Read further if you are interested in understanding more about the duties of a product owner. Although first introduced as part of the Scrum framework, this role is now one of the most important on any Agile project team.

The Business Stakeholder Proxy

Business stakeholders remain an essential voice in any technology project. One of the advantages of Agile is its emphasis on streamlined communication. A product owner helps in this regard by speaking for this community throughout the project lifecycle.

Serving as a proxy for the stakeholders requires the product owner to be able to quickly make decisions. They must combine the insight of an experienced business analyst with the responsibility of an executive. As communication is a two-way street in Agile initiatives, they also must be able to present issues from the development staff to other stakeholders.

Empowered to Prioritize Requirements

As the single point of contact for the stakeholder community, product owners play a key role in prioritizing requirements, authorizing changes, agreeing to the project timeline and schedule, as well as acquiring funding for the initiative. These duties go beyond what a product manager does on technology projects using a different methodology like the Waterfall.

It is important for the product owner on an Agile project to maintain a positive relationship with the project manager or Scrum Master representing the development staff. This is another place where strong communication and analytical skills come into play. They must be able to properly model the requirements of an application while ensuring everyone on the business and technical sides of the project understand the tasks to be completed.

On most Agile projects, the product owner and the Scrum Master remain the two most important team members. Product owners combine the business knowledge and technical acumen to ensure requirements are properly defined and the chain of communication stays open. They work together to properly motivate the entire team.

Work with a Leading Software Solution Company

When you need additional advice on bringing your software project to fruition, talk to the experts at SDE USA. As one of the top co-sourcing development organizations in the industry, we are experienced in Agile as well as the latest in technologies. Make it a point to connect with us soon.

With a successful project outcome in mind, here are a few ideas on how to handle estimating when using Agile. Leverage these insights to keep your effort on time and under budget.

Customers Want to Know When Their Software Will Be Done

While estimating isn’t generally a focus of Agile – many feel it takes too much time better spent writing code – customers need to be informed when an application will be ready to use. Maybe they are planning a marketing initiative in concert with the release date? Whatever the reason, having some form of schedule helps make your clients happier – especially if you get the work completed earlier than expected!

Finding a middle ground between a full Waterfall scheduling effort and not doing any estimates is a good goal for an Agile project. The important thing is to build trust with the customer. Being able to show tangible progress throughout a project is one of the strengths of Agile.

Develop a Product Road Map

A simple schedule detailing when the functional areas of an application will be complete is a good basic estimate to share with the customer. This “product road map” gives them a high-level understanding of the various tasks within the overall project. If time allows, breaking down each individual effort into their subtasks helps improve the overall estimates.

Determining Release Criteria

Instead of a project due date, work with the customer to develop a set of criteria that must be met before an application gets deployed into production. This allows for more flexibility to build the most essential parts of an application first, leaving any non-essential functionality as enhancements. This approach is also more compatible with the Continuous Deployment model used by many enterprises in today’s business world.

As noted earlier, this style of estimation also helps build trust with your clients. They are able to see working functionality in production earlier compared to an older methodology. Work on enhancements can proceed without spending an inordinate amount of time creating estimates and a schedule.

Work With a Leading Software Solutions Companies

When you need additional advice on bringing your application idea to fruition, talk to the experts at SDE USA. As a top software development firm focused on Agile and co-sourcing, we can help your business achieve a new level of success. Connect with us soon!

Here are a few ideas on how to leverage Agile for the benefit of your entire organization – not only your software development team. Soon, your company will truly be a 21^st century business.

Business Agile Outside of Software Development

Agile is definitely making inroads in areas unrelated to application development. According to the Harvard Business Review, NPR uses the methodology to help devise and schedule radio programming. John Deere and Saab leverage Agile techniques in their engineering and manufacturing processes.

Many other organizations in nearly all business sectors are now using Agile outside of IT. The bottom line is simple. Embracing Agile brings your company benefits that go beyond faster code development.

Steps to Implement Agile at Your Business

Analyze the areas within your company you feel would benefit from Agile process improvement. Research other businesses using these techniques in those same areas at their organization. Armed with this information, prioritize the departments within your business where implementing Agile makes sense.

Determine the expected costs to transform those departments’ operations to Agile in addition to the anticipated benefits. This gives your managers and staff a goal to aim towards during the implementation process. Consider a pilot project with one smaller department before transforming your entire organization.

Don’t forget to take advantage of the expertise of your IT team to help get the rest of the company “talking” Agile. Any Scrum Masters or project managers would be well-suited for this role.

Metrics Are Vital for Determining Success

Knowing the right metrics for each department is an important part of determining whether Agile is making the positive impact you expected. Ensure your entire management team has access to a reporting system so everyone can offer input on the process as it reaches other areas within your organization. This transparency is especially important with something as revolutionary as Agile.

