Why Don't Startups Prefer Agile?

 

“If we have a fully defined backlog, we no longer have a true Agile Product Development situation. Instead, we have a project: a list of stuff all of which has to be done.” - Ron Jeffries, signatory of the Manifesto for Agile software development.

The Concept of Startups

Startups are young companies initially funded by the founders to develop a unique product or service business in the market. Basically, Startups are different from any regular businesses. The basic difference is the investment that is being put in the early stages of the business. For example, investing in certification programs like agile methodology certification to frame a perfect road map for designing a working software.

In a regular business model, you might expect to lose a bit of money in the initial stage and quickly move into making more money or you may not even survive sometime. But startups expect to lose massive amounts of money and take years and years to build it. Most of the startups are ready to face this risk. Why? Because the line for growth and profit is massive. The loss in the beginning stage is seen as an investment in startups.

So, the trending formula that every startup follows is, first you need to build something and then you sell it. For example, you invest in technology to build software for your online business. An application that is free to use. You get millions of people using it as they find it valuable and then you make the money back within a few years which can be a huge amount, ten times the money you invested in building the software.

When it comes to building a software, agile frameworks like ⁠Scaled Agile Framework provides a base of best practices that helps an organization deliver high quality software. And any fast-growing startups can follow agile methodology in the beginning stage of their business. The reason is most of the startups fail within the first five years because they lack proper planning and undervalue their competitors. 

Adapting the agile method, the startups can easily frame a plan, encourage fast delivery and have a high success rate. And as a founder of the startup you need to know how an agile approach improves team performance to position your business for long term success.

Here are some important characteristics that define startups:

1. Huge Investment.
2. Growth is the key. Slow growth is not meant for startups. 
3. It should be scalable.

 

 

 What is Agile Software Development?

Agile software development is a cycle a product goes through in the building stage.  Depending on the project management methodology, agile life cycle changes. For example, scrum, kanban and extreme programming and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) are popular frameworks that come under an agile model that follows different roles in a software development team. Scrum team works as sprints, extreme programming works in shorter iteration and engineering practices, Kanban follows a continuous flow with no required roles.

 

Reasons for not adopting Agile in Startups

1. Financial returns.
2. Lacking proper agile team
3. The Agile model depends on value driven delivery.
4. Startups often run into obstacles.
5. Lack of communication.
6. Lack of expertise in the team

Which is the most preferred model among Startups?

Agile methodology is the most preferred type of model followed by startups as it fulfills short term goals with welcoming the changes. This methodology helps running many sprints after accepting the customer feedback, by comparing the product with competitors and by adding new features and improvements for the products to proceed for the next sprint.

Another reason why entrepreneurs prefer this model is the availability of different frameworks under agile models. These frameworks are developed by developers to fit according to the software development needs of the organizations. Some of the frequently used frameworks are scrum, Kanban, extreme programming, Lean, Crystal and SAFe. Agile Methodology Certification programs cover these frameworks to provide clear aspects of the agile model for developers to implement while developing a software.

Title Description

1.     Is Agile Methodology Certification in demand?

      As every fast-growing startup requires a plan and short-term goals to improve their success rate, most of the entrepreneurs prefer agile methodology to develop a product. In this process, agile methodology certification arms the team with required knowledge to practice agile methodology in their development strategy.

2.     What are the practices of Scaled Agile Framework?

      Compared to other frameworks of agile model, scaled agile framework is a new one with core principles like take an economic view, apply system thinking, assume variability, build incrementally with integrated learning cycle and so on.

3.     Explain the concept of Agile with the help of proper Agile Definition.

      Agile definition denotes the method of software management process characterized with the division of tasks in shorter phases by following the framed principles.

 

About Advance Agility

We, at Advance Agility, are the new-age Agile Coaching, Consulting and IT services company. We enable end-to-end Digital Transformation. Agile execution is integral to our being. We are doing SAFe implementation with small, medium and large organization across the globe. Our vision is to be the leading Agile execution player globally. To keep adding value at every process stage. We are on a mission to empower our clients, move from concept to cash in the shortest sustainable lead time by adopting human centric approach to business agility. Embracing the change is in our DNA. Things that keep us apart are Quicker and Seamless execution with End-to-end gamut of services. Our Global presence and Stellar Track Record give us an edge over our competitor.

Connect with us at advanceagility.com to learn about SAFe and SAFe Implementation. We provide various SAFe certification courses along with DevOps, Scrum, Agile Coaching and more trainings. Write to us at contact@advanceagilty.com for any agile training or consulting needs. We are always looking for competent agile trainers as well. So if you are a good trainer or want to become one, do get in touch with us to that we can learn, grow and achieve together.