Agile Project Management

This article provides an overview of agile project management methodology, including its background, types, working process, advantages, disadvantages, and role in project management. It also discusses the challenges and applications of agile methodologies. Whether you are a student or a professional, this article will help you understand the key concepts of agile project management.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT METHODOLOGY
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Agile Project Management

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Table of Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Background of agile project management.................................................................................................... 2
Types of agile methodology................................................................................................................................ 3
SCRUM.................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Extreme programming.................................................................................................................................... 3
The working of agile......................................................................................................................................... 4
Scope out and prioritize projects................................................................................................................ 4
Diagram requirement for the initial sprint............................................................................................. 5
Construction/iteration.................................................................................................................................... 5
Release the iteration into production........................................................................................................ 5
Retirement............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Role of agile methodology................................................................................................................................... 6
Advantages and disadvantages of agile......................................................................................................... 7
Advantages........................................................................................................................................................... 7
Disadvantages..................................................................................................................................................... 8
Comparison between agile and waterfall methodologies......................................................................9
Challenges occurred in agile methodology................................................................................................ 10
Applications of agile methodologies............................................................................................................ 11
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................... 11
References............................................................................................................................................................... 12

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Introduction
The term agile is a kind of process, which is used in project management in order to
plan and guide project processes. It is mainly completed in the small sections, which are
called as iterations, and each section is analyzed by the project team. It is one of the
common kinds of methodology that is now used in the business industries for successfully
completing their projects (Conforto, & Amaral, 2016). The purpose of this report is to
describe the concept of agile project management and identify the advantages and
disadvantages of project management. In this advanced generation, many companies are
using an agile based methodology in order to design a project in an effective manner. It is
analyzed that agile methodology has the potential for improving the overall performance of
the project in the complete project in very little time. The main focus of this research report
is to examine the working principle of agile project management. There are various
sections will be included in this report, for example, the background of the agile, working of
agile, advantage and disadvantage of agile, comparison with waterfall and challenges.
Background of agile project management
Agile is a very old project methodology that is now used in both small and large
business industries. The 21st century shows that the use of agile methodology is growing
very fast in the area of software development and other IT initiatives (Conforto, et al.,
2014). A particular agile project methodology that has included in the last few years is
scrum that has the capability to enhance the effectiveness of projects in the organizations.
Such kind of project methodology work along with the project teams in order to design a
product backlog and implement their plans in an effective way. A recent study identified
that agile is a type of approach, which is completely based on providing requirements
iteratively, and incrementally throughout the project life cycle. Such kind of methodology
impacts on the traditional culture and provides a new way of performing more complex
tasks while the development of software projects.
From previous studies, it is analyzed the agile is an effective methodology that can
be used in the companies for controlling and monitoring the software development

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projects which focuses on continuous releases and incorporating consumer feedbacks with
each subsection (Drury-Grogan, 2014). Moreover, such kinds of methodology reduce the
complexity of the companies and provided a new platform for developing software projects
on a large scale. In the last, few years there are numbers of organizations developed and
implement such kind of approach while implementing the software-based projects and
plans (Dybå, Dingsøyr, & Moe, 2014).
Scrum is one of the best types of agile methods which is mainly designed for guiding
teams in the iterative delivery of items and services. It is identified that an agile project
methodology focuses on the utilization of an empirical process that allows team members
to respond in very little time and effectively maintain issues that occurred in the
development of software. The performance of software development can be enhanced by
using time boxes, a prioritized product backlog and reducing errors that can be obtained
through an agile methodology (Gonzalez, 2014).
Types of agile methodology
There are numerous types of agile project methodology which are described below
SCRUM
It is the best agile methodology, which is now used in the field of business industries
and organizations. Mainly, scrum methodology focuses on task management in the team-
based enhancement where it controls and manages the project life cycle in an effective
manner. Such kind of project methodology can be applied to the small development teams
and it brings everyone on the project team and group members. Therefore, using a scrum
type of agile methodology project team can reduce errors and issues occurred in the
development of software projects.
Extreme programming
Such kind of agile methodology is more appropriate and sufficient when there are
frequent changes in demands from the consumers. A recent study argued that extreme
programming does not require external resources and team members while developing
software based projects. Moreover, it also enhances the productivity of the project team

