Challenges in software development

Techniques for generating consistent success in software development are profoundly different from other management disciplines such as managing a large call center, medical practice, or retail business.

Unlike many management disciplines, software development is best managed as an empirical process. Stochastic in nature, subject to unforeseen complexities, and informed by new information constantly, software development works best when driven by real-time inputs and data generated from users and the development team itself.

Given these challenges, we believe that agile software development is the most appropriate approach for ensuring positive project outcomes.

Innova generates results through a self-managing, repeatable process that keeps us working on the right things for your project. This approach:

• Generates usable software early in the development process
• Lets you see where we are in the project by trying your new software (versus reading a project plan)
• Encourages new thinking and changes after the project has begun
• Enables short development cycles so that your priorities can shift as business challenges reveal themselves

About Agile software development

Since the mid 1990s, Agile methods have gained widespread acceptance among forward-thinking businesses such as Sony/Ericsson, IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Google. As a direct reaction against regimented processes such as the famous "waterfall" model of development, Agile has been shown to work while more traditional methods have continued to generate poor results due to bureaucratic, slow, demeaning, and inconsistent processes that are required to manage a typical software project.

Rather than an irresponsible deviation, a case can be made that agile and iterative development methods are a return to the development practices seen early in the history of software development-practices that enabled the fundamental technology breakthroughs that drive industry today. That Agile is being used again is a true testament to pragmatism and real-world results-compelling enough to outlast momentum and proprietary interests that typically drive the technology industry.

Alignment between Agile methods and your business goals is critical. We've seen it before, but it is rare that Agile methods don't drive towards the goals of a typical business unit. Consider the Agile core values:

• Customer satisfaction by rapid, continuous delivery of useful software
• Working software is delivered frequently (weeks rather than months)
• Working software is the principal measure of progress
• Even late changes in requirements are welcomed
• Close, daily, cooperation between business people and developers
• Face-to-face conversation is the best form of communication
• Projects are built around motivated individuals, who should be trusted
• Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design
• Simplicity
• Self-organizing teams
• Regular adaptation to changing circumstances

If you believe your organization could benefit from a saner approach to software projects, please contact us for a free, no obligation quote.