What Is Agile Project Management?

When it comes to project management methodologies, there is no shortage of options for project managers to consider. Of course, the ultimate challenge for most project managers is to select the methodology that best suits the unique scope, context, and objectives of any given project, as there's no "one-size-fits-all" approach in project management.

Still, one of the most widely used project management methodologies is known as Agile, an option that's ideal for teams looking to complete work faster and with better quality deliverables.

With a better understanding of Agile, what it entails, and its benefits, project managers (and aspiring project managers) can better determine when to use it in their own work.

The Agile Manifesto: Foundational Principles

So, what is Agile project management? In simplest terms, the Agile approach to project management is an interactive, adaptive, and collaborative approach that breaks down larger projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. You can read the official Agile Manifesto, which goes into much greater detail about its foundational principles.

The Four Core Values of Agile

As outlined in the Agile Manifesto, the four core values of this project management method are as follows:

• Individuals and interactions are valued more than processes and tools.
• Projects and their teams need to be flexible with the ability to adapt to change at any given time.
• Teams should focus on functional deliverables rather than extensive documentation throughout the process.
• Teams should actively collaborate and communicate with customers.

The Twelve Agile Principles

In addition to Agile's core values, the Agile Manifesto also outlines twelve key principles to guide project managers in supporting their teams. These principles are:

• "To satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery."
• To "welcome changing requirements, even late in development."
• To "deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with preference to the shorter timescale."
• "Business people and developers must work together daily."
• Projects should be built "around motivated individuals."
• Information should be relayed through "face-to-face conversation" within a development team.
• "Working software is the primary measure of progress."
• Processes should "promote sustainable development."
• Team members must maintain "continuous attention to technical excellence and good design."
• Simplicity "is essential."
• Self-organizing teams result in "the best architectures, requirements, and designs."
• Teams should regularly reflect on their progress and adjust plans accordingly.

Phases of Agile Project Management

Although a team of software developers created the Agile method, the reality is that Agile concepts can be applied to just about any industry or project scope. The key is to follow the key phases of the Agile framework, as detailed below.

Concept and Initiation

In the earliest stages, project managers should be visualizing and conceptualizing the project as a whole. During this time, project managers may meet with other stakeholders to discuss the possibilities, objectives, and potential limitations of the project before formally launching it.

Sprint Planning and Design

When discussing what is Agile project management, sprint planning is one of its defining characteristics. It involves dividing large projects into smaller, manageable tasks to ensure smooth execution. 

Execution and Development

Once the project timeline is decided upon and teams are assembled, the next step is to execute the plan and get started working toward the completion of each sprint. During this time, team members should be in regular contact not only with the end customer, but with fellow team members as well.

Review and Feedback

One of the most notable aspects of Agile software development is its iterative approach that allows for continuous review, feedback, and changes to occur as needed. However, a dedicated phase for review and feedback allows team members and project managers to get a better feel for what went smoothly and what changes may need to take place to improve the next project.

Retrospective and Adaptation

Upon the completion of the project, Agile teams often conclude with a retrospective meeting, where they discuss the highs and lows of the project while celebrating its completion. During this time, project managers may create a list of actions and adaptations that may need to occur before the next sprint or the next project launches, striving for continuous improvement.

Key Benefits of Agile Project Management

To fully understand what is Agile project management, it’s important to recognize its key benefits, such as enhanced flexibility, improved collaboration, and higher customer satisfaction. The Agile method can be an extremely useful approach to project management for a number of reasons.

Delivering Value Early and Continuously

One of the biggest draws of using the Agile approach in any project is that it centers around delivering value to the end user early and consistently throughout the entire process. By providing deliverables to the client early in the process, Agile teams can enhance customer satisfaction while maintaining momentum as the project moves forward.

Improved Team Collaboration

Agile project management is also very focused on the idea that team members should be kept "in the loop" at all times (ideally, with face-to-face updates as needed). This method encourages team members to communicate and collaborate openly, sharing ideas and keeping everybody on the same page throughout each sprint.

