Agile Project Management Explained

Using Agile project management, projects are carried out in a methodical way and broken down into small steps, which are planned and finished before the next stage in the process can be decided, planned and completed. The small steps in an agile management project are referred to as iterations.

The method often used to complete a project, is to use a manager to lead a team towards an end goal , telling them precisely what to do each step of the way. Through Agile project management however, the method is entirely different as it places a great deal more responsibility and focus on the whole team. Every member of the team, contributes to plan every stage of the project and looking at the best way to solve problems when they arise.

The project manager looks at the vital requirements and then looks for an appropriate solution to define an end goal which must be achieved to complete the project effectively. The role of the manager is to take the project and their vision of its solution and come up with a suitable plan to meet the projects needs and fulfil the end goal.

The whole team then work on the project by breaking it down into smaller increments which are planned in detail before being executed, individually, one step at a time. The working process is very organic, because the team plan and complete each new stage, using the information and knowledge gained whilst working on the previous stages.

Using this flexible approach allows the team to adapt and change the project in response to the way it is naturally developing. This flexibility incredibly useful when teams are working on long term projects that are carried out over the period of several years, because circumstances and requirements are far more subject to change. There is always a possibility that the original solution and goals could lose relevance and therefore need to be altered in some way.

Throughout the project, the whole team work as one to overcome any issues that arise so the project can be completed successfully. 

Change is implemented immediately with this reactive approach. This is far more desirable and cost effective than suddenly realising you have issues once the project has been completed.

Agile is regularly used in IT programs and is just as effective when used on smaller scale projects. It is a great method for managing projects and works particularly well when applied to projects that are complex or difficult to map out in an accurate way because of the nature of the business.

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