Once your pilot project is determined to be a success, use what was learned as the rollout is repeated within other departments. Soon, your entire company will reap the benefits of higher productivity.

Work With a Leader in Software Solutions

If you need additional advice on Agile, talk to the experts at SDE USA. As one of the leading co-sourcing application development companies, we are experienced with Agile projects at businesses of all sizes. Connect with us as soon as possible.

If your organization is new to Agile or experienced in its use, here are a few tools that need to be on your radar. Research these and others with similar functionality to help improve the efficiency of your software projects. Good luck!

JIRA for Agile Bug Tracking

JIRA is one of the more popular options for project and issue tracking on Agile projects as well as those using an alternate methodology. It focuses on bug tracking functionality but provides a measure of project management support as well. JIRA is a proprietary application, but it is free to use by nonprofit organizations.

The application is currently used by 25,000 customers of all sizes, including Skype Technologies and the Apache Software Foundation.

Another Agile Bug Tracking Option

YouTrack is another bug and issue tracker application; this time leveraging a web-browser interface. The proprietary application easily integrates with a host of popular source code repositories, including Git, Subversion and CVS. When choosing any Agile tool, consider its ease of integration with other applications used at your software development organization.

Agile Project Management Tools

In many cases, it is better to use a tool designed specifically for project management instead of some half-baked PM functionality within a bug tracking application. Active Collab is a web-based PM application with an open source licensing model that makes it easy for organizations to try out first. Basecamp is another browser-hosted project-management option, but it does come with a commercial license fee.

How to Decide What Agile Tool Is Best?

When performing due diligence on Agile project tools, take advantage of any free trial periods to see how well the application integrates with your team’s current library of software. Obviously, open source tools provide more flexibility to “try before you buy.” Research any online reviews in addition to asking trusted associates within your professional network for their take.

Ultimately, the opinions of the developers and SCRUM masters on your team matter the most, so be sure to closely consider their insights before a final decision is made.

Work With a Leader in Co-Sourcing Software Solutions

If you need additional advice on improving the software development process at your organization, talk to the experts at SDE USA. One of the country’s leading experts on Agile and co-sourcing, we can add value to your next software initiative. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

Here is a list of a few common myths about the methodology to help ensure your organization has the right information before embarking on its first Agile undertaking. Leverage these insights as part of your team’s decision-making process.

“Agile Is Just a Fad!”

Even considering its over 15 years of use throughout the technology industry, Agile still gets labeled as a fad by some. Maybe some of those pundits feel the same way about rock music? As software products get more complex, combined with a competitive business world, Agile is necessary to ensure applications are completed successfully while still staying at or under budget.

“Agile is Unproven!”

The technology industry is filled with companies boasting a number of successful Agile projects. Organizational structures – such as DevOps – leveraged to support the methodology, are another sign of its maturity. It is obviously a proven way to make software and other projects succeed.

“Agile Is Only for Software Delivery Projects!”

While Agile was first developed for software projects, the methodology has been proven successful for other undertakings – technical or not. The same core principles apply whenever a project needs to worry about the cost-time-quality triple constraint. In short, most projects would benefit from Agile.

“Agile Projects Don’t Deliver Quality!”

Some technology professionals feel Agile only leads to fast, haphazard work of little quality. Actually, the methodology focuses on delivering quality throughout the software development lifecycle. Agile prioritizes the output of processes, guaranteeing the best possible solution is produced quickly.

“Agile Keeps Business Stakeholders out of the Loop!”

Compared to other software development methodologies, Agile helps business stakeholders stay informed while fully understanding a project’s completion date and how much it will ultimately cost. Its adaptive nature means the risk of cost overruns are minimized and delivery dates will be met.

In short, Agile is a proven methodology worthy of being used on software (and other) projects of all sizes.

Work With a Leader in Co-Sourced Software Solutions

When your organization needs additional insights on the software development process, consider speaking with the knowledgeable team at SDE USA. As one of the top application engineering organizations in the country, our co-sourced staffing model means projects are completed successfully and within budget. Schedule a meeting with us at your earliest convenience.

Co-sourcing organizations focused on a fine-tuned Agile development process offer businesses of all sizes the promise of a better return on their software investment. Let’s see how co-sourcing your development needs to an Agile firm adds more value to your company.

A Final Product That Meets the Needs of Your Organization

Agile is a highly iterative process designed to successfully handle change. Business stakeholders work closely with the development staff to define the requirements of a software project. After each iteration, those requirements are modified as necessary to meet the evolving needs of the final product.

The most important items are worked on first, with the product owner being able to verify their original requirements were met. This differs greatly with software projects using the waterfall methodology, where requirements are set in stone, and stakeholders typically won’t get their hands on the application until close to the end of the project. As a result, any mistakes found late in a waterfall project are costly to fix.

Agile helps protect against the risks of a failed project, or an application not meeting the needs of your organization. A methodology that encourages interaction and expects change is the key.

