Benefits of the Agile Methodology: Better Results, Faster Delivery, and Happier Teams

The Agile methodology is now accepted as an industry standard, with roughly 71% of organizations adopting the approach to project management, especially when it comes to software and product development as well as marketing projects. From Scrum, Kanban, XP, and Lean to FDD, DSDM, and Crystal, there are plenty of Agile methodologies that became popular while sounding like a list of drugs to people who have never heard of them before.

But what makes Agile so successful? What advantages make it such an attractive option for businesses and developers alike? Let's take a look at some of the benefits of adopting an Agile methodology.

1. Higher-Quality Product

First and foremost, implementing the Agile methodology increases the quality of your product. The iterative approach to development allows you to continuously test and improve your product until it meets the standards you've set for it. Oftentimes, this process continues even after the product has been released – enabling you to constantly add new features and make improvements.

Comparatively, the Waterfall methodology lacks the flexibility and responsiveness that Agile offers. With Waterfall, you're essentially locked into a linear process with no room for iteration or improvement – resulting in products of lower quality. In short, it reduces the risk of launching a defective product that would take too long or cost too much to fix later on.

Additionally, the Agile methodology grants developers more autonomy when creating a product. Developers are encouraged to think outside the box and brainstorm new ideas, allowing them to craft a higher quality product they collaborate on and take pride in.

2. Faster Delivery Times

An Agile methodology prioritizes speed and flexibility, allowing teams to deliver products much faster. With Agile, you can break up projects into small chunks or "sprints," allowing you to measure progress more accurately and adjust your strategy as needed. As such, any setbacks or changes to the project can be mitigated quickly, speeding up the delivery time considerably.

Another notable advantage is the ability to prioritize specific tasks based on their importance. If a particular task or feature isn't essential to the product's release, it can be shelved until all necessary components are complete. Doing so increases efficiency and ensures that resources aren't wasted on unnecessary tasks. All in all, Agile teams are roughly 25% more productive than their counterparts.

3. Team Well-Being

The Agile methodology puts people over products, encouraging teams to collaborate and grow together. It creates a culture of mutual respect that's essential for any successful project.

Additionally, the iterative approach promotes transparency and communication between team members. It allows everyone to stay in sync on the progress of each task and provides opportunities for feedback so that nothing goes unnoticed.

Accountability is another key component of an Agile methodology. It encourages teams to work faster while still producing high-quality results. By setting specific deadlines and milestones, everyone on the team is held accountable for their tasks, and there's no room for procrastination.

Finally, team members all feel like they have a say in the project. Everyone's ideas, feedback, and opinions are valued, creating a sense of ownership over the product and further motivating them to deliver their best work. Otherwise, team members could feel like their work is unappreciated or doesn't matter.

4. Increased Customer Retention

Of course, the basis for any successful product is customer satisfaction. After all, what good is a product if nobody wants to use it? The Agile methodology places customer satisfaction at the forefront of development and ensures that feedback is considered throughout the process.

By continuously testing and refining your product, you can ensure that it meets your customers' needs. As we'll explore below, Agile also provides a host of metrics that can be used to track customer engagement and adjust the product accordingly.

With a product tailored to customer needs, you can increase their satisfaction and consequently boost your retention rates. On average, companies have seen a 60% increase in revenue since switching to Agile.

5. Early Profits

Projects like software development are often seen as long-term investments with no return in the short term. This myth is due to the need for extensive testing and feedback before releasing a product – a time-consuming process that can take months or even years to complete. Not with Agile.

The iterative development process allows you to launch a product quickly, which in turn translates into profits sooner rather than later. With Agile, teams can rapidly develop and deploy a minimum viable product (MVP) ready for customer feedback. Although it might not have all the features of a final product, it still serves as an early prototype that generates profits and feedback.

6. Reduced Risks

This benefit should not be underestimated. Let's return to the Waterfall method for comparison. Once a project has been finalized, it's incredibly hard to go back and edit something due to the rigid structure of the methodology. But what if you miscalculated market interest? Or, worse yet, what if the product doesn't meet customer needs? The product is doomed to fail.

Theoretically speaking, that could never happen with Agile. The iterative development process allows teams to continuously adjust the product according to customer feedback. That way, there's no such thing as a failed project – only projects that can be further refined and improved upon. Of course, you may eventually run out of resources, but you'll never be stuck with a product that doesn't meet customer needs.

7. Less Technical Debt

Developers tend to hate technical debt. It's a term used to describe all the shortcuts taken during the development process – which, if not addressed later on, can result in serious issues down the road.

Agile helps reduce this risk by ensuring that developers don't skip any steps along the way. Instead of just trying to get the product out quickly, the focus is on developing a quality product that meets customer needs. This involves testing and refactoring at every stage of development – a process that helps reduce technical debt and ensures that the project runs as smoothly as possible.

8. Added Flexibility

By nature, the Agile process is incredibly flexible. It allows teams to quickly adjust their approach and make changes as needed. Teams can shift from one task to another in a flash, adding or removing features at any stage of development. The only risk is that if too much flexibility is allowed, teams might end up with a project that doesn't have any focus.

Scope creep – adding too many features and losing focus – is a common issue with Agile, but it can easily be addressed by setting clear goals from the start. Once those goals are established, teams should follow them as closely as possible to ensure the project stays on track.

9. More User Testing and QA

Testing and quality assurance are integral parts of any product. However, other methodologies might keep them on the sidelines until the end. That can be a problem, as it limits the feedback received during development.

10. Shorter Planning Phase

The flexibility of Agile also makes the planning phase much shorter. Instead of planning the entire project in advance, teams can simply focus on one iteration at a time. They still need to set clear goals and objectives, but there's no need for extensive planning that covers every stage of development.

11. Transparency

Agile development is also incredibly transparent. Everyone from stakeholders to clients to developers is involved in the process, and everyone can see what's going on at each stage of development. Plus, since all stakeholders can easily view the project's progress, it eliminates any uncertainty about timelines or deliverables.

At the team level, Agile also encourages transparency. Team members are on the same page, and everyone can easily see what tasks have been assigned to whom. Employees are encouraged to work independently, but they can always ask for help if needed, ensuring everyone is looped in and involved in the process.

12. Relevant Metric Gathering

Finally, Agile allows teams to focus on the most relevant metrics. Since teams must evaluate and analyze their progress after each iteration, they can easily identify areas where improvements can be made and determine what works best for them.

Final Thoughts

All in all, there are countless benefits to the Agile methodology for teams that choose to use it. Ultimately, it allows teams to develop better products faster, with less risk and more transparency. The last thing that could keep you away from getting started with Agile is having the right project management software by your side. If that is the case, make sure to check our Best Picks for Project Management Software to discover great solutions for your business.