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and group members where they can easily monitor the progress of projects. Mainly, this
type of agile methodology allows developers to focus on the requirements of consumers
and change their proposed project as per the given guidance.
The working of agile
The working principle of agile methodology is very simple which can be applied to
small software development projects. It is observed that the project team develops a rapid
feedback process and continuous adaptation that can help an organization for performing
the activities involved in a project. Mainly, the project team adopts various kinds of
practices, for example, continuous deployment and continuous integration that also help
them for reducing the complexity of the project. Moreover, the agile methodology includes
a group of the team for handling the activities and events used in the project and
performing tasks in the assigned time and cost.
A recent study evaluated that while using agile methodology team members utilize
velocity, burn down and burn up charts in order to control and determine the overall
performance of their works rather than gain charts and time plans. It is argued that as
compared with other project methodologies agile does not need the presence of a project
manager because it monitors the complete project cycles through a group of members. In
such kinds of process project team divide the complete project into small sections that
reduce overall complexity and complete the tasks in very little time. Moreover, in the case
of agile methodology, the entire software development process is controlled and managed
by a product owner which also guide their team members. The working of the agile
methodology includes several sections and steps which are described below:
Scope out and prioritize projects
It is the first stage of the agile project management where the team scope out and
prioritizes the projects as per their understanding. In order to describe the selected project,
it is very important for the team to define the scope of their projects and it can be done by
discussing the idea or concept with the project manager. Therefore, by using such kind of
process companies and project teams can easily find out the scope and aims of the project
and prioritizes the projects.

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Diagram requirement for the initial sprint
After selecting the project work, the next step is to define the requirements and
processes required to complete the project. The requirement for the initial sprint can be
analyzed and evaluated with the help of flow charts and diagrams. Moreover, the project
team also discusses the concept of project management and divides the complete project in
the numbers of sections.
Construction/iteration
The next step of agile methodology is to construct and develop the selected project
based on the requirements. In such kind of step, the project team perform their works,
focus on the project, and plan. Moreover, the construction process also includes various sub
sections and undergo numerous rounds. The initial iteration might only involve the bare
minimum functionality which can help companies for developing the software projects in
an effective manner.
Release the iteration into production
In such kind of process agile methodology, provide a way for releasing the select
products and project into the world. In which there are various kinds of steps involve that
help the project team for successfully implementing the project and plan. These steps are
described below:
 Test the system
 Address any defects
 Finalize the entire system
 Release the iteration into the production
 Production and support for software development
Such kind of process includes running support and helps for the developed project and also
helps project management for releasing the software in an effective manner. In the case of
agile methodology, the production phase ends when support has ended or when the
complete process is planned for the implementation.

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Retirement
It is the last stage of agile project management where the project team can remove
and modify the entire system based on the consumer’s feedbacks and notifications.
Moreover, at the time of the retirement process, the management team removes the
scheme release from production and also replaces the system if any problem has occurred.
Therefore, by performing all these steps and processes an agile methodology can
effectively develop software projects.
Role of agile methodology
It is identified that scrum is the latest process that is now used in the agile project
management that has the potential for reducing the complexity of the system. Agile scrum
plays a major role in the area of project management where it helps the developers and
project team for developing and implementing software based projects.
A recent study examined that the team lead is one of the effective roles of this
methodology that can help project members for improving the overall performance of the
projects. However, a project manager is responsible for facilitating an agile team and
monitor the overall efficiency of the project. The agile methodologies also maintain the gap
between the project and team and identify the risk factors linked with the projects that
improve the overall effectiveness of the project management. It is identified there are
major three actual roles of agile methodology in the project management, for example,
product owner, scrum master, and scrum team.
The scrum master is the major part of the process, which protects the project from
unwanted things and signals. Such a kind of project methodology also identifies the errors
and avoids obstacles from the system which can impact on the performance of project
management. It is argued that scrum masters are capable for facilitating team interaction,
negotiate with the external team members and avoid problems occurred in the project
(Sohi, Hertogh, Bosch-Rekveldt, & Blom, 2016).
The product owner shows the major importance in the development of projects
where it helps the project team for taking feedbacks from customers. It also represents the

