How Agile is Transforming the Traditional Lifecycle Model for Tech Products

The traditional tech product lifecycle is slow, deliberate, and typically successful. However, it is often paralyzed by its governing philosophy. The phrase “learn to walk before you run” has been frequently uttered during traditional development meetings, providing a clue as to why the methodology is best described as stagnant with regards to technology innovation, a dynamic process. However, Agile philosophy is beginning to spread into various areas of technology creation, transforming the concept of a product’s lifecycle as well as how it looks to the developers and the customer. Tech developers such as Sