Agile Software Development

Here’s the first truly impartial book that gives you both an expert objective analysis of Agile software development methods together with much-needed tools for evaluating their suitability for your organization. It reviews the philosophical underpinnings and objectives of the Agile Manifesto and the 12 Agile principles, and discusses in concrete detail each practice of the six most widely recognized Agile methods. You get concise and unbiased insight into adoption implications, the possible benefits that may accrue, and the potential pitfalls of the practices.

Atits core, this unique assessment tool enables you to confidently reach your ownconclusions and make rational, well-supported decisions about Agile methods. Itlets you systematically address key adoption issues involving organizationalculture, customers, staff, tools and processes, and project considerations. A comprehensive start-to-finishworksheet makes it easy to document observations at every stage, drawjustifiable conclusions, and market your recommendation to your company. Theguide also features expert guidelines to customize an Agile method for yourfirm, train staff, test the new method, and evaluate its performance. Keytopics are supported with nearly 100 illustrations. Practical ready-to-usetools, including equations and templates in Excel format, are provided in ahandy workbook which can be accessed through the author’s website.

Contents:

Part 1: AdoptionConsiderations

Introducingthe Agile Methods - Historical and Background Information. Pointers to theAppendices. Stage-Setting Commentary on the Agile Methods

ConsiderationsAbout Your Organizational Culture - Hierarchical Organizations. CooperativeOrganizations.

ConsiderationsAbout Your Customers - Contracts and Statements of Work. Establishing andChanging Requirements. Expectations About Collaboration.

ConsiderationsAbout Your Project - Size of Project Team. Criticality of Projects. Safety andSecurity Requirements. Multiple Teams and Subcontractors. Integration withHardware and Other Software.

ConsiderationsAbout Your Tools and Processes - Requirements Management. Project Management.Configuration Management.

ConsiderationsAbout Your Staff - Existing Work Patterns. Changing Work Patterns. MakingChanges Stick.

UsingThis Book to Make Your Adoption Decisions - The Structure of the Book: Values,Principles, Practices. The Adoption Worksheet. Final Steps.

Part 2: Value: Individuals and Interactions Over Processes and Tools

AboutPeople, Processes, and Tools - Role of People in Successful DevelopmentProjects. Role of Processes in Successful Development Projects. Role of Toolsin Successful Development Projects. Balancing People, Process and Tools forProject Success.

MotivatedIndividuals and Self-Organizing Teams - Principles and Practices. AdoptionImplications

Face-to-FaceCommunication - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

SustainablePace - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

SupportingProcesses and Tools - Practices. Adoption Implications.

Part 3: Value: “WorkingSoftware Over Comprehensive Documentation”

TheRole of Documentation in a Software Project — Purpose of a Document. Audiencefor a Document. Value of a Document vs. Its Cost.

IncrementalDelivery of Working Software - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

Part 4: Value: “CustomerCollaboration Over Contract Negotiation”

>Definingthe Customer Relationship - Role of Contracts. Role of On-Going Collaboration.Balancing Contracts and Collaboration.

DailyCollaboration - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

Part 5: Value:“Responding to Change Over Following a Plan”

UnderstandingChange in Software Projects - Customers Learn. Developers Learn. Capitalizingon What We Learn.

WelcomeChanging Requirements - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

Part 6: The UnstatedValue: Keeping the Process “Agile”

Maintainingthe Process - You Are Using a Process. Sources of Efficiency and Inefficiency.Continuous Process Improvement.

TechnicalExcellence - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

MaximizingWork Not Done - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

ProjectReviews - Principles and Practices. Adoption Implications.

Part 7: The AdoptionDecision

Makingthe Adoption Decision - Compiling Your Adoption Worksheet Data. DrawingConclusions. Marketing Your Conclusions in Your Organization. Agreeing Togetheron an Action Plan.

Adoptingthe New Practices - Crafting Your Custom Agile Method. Training Those Who WillBe Affected. Pilot Testing the New Methods. Rolling it Out to the WholeOrganization.

Evaluatingthe Effects of Your Agile Method - Project Performance. Senior ManagementAcceptance. Customer Relationship. Team Satisfaction. Continuously ImprovingYour Agile Method.

Appendix

AgileManifesto - Full Text. Commentary

12Principles - Quote Each. Commentary on Each

AdaptiveSoftware Development (ASD) - Practices. Defining Features.

>CrystalMethods - Practices. Defining Features.

DynamicSystems Development Method (DSDM) - Practices. Defining Features.

ExtremeProgramming (XP) - Practices. Defining Features.

Feature-DrivenDevelopment (FDD) - Practices. Defining Features.

LeanDevelopment - Practices. Defining Features.

SCRUM- Practices. Defining Features.

Alan S. Koch, PMP, is a speaker and writer on effective Project Management methods. He is a certified Project Management Professional and President of ASK Process, Inc., a training and consulting company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Previously, Mr. Koch spent 13 years with the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University and taught as an adjunct professor of Computer Science at Geneva College. His 27 years of designing, developing, and maintaining software include extensive experience in quality assurance and software process improvement. Mr. Koch received his M.S. in Management Science from the University of Dayton, Ohio.