“I am not here to speak the Truth. I am here just to give you a method to perceive it.” ― Jaggi Vasudev, Of Mystics & Mistakes
As a software professional, I have seen many project-relevant processes come and go over the years.
The waterfall model, the Rational Unified Process (RUP), Agile, Lean, Kanban, DevOps, and many other frameworks and methodologies have been proposed and used to varying degrees of success.
But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start, or which approach to choose for a particular project or team.
That’s why I’m a fan of simple table summaries to help drill in. After all, it’s hard to explore the concepts if you don’t know they exist, or you don’t know what they are called.
By creating quick, simple table summaries of the key activities from some software project-relevant processes, we can better understand the differences and similarities between them, and perhaps identify the strengths and weaknesses of each approach.
These table summaries are a work in progress, and I’m sure I’m missing key practices and some of the names have changed. But it’s a starting point to explore the fascinating world of software methodologies.
What are the Most Common Software Methodologies?
Before we look at the tables, let’s review the most common software methodologies in use today.
The most common software methodologies currently in use are Agile, Waterfall, and DevOps.
However, there are also several variations and combinations of these methodologies that are becoming increasingly popular, such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, and Hybrid.
Agile
Agile is a software development methodology that emphasizes flexibility, teamwork, and customer satisfaction.
It is an iterative approach that involves frequent collaboration between cross-functional teams and continuous feedback.
Agile is focused on delivering high-quality working software quickly, adapting to change, and continuous improvement.
Waterfall
Waterfall is a linear and sequential approach to software development, where the entire development process is broken down into separate phases, such as requirements gathering, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
Each phase is completed sequentially, with no overlap, and the output of one phase serves as the input for the next.
Waterfall assumes that requirements are fully understood and stable from the outset, and changes are discouraged after the development process has started.
DevOps
DevOps is a software development approach that emphasizes collaboration and communication between development and operations teams, with the goal of automating software delivery and infrastructure changes, and ensuring a more reliable and efficient software delivery pipeline.
It combines agile methods, lean principles, and IT service management practices to improve the speed, quality, and stability of software releases.
DevOps also emphasizes continuous monitoring and feedback, which enables teams to quickly identify and resolve issues in the production environment.
Scrum
Scrum is an Agile project management framework that emphasizes iterative development, regular inspection, and adaptation. It is characterized by its use of short development cycles called sprints, daily stand-up meetings, and the use of visual management tools like Scrum boards.
The framework involves three key roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team, who work together to deliver a potentially shippable product increment at the end of each sprint.
Scrum emphasizes collaboration, self-organization, and continuous improvement to deliver high-quality software products efficiently.
Kanban
Kanban is an Agile project management methodology that emphasizes continuous delivery, flexibility, and efficiency.
Its core principles include visualizing workflow, limiting work in progress, managing flow, making process policies explicit, implementing feedback loops, and continuously improving.
Kanban is often used in production environments but can also be applied to software development, marketing, and other areas.
Lean
Lean is a methodology focused on the elimination of waste and the optimization of value in a system.
It aims to create more value for customers while using fewer resources.
Key principles include continuous improvement, respect for people, and a focus on delivering value through the customer’s perspective.
Hybrid
A hybrid methodology combines elements of two or more different methodologies to achieve a tailored approach that fits the specific needs of a project.
The goal of a hybrid approach is to combine the best features of each methodology while minimizing the drawbacks.
Hybrid methodologies are becoming increasingly popular as organizations seek more flexible and adaptable approaches to project management.
How To Choose a Software Methodology?
Here are some steps you can follow to choose a software methodology:
- Define your project requirements: Before you can choose a methodology, you need to define your project requirements. This includes identifying the scope of the project, the timelines, budget, and the overall goals.
- Evaluate your team’s skills: Once you have defined your project requirements, evaluate your team’s skills and expertise. This will help you choose a methodology that aligns with your team’s strengths and capabilities.
- Understand the different methodologies: Familiarize yourself with the different methodologies available such as Agile, Waterfall, Scrum, Kanban, Lean, etc. Understand their principles, advantages, and disadvantages.
- Consider your organization’s culture: Consider your organization’s culture and determine if it aligns with the values and principles of the methodology you are considering.
- Assess project complexity: Determine the complexity of the project and how it impacts the methodology you choose. Some methodologies may be better suited for complex projects while others may work well for smaller projects.
- Determine flexibility needs: Assess how much flexibility you need during the development process. If your project requirements are likely to change frequently, you may want to choose an Agile methodology.