Improved Collaboration and Communication

Considering the close relationship between the development team and the client during an Agile project, improved collaboration and communication are another hallmark of the methodology. Business stakeholders are able to verify the product is meeting their needs throughout the entire lifecycle. Developers gain valuable feedback in a constructive and timely manner.

Focus on Operating Your Core Business

Co-sourcing your company’s development needs lets your firm focus on its normal business operations instead of managing an internal software project. This is in a similar fashion to businesses leveraging cloud-based services for their IT needs in lieu of running an on-premise data center. Ultimately, Agile co-sourcing adds value to your company by lessening project risk, improving cost savings and making your internal operations more efficient.

When your organization needs a software application or modifications to an existing one, consider co-sourcing the work with SDE, Inc. USA. As an experienced, talented team well versed in the Agile methodology, you can rest assured a successful project will be the final result. Connect with us at your earliest convenience.

If you are considering the use of a co-sourcing shop on your next software project, let’s take a closer look at Scrum to see if it makes sense as your Agile methodology of choice.

The Nomenclature of Scrum

In Scrum terminology, the person known as a Scrum Master serves a somewhat similar role as the traditional project manager. Instead of the management of each programmer’s task list, however, they operate more as a facilitator; conducting daily meetings and serving as a conduit between the development team and the prime business stakeholder, called the Product Owner. This latter role determines the project’s requirements, their priority, and whether or not each requirement is successfully completed.

The Self-Management of Developers

This Scrum project team structure puts the onus on the development team to manage their workload in addition to any programming tasks. Daily meetings with the Scrum Master confirm sufficient progress is being made, while ensuring any issues or problems are communicated with the Product Owner.

The Scrum Master and Product Owner being on a different continent doesn’t hamper the overall efficiency of the project, provided communication flows openly among all members of the team.

Detailed Planning Is Vital

As with any software development methodology, careful planning when using Scrum helps lead to success. A time interval in an Agile and Scrum project is known as “sprint,” with its project plan being called a Sprint Backlog.

The Product Owner and Scrum Master must work with the development team when planning each sprint to make sure all goals are realistic and achievable – this needs to happen before the current sprint is completed, when possible. The Scrum Master helps ensure no changes are made to the Sprint Backlog while the sprint is in progress.

Communication and Time Management

In addition to daily video or phone conferences with the Scrum Master, the development team benefits from interacting with each other throughout the day. Text messaging helps facilitate the collaboration necessary for a successful project.

Additionally, it is important for each developer to manage their personal time wisely – keeping a consistent effort level is vital in Agile. Trying to complete too much as the end of the sprint approaches usually leads to poor work.

If your organization is interested in leveraging Scrum on your next co-sourced project, talk to the software solutions experts at SDE. Our offshore development team is known for its quality and efficiency. Schedule a meeting with us as soon as possible!

Agile also brings benefits to companies looking to co-source their solution development needs to a third-party provider. Let’s look more closely at some of the ways Agile helps the process of IT co-sourcing. They provide some food for thought on your organization’s next software project.

Faster Software Delivery

The Agile methodology is focused on speed. Co-sourcing your development needs to a development shop experienced in Agile assures an efficient process. Your internal team is able to concentrate on their core business, leaving the software development tasks to the experts.

Agile breaks up the software development lifecycle into smaller chunks compared to older methodologies. The benefit is a faster, more interactive process, ensuring your application is ready for deployment as soon as possible.

Your Business Team Stays Involved Throughout

The business stakeholders from your company play an important role throughout the Agile development lifecycle, ensuring requirements are met and features work as expected. They typically interact with the software engineering team on a daily basis; vetting the application’s functionality and overall quality. This kind of close collaboration is a core principle of Agile.

Last-Minute Changes Won’t Cause the Project to Fail

Agile is designed to handle those dreaded last-minute scope changes without breaking the project’s budget or risking its delivery date. This is one of the main advantages of the granular nature of the shorter development cycles (known as “sprints”) within an Agile project. In fact, one of the principles behind the Agile Manifesto notes the following: “Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage.”

Communication and Transparency Are Vital

Deciding to co-source your programming project to a company using an older development methodology keeps you out of the loop until work is completed with the exception of a status update or two. On the other hand, communication and transparency essentially define an Agile project. Expect daily meetings along with regular chances to try out new features and functionality in your application.

The Focus Is on the User

The flexibility of Agile ensures changes and enhancements happen more quickly compared to older methodologies. Once feedback is received after the application is in production, turning any comments and insights into changes in functionality is simple. This user-focused form of development also provides benefits earlier in the process with the business stakeholders serving that same role.

When your organization has a software development co-sourcing need, consider the team at SDE. Our Agile processes ensure a fast, transparent and ultimately successful project – from initiation to delivery. Contact us at your earliest convenience.