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voice of the consumer and it has the accessibility to produce affective decisions about the
project. The product owners are also responsible for interacting the visions of the project
to the project team which can maintain the performance of the projects. In the case of agile
methodology, the owner of the product works with a project team and also communicates
with their team members on a regular basis which increases the efficiency of the assigned
project.
The other role of agile methodology in project management is that it controls and
maintains the work ability of the project team and also provides complete information
about the project. Mainly, a project team directly link to the project management where
agile scrum technique provides a way for effectively developing and implementing projects
within the given time.
Advantages and disadvantages of agile
Advantages
There are numbers of advantages of agile project management which are described
below:
 It is one of the effective approaches which can be used in both small and large scale
projects in an organization.
 Companies can deploy software in an effective way and also help consumers for a
better understanding of the developed project
 By using such kind of methodology, companies can change the developed project
and take feedback in very less time.
 Very fast turnaround times
 The project team can easily monitor the overall performance of projects
 Fix issues and problems linked with the projects
 Moreover, the project team can get immediate feedback in very less time
 It can help the developers for effectively designing software-based projects
 Working and developing software by using agile methodology is very easy and
simple

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 Provide a platform for performing face to face communication (Hall, 2012).
 Provide daily work report to the project team which can help them for analyzing the
overall performance of the proposed projects
 After the development of the project team can change and modify the project based
on the requirements of the consumers.
 Very faster in process and avoid errors and problem faced by the project team
Disadvantages
There are various kinds of drawbacks of agile project management that are described
below:
 In the case of agile methodology, it is very complex for selecting an appropriate
project life cycle which can impact on the performance of the project management
 In which there is a lack of empnhasis on necessary designing and documentation
 The developed project can easily get taken off track if the consumer did not provide
complete information about their project
 In the field of agile methodology only higher authorities are able to take actions
towards the development of software.
 Agile methodology did not provide a platform for tracking the progress of projects
 It is very complex in the case of a large project because it required numbers of steps
while developing software based projects
 Data may be lost in the process if the project team does not focus on the security
 It requires proper attention and efforts from the project teams which can impact on
the efficiency of project management.
 Selected projects can become everlasting because there is not a clear end between
the project manager and the project team (Hornstein, 2015).
 Lack of proper information can increase issues in the projects
 It is analyzed that agile methodology has limited sources due to which it cannot be
used for large projects (Hoda, & Murugesan, 2016).

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Comparison between agile and waterfall methodologies
This section of the research report focuses on both agile and waterfall project
management and compares the key aspects of both these methodologies. The waterfall is
defined as a project methodology, which is completely based on the sequential linear
process for the development of software, based projects (Hughes, 2012). As compared with
the waterfall, agile methodology can be used in small projects and companies. Moreover,
waterfall project methodology is sequential and linear but agile project methodology is
incremental and iterative (Lalsing, Kishnah, & Pudaruth, 2012).
In the case of the waterfall, the requirements have to be freezed at the beginning of
the software defined life cycle but in the case of agile methodology requirements are
expected to change and changes are incorporated at any time and condition. In waterfall
methodology, scaling up of the developed project is very complex and difficult but in agile
methodology, the overall scaling up process is very simple (Lalsing, Kishnah, & Pudaruth,
2012). The other key difference between these methodologies is that waterfall model need
formalized documentation, which helps the project team for controlling the performance of
projects, but the agile model does not require any documentation process due to which
team cannot track the progress of the project (Layton, & Ostermiller, 2017).
Waterfall methodology Agile methodology
It is mainly sequential and liner It is an incremental and iterative process
In this process, requirement have to be
freezed at the starting of development
In which requirements can be modified at
any point.
Working model of waterfall methodology is
delivered at the later process of
methodology
In which, the working process is delivered at
the time of starting phases and effective
iteration
It is very complex to scale-up software
development projects.
The overall scaling up process is very easy
and simple
Mainly waterfall model divide software
enhancement process into distinct stages
Agile methodology separates the project
development life cycle into numbers of sub
sections
In terms of flexibility, the waterfall is less As compared to the waterfall, agile

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flexible which can impact on the
performance of projects
methodology is more flexible and reliable/
Challenges occurred in agile methodology
It is identified that in this advanced generation many business inidstries adopted
agile project methodologies such as IBM, Goggle and many more. These companies
improved the overall performance of their projects by using agile methodology because of
their various advaantgaes such as flexible, simple, very fast and so on (Layton, &
Ostermiller, 2017). But, there are various challenges faced by consumers and companies
while developing projects using agile methodologies (Sohi, Hertogh, Bosch-Rekveldt, &
Blom, 2016). In which security and privacy is the biggest concern where the information of
the complete project may be lost if the project team does not follow the proper
configuration and implementation process.
A recent study identified that such kinds of issues and problems occur due to a lack
of proper planning and documentation for the project that also affects the effectiveness of
software projects. Moreover, the agile methodology also enhances the risk factors in the
system because it does not provide any tracking process to the project team (Nicholls,
Lewis, & Eschenbach, 2015). Due to the large dependency on team dynamics, it is very
complex for developers and project managers to apply agile project methodology to large
projects. The other key problem associated with the agile methodology is that it cannot be
used for large scale projects due to which companies and business industries cannot adopt
such a process (Špundak, 2014).
From previous journal papers, it has found that the agile project approach depends
on the numerous kinds of key elements for example business, and organizational
structures, which create a problem for project teams to select the effective life cycle (Pope-
Ruark, 2015). It is identified that the issues and challenges in migrating from a traditional
sector to an agile methodology include resistance and objections that may affect the entire
team. There are major three levels where the risks and challenges in the project

