AGILE software development – the key to a successful project

Since we started trading as a software development company way back in 1996, we have found through experience that the key to a successful project lies not in a detailed and carefully crafted specification and design document, but instead in a strong iterative approach to development which closely involves the client at every stage and in all aspects of their system.

This approach having originally been frowned upon by many has gradually become an accepted and indeed expected way to develop software. It will often lead to re-work and mission creep from a developers standpoint. However this can look very different when seen through the eyes of the client, viewed more as a focused way of getting the system they want.

Using an iterative approach often allows you to get the ball rolling faster, providing a fast starting point for a system that will often prompt early feedback from the client that might otherwise not have existed at that stage in development. Clients themselves may have an idea of what they want, but it may not be until they start to see what they can achieve that their juices really begin to flow.

A strong iterative led approach to development in the long run is the only way for the client to be truly happy with their system, guaranteeing by the very process that the client achieves the goals set out by the initial need.

As this type of software development process has gained favour and acceptance over the years, many have also tried to formalise the process that the faster development tools afford. Wikipedia has an interesting article on one such development methodology that closely mirrors how we like to operate, known as “AGILE software development”. And for once, no, it doesn’t appear to be an acronym. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agile_software_development

We provide software development in Manchester and the surrounding areas. If you like the idea of how we work and have a software development project, get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.