The evolution of agile methods continues to shape the way development teams approach their projects. In 2024, we’re witnessing significant advances in agile, with an increased focus on adaptability, sustainability and inclusivity. In this article, we’ll explore the latest trends and new agile methods shaping the project management landscape in 2024.
1/ Responsible agility
It’s an approach aimed at integrating the principles of social and environmental responsibility into agile software development and project management practices.
To achieve this, responsible agility can take many forms and cover many different aspects of project management.
Take the creation of a website or mobile application, for example. Adopting a responsible approach can mean greater transparency in data use, or more energy-efficient technological choices.
From the point of view of people management, it is also possible to focus teamwork on the well-being of its members. Although agility enables us to gain in speed and value, this must not be at the expense of the well-being of agile teams.
2/ Inclusive agility
Inclusiveness becomes a top priority. Agile teams strive to create diverse and inclusive work environments where everyone feels valued.
Agile teams prioritize user-centered design, conducting in-depth research to understand the needs of all users. This ensures that digital products are accessible to all.
Similarly, by encouraging every member to express their ideas freely, they promote transparent, inclusive communication.
This approach strengthens team cohesion and stimulates innovation.
3/ Data-driven agility
Data plays an increasingly important role in agile methods, enabling more informed decisions and objective assessment of performance.
Unlike the traditional method, where decisions are often made on the basis of intuition or past experience, the data-driven agile method relies on the use of empirical data to guide decisions.
In this approach, teams usedata analysis tools and techniques to gather information about their work, such as cycle times, task completion rates and customer satisfaction. This data is then used to identify potential problems, assess the effectiveness of proposed solutions and adjust plans accordingly.
To manage large volumes of data efficiently, companies may consider adopting technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, Amazon Redshift or Google BigQuery.
At the same time, to speed up updates and reduce processing time, data pipeline automation solutions exist, such asApache Airflow and AWS Data Pipeline.
By integrating AI and deep learning into data-driven agility, development teams can benefit from greater visibility, more informed decision-making and continuous process optimization, which can lead to higher-quality software products and increased customer satisfaction.
4/ Holistic agility
It represents a deeper integration of agile principles into the organizational culture .
Implementing holistic agility implies a complete overhaul of mindsets and practices at all levels of the company.
How can you integrate this approach into your business?
To encourage communication between teams and resolve problems quickly, training sessions can be organized for all employees on agile principles and their importance in the work environment.
A second approach is to set up regular synchronization meetings, such as daily scrums.
Also, for continuous improvement, establishing formal and informal feedback gathering mechanisms, involving bothteam members, customers and external stakeholders seems a good approach.
Finally, ensure constant alignment with the company’s overall objectives by defining clear, measurable goals for each team, while giving them the freedom to determine the best approach for achieving them.
5/ Agility at scale
ScaledAgile, or Agile@Scale, refers to the application of agile principles and practices to large-scale projects or organizations.
Originally designed for small teams, scaled agility adapts the mechanisms of traditional agile methods to make them effective for projects involving several teams, or even entire organizations.
To solve these problems, various approaches and frameworks have been developed, such as SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum), Nexus, and many others.
These frameworks provide structures, practices and guidance for orchestrating the work of multiple agile teams to align them with overall project or organizational goals. The ultimate goal of agile at scale is to enable greater agility and flexibility while maintaining the coherence and coordination required for large-scale projects.
In 2024, agile methods continue their ascent, establishing themselves as an essential pillar of project management in an ever-changing world. With a growing focus on accountability, inclusivity and the judicious use of data, organizations are better equipped to harness the full potential of agile methods. This holistic approach fosters innovation, encourages collaboration and enables fluid adaptation to the changing challenges of our times.