Enhanced Flexibility and Adaptability

The reality of many software development and other large-scale projects is that the original scope and plans can change in the blink of an eye. For this reason, the Agile approach builds on flexibility and adaptability. This ensures that teams can make changes to their plans without significantly impacting project budgets or timelines.

Risk Reduction and Problem Resolution

All projects come with some inherent risk, but the Agile project management methodology is built with safeguards in place to ensure that teams can pinpoint and respond to challenges as soon as they arise. This can improve problem resolution while mitigating risks and keeping projects on track.

Higher Customer Satisfaction

When customers receive deliverables early and consistently with regular check-ins and communication, they're more likely to be satisfied with the end result. Agile is designed with plenty of features in place to ensure customer satisfaction and create more value for the end client.

Agile Methodologies

Within the broad concept of Agile project management, there are some smaller and more focused frameworks that may be worth exploring based on the unique needs of your team.

• Scrum - This subset of Agile is a project management framework that centers around the use of short development cycles, lean thinking, and team collaboration to achieve goals.
• Kanban - This framework takes a visual approach by using Kanban boards to help teams visualize their work and see first-hand what's been done, what's currently being worked on, and what will come next.
• Lean - This project management methodology is focused on minimizing waste and optimizing the resources available for any given project. This, in turn, improves efficiency while providing added value to the customer.
• Extreme Programming (XP) - This software development methodology, which is also a subset of Agile, focuses on five core values of communication, feedback, simplicity, respect, and courage to deliver products that exceed customer expectations.
• Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) - The DSDM method is another Agile framework that prioritizes flexibility while focusing on business goals with strong governance principles in place, ensuring that everybody knows their unique roles and responsibilities.
• Crystal - The Crystal project management method focuses on one of the core principles of Agile, which is to prioritize people and their interactions above all else, including processes and tools.
• Feature-Driven Development (FDD) - The FDD method in Agile centers around the delivery of specific features of a software development project, taking on a more structured approach with less flexibility than the traditional Agile method.

Agile vs. Waterfall

When it comes to project management strategies, both Agile and Waterfall are popular options not just for software development teams, but teams in other industries as well. However, though Agile and Waterfall do share some similarities, there are some key differences between the two approaches worth noting.

While Agile is an iterative and flexible approach with projects broken down into smaller segments (sprints), the Waterfall approach is more sequential and offers less room for change. With Waterfall, each phase must be completed in sequential order, and the next phase cannot be started until the previous one is completed.

With these differences in mind, the Waterfall methodology tends to be a better option when a project already has very clear requirements with relatively predictable outcomes.

Challenges of Implementing Agile

As useful as the Agile framework can be in many projects, the reality is that implementing this approach can be easier said than done, especially for a novice project manager who may not have much experience with this methodology.

Agile is different from what many teams are used to, so there is often some inherent resistance to the initial change. Project managers can overcome this resistance by providing proper training on the Agile method and its proven benefits.

Another common challenge teams run into when following the Agile approach is scope creep, which occurs when a project's initial scope continues to grow and change until it eventually snowballs out of control. While Agile is designed with a lot of flexibility in mind, project managers must know when to take action to keep things on track.

Ultimately, many challenges that come along with using the Agile approach to project management can be avoided or mitigated when project managers are open and up-front with their teams about expectations. Likewise, by ensuring team members have the resources they need to succeed, project managers can use the Agile method more effectively and with fewer roadblocks along the way.

Learn More at CCO

Agile is an extremely popular project management methodology, often used in highly complex projects or in projects where things could change at the drop of a hat. Still, it's just one of many project management methodologies that could be right for any given project. The most experienced and knowledgeable project managers can assess a team's specific needs to make the right choice.

Looking to sharpen your own project management skills and understanding? Champlain College Online's master's in project management program may be right for you. This 30-credit hour program covers advanced topics in project management, ranging from stakeholder engagement and different project management methodologies to communication, leadership, and much more.

Plus, this program is available 100% online, so you can work towards your degree without putting your professional life on hold. Contact us today to learn more about CCO's MPM program, or get the ball rolling by filling out your online application for admission.