- Consider customer involvement: Consider the level of involvement your customers will have in the project. If they need to be involved in every step of the process, then Agile or Scrum may be the best choice.
- Evaluate budget and timeline constraints: Finally, evaluate your budget and timeline constraints. Some methodologies may be more expensive or take longer to implement than others.
By following these steps, you can choose a software methodology that aligns with your project requirements, team’s skills, organizational culture, and budget and timeline constraints.
Software Methodology Summary Tables
Here are some tables that I’ve found useful in the past to remind myself or to compare and contrast different methodologies.
Scrum Summary Table
| Phase | Description |
|---|---|
| Sprint | A time-boxed iteration of 1-4 weeks where a potentially releasable product increment is produced. |
| Product Backlog | A prioritized list of features or requirements that the team will work on during the Sprint. |
| Sprint Backlog | A list of items from the Product Backlog that the team will work on during the current Sprint. |
| Daily Scrum | A 15-minute stand-up meeting for the team to synchronize and plan their work for the day. |
| Sprint Review | A meeting at the end of each Sprint where the team presents their work and gets feedback from stakeholders. |
| Sprint Retrospective | A meeting at the end of each Sprint where the team reflects on their process and identifies areas for improvement. |
Kanban Summary Table
Here is a summary of key principles and practices in Kanban:
| Kanban Principles and Practices | Description |
|---|---|
| Visualize Work | Display work and workflow to improve transparency and clarity |
| Limit Work in Progress (WIP) | Set limits on the number of items that can be in progress at any given time to reduce multitasking and improve focus |
| Manage Flow | Ensure that work is moving smoothly and efficiently through the system |
| Make Process Policies Explicit | Define and communicate the policies, rules, and procedures that guide the work and the system |
| Implement Feedback Loops | Create mechanisms for providing and receiving feedback, such as regular check-ins and retrospectives |
| Improve Collaboratively and Evolve Experimentally | Continuously experiment and improve the system and the process through collaboration and feedback |
| Classes of Service | Define and prioritize different types of work based on their value and urgency |
| Cumulative Flow Diagrams | Track progress and identify bottlenecks using a visual representation of the flow of work |
| Service Level Agreements (SLAs) | Set expectations and commitments for delivery and response times |
| Continuous Delivery | Deliver work continuously and frequently, with a focus on small batches and fast feedback |
| Pull-Based System | Use a pull-based system to manage work and avoid overburdening the team |
| Lead and Manage Change | Embrace change and lead the team through continuous improvement and evolution |
| Explicit Process Policies | Define and make explicit the process policies for workflow, including how to move work items from one stage to the next |
| Kaizen | Encourage continuous improvement by making small, incremental changes to the process |
| Cycle Time | Measure and track the time it takes to complete work items, from start to finish |
| Classes of Service (CoS) | Identify and prioritize different types of work based on their value and urgency, and assign specific CoS to each work item |
| Blockers | Identify and manage blockers and other obstacles to ensure smooth flow of work |
| Service Delivery Review (SDR) | Regularly review and assess the performance of the system and the delivery of services |
| Slack | Maintain some degree of slack or idle capacity to handle unexpected work or spikes in demand |
| Continuous Improvement | Continuously improve the process through experimentation and feedback |
| Visualization | Use visual aids such as Kanban boards and cumulative flow diagrams to enhance transparency and understanding of the process |
| Work in Process (WIP) Limits | Set limits on the amount of work that can be in progress at any given time to reduce multitasking and improve focus |
| Service Level Expectations (SLE) | Establish and communicate clear expectations for service delivery and response times |
| Pull System | Use a pull-based system to manage work, ensuring that the team is not overburdened |
| Service Delivery Metrics | Define and measure key metrics for service delivery, such as cycle time, lead time, and throughput |
| Continuous Delivery and Improvement | Continuously deliver and improve the service through small, incremental changes and fast feedback loops |
Lean Summary Table
| Principles | Practices |
|---|---|
| Value |
|
| Value Stream |
|
| Flow |
|
| Pull |
|
| Perfection |
|
Software Methodologies Key Practices
| Process | Practices |
| Kanban |
|
| Scrum |
|
| Extreme Programming (XP) |
|
| Lean |
|
RUP at a Glance
For comparison and fun, here is a balcony view of RUP.
| Process | Practices |
| RUP | Activities
Artifacts
|
MSF Agile
For historical purposes and a trip down memory lane, here is an old version of the MSF Agile methodology.
| MSF Agile | Activities
Artifacts (Work Products)
|
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