exactly is Agile?

Agile is an iterative and step-by-step software development methodology. Agile application development helps organize designing and planning methods, development, and testing methods during a software lifecycle. All methods of Agile are based on the following principles:

• quick response to any changes with the help of adaptive planning.
• joint elaboration of requirements.
• rationalization of tasks performed by the development team
• step-by-step software development with strict time frames.

How Does Agile Work?

Since the Agile app development methodology consists of a few short cycles (2–3 weeks each), there is risk minimization. A customer can see the result after each cycle, and he/she can request to make any changes. Thus, a customer has a direct influence on the development and he/she controls it. Each Agile application development lifecycle includes the following stages:

• Requirement analysis
• Design
• Development
• Testing
• Deploy
• Review

One cycle isn’t enough for building a full-fledged product, but each iteration shows part of the functionality that can be tested and/or changed. After each cycle, the development team sums everything up and can receive new requirements, then some adjustments can be made in the software development plan.

Why is Agile Methodology Good For Mobile App Development?

Now let’s speak about the application of Agile in mobile app development and why use Agile methodology. What particularities do mobile apps have? Unlike conventional desktop applications for PC that may function for a few years without an upgrade, mobile apps should be much more flexible for users. Users’ demands may change rather often, so app owners should update this app every time when it requires new changes. And what is the way to create a high-quality mobile app without additional revisions? Agile methodology is the option.

In-Depth Planning in Real-Time Mode

It can be rather difficult to prepare a plan for the whole development process. Using Agile methodology for mobile application app development, we can prepare a plan for each cycle separately, we don’t waste extra time and resources to fix any bugs since everything can be fixed after each stage of implemented functionality. So we can make a proper plan for each stage without any problems, and it will help us create a first-rate product. By the way, if you should also know how to arrange budget planning for your software project.

Sprint by Sprint

With the help of Agile, we create the software sprint by sprint, as we indicated before. We call each cycle as sprint since it is similar to run on a short distance. We don’t aim to complete the project as quickly as possible, we test and check functionality after each sprint to see whether it works properly or not. Besides that, with Agile we can keep up with more strict deadlines.

Quick Changes

Due to the Agile methodology in mobile application development, it is very convenient to make changes in the app since it is divided into sprints. Thus, it will not have a negative impact on the development process, and changes can be made quickly. Because when the project is almost finished and some serious problems arise, revision can take much more time and money, so Agile methodology helps avoid such situations.

Efficient Risk Management

Users won’t use an app that doesn’t function properly or it has many bugs. It will lead to a total failure of the app. That is why an app can be released step by step with Agile methodology, in the beta version first, to make it possible for users to assess an app and notify about any bugs if they find it. On the basis of it, developers can make all changes quickly, and all risks can be managed timely. Existing bugs will be detected as early as possible. You can see how we organize risk management when we create your app.

Complete Transparency

It is not an acceptable situation when a customer sees a result of the development in the end. If something doesn’t meet expectations of a customer, it will be more difficult to revise the app, it will lead to additional costs and time, and, as a result, to negative feedback from a customer. Agile methodology allows the development team to be always in touch with a customer, provide him/her with an app when each sprint is completed, and if we need to make any changes — we do it quickly without damaging development processes.

So, you can see the main benefits Agile mobile app development methodology brings for mobile app development. Now, let’s move to the most popular framework of Agile.

Benefits of Agile Over Traditional Project management Method

Many developers and project managers prefer to use the agile methodology for a variety of reasons. Some of them are discussed below:

More flexibility

When it comes to making changes in the product or a process, agile methodology is much more flexible than the waterfall methodology. While working, if team members feel that there is a need to experiment and try something different than as planned, the agile methodology easily allows them to do so. The best thing about this methodology is that it focuses more on the product than following a rigid structure.

Unlike the traditional approach, agile methodology isn’t linear or follows a top-down approach. So, any last-minute changes can be accommodated in the process without affecting the end-result and disrupting the project schedule.

Transparency

In agile methodology, everything is out there and transparent. The clients and decision-makers are actively involved in the initiation, planning, review, and testing part of a product. Whereas in the traditional approach, the project manager is holding reins of the project, thus others don’t get to make the major decisions.

Ownership and accountability

In traditional project management, a project manager is the person of the ship which means that the entire ownership belongs to him/her. Customers are also involved during the planning phase but their involvement ends there and then as soon as the execution starts.

In the agile methodology, every team member shares ownership of the project. Each one of them plays an active role to complete the sprint within the estimated time. Unlike traditional project management, everyone involved in the project can easily see view the progress from the beginning to an end.

Scope For Feedback

In the traditional approach, every single process is clearly defined and planned from the beginning of the project. The project has to be completed within the estimated time and budget. So, any big change or feedback that might push the deadline is skipped. Whereas agile management allows constant feedback that is helpful in providing better output.

Scrum

Scrum is another prevalent agile methodology process that implements flexible process control for complex software projects. It also makes use of iterative and incremental practices. Based on the hypothesis that we cannot define the final requirements of the project, in the beginning, the knowledge is gained over the due process from the mistakes made over time. It solely focuses on checking the progress of the project and resolve the difficulties as soon as it is encountered in frequent meetings. It provides the advantage that it helps to take action as and when the requirement changes.

Scrum approach divides the working process into equal sprints — their duration may vary, everything depends on the specific project. Before we start a sprint, it is necessary to draw up tasks for this sprint. When it is completed, all results are discussed. This method makes it possible to lower development costs and make the management process more efficient.

Scrum Development: Responsibility Participants

The techniques of Scrum has become very popular and now considered to be the most important thing to do before starting any project. That is why the demand of the scrum masters and other professions related to the scrum has also increased, and people now are searching about the term scrum more.

The scrum is a very specific and précised framework that is why it comprised of the following roles.

• Scrum Master
• Product Owner
• Scrum Team
• Stakeholders

Scrum Master is someone who is responsible for solving any sort of problem that the team is facing while building the product. It is not necessary for him to completely understand the requirements; he must be capable enough to find solutions to situations. He has to create and maintain the best possible working condition for the team members so that they can meet the goals of each sprint effectively.

Product Owner is the one who shares the vision of the project (or the product to be developed), prioritizes the functionalities to be built and makes key decisions on behalf of the team or the project. While during project execution, the product owner is the one who is responsible for maintaining the product backlog, bridging the gap between the developers and other stakeholders, managing the end-user (or customer) expectations, and managing the budget (ROI). He is also the one who takes a call on the quality of the product and if it requires any improvement.

A Scrum Team is cross-functional team that is responsible for developing the product. It is a small team consisting of developers, business analysts, testers, etc. The team works together and in tandem while building the application. The activities of each of the team members are aligned in a way such that the targets associated with a specific sprint are achieved. Team members are also responsible for identifying the complexity of the tasks (assigned to them) and allocating efforts (in a number of hours/days) to those.

Conclusion

The agile application development process bears a lot of advantages both for the development team and for customers. We can affirm it as we are highly experienced in it. The methodology makes it possible to build a mobile app that will be accepted by the public with admiration. The only thing you need is a high-skilled software development team that will turn your ideas into reality.

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