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management for example at management level, team level, and consumer level (Rasnacis, &
Berzisa, 2017).
Applications of agile methodologies
Agile is a simple type of project methodology, which is used in various business
industries and this section, elaborate the real applications of this methodology (Rose,
2013). It is identified that there are various applications of this approach which are the
following:
 Analysis of the reuqirements of projects
 Controlling and managing the efficiency of project management
 Development of small software based projects
 Maintenance projects
Conclusion
From the above observation, it is concluded that agile is an effective project
methodology that has the capability to effectively develop projects. This research report
identified the key features of agile methodology and evaluated their working principle
which can help the students for improving their skills in the area of project management
methodologies. As compared with the waterfall methodology, agile is more flexible and
reliable which can be used for small projects in the organizations. This study also identified
the advantages and drawbacks of the agile project methodology and critically reviewed the
challenges faced by project members while using an agile process.

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References
Conforto, E. C., & Amaral, D. C. (2016). Agile project management and stage-gate model—A
hybrid framework for technology-based companies. Journal of Engineering and
Technology Management, 40, 1-14.
Conforto, E. C., Salum, F., Amaral, D. C., Da Silva, S. L., & De Almeida, L. F. M. (2014). Can
agile project management be adopted by industries other than software
development?. Project Management Journal, 45(3), 21-34.
Drury-Grogan, M. L. (2014). Performance on agile teams: Relating iteration objectives and
critical decisions to project management success factors. Information and Software
Technology, 56(5), 506-515.
Dybå, T., Dingsøyr, T., & Moe, N. B. (2014). Agile project management. Software project
management in a changing world (pp. 277-300). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Gonzalez, W. (2014). Applying agile project management to predevelopment stages of
innovation. International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, 11(04),
1450020.
Hall, N. G. (2012). Project management: Recent developments and research
opportunities. Journal of Systems Science and Systems Engineering, 21(2), 129-143.
Hoda, R., & Murugesan, L. K. (2016). Multi-level agile project management challenges: A
self-organizing team perspective. Journal of Systems and Software, 117, 245-257.
Hornstein, H. A. (2015). The integration of project management and organizational change
management is now a necessity. International Journal of Project Management, 33(2),
291-298.
Hughes, R. (2012). Agile data warehousing project management: business intelligence
systems using Scrum. Newnes.

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Lalsing, V., Kishnah, S., & Pudaruth, S. (2012). People factors in agile software development
and project management. International Journal of Software Engineering &
Applications, 3(1), 117.
Larson, E. W., & Gray, C. F. (2017). Project management: The managerial process. McGraw-
Hill Education.
Layton, M. C., & Ostermiller, S. J. (2017). Agile project management for dummies. John Wiley
& Sons.
Nicholls, G. M., Lewis, N. A., & Eschenbach, T. (2015). Determining when simplified agile
project management is right for small teams. Engineering Management
Journal, 27(1), 3-10.
Pope-Ruark, R. (2015). Introducing agile project management strategies in technical and
professional communication courses. Journal of Business and Technical
Communication, 29(1), 112-133.
Rasnacis, A., & Berzisa, S. (2017). Method for adaptation and implementation of agile
project management methodology. Procedia Computer Science, 104, 43-50.
Rose, K. H. (2013). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®
Guide)—Fifth Edition. Project management journal, 44(3), e1-e1.
Sohi, A. J., Hertogh, M., Bosch-Rekveldt, M., & Blom, R. (2016). Does lean & agile project
management help coping with project complexity?. Procedia-Social and Behavioral
Sciences, 226, 252-259.
Špundak, M. (2014). Mixed agile/traditional project management methodology–reality or
illusion?. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 119, 939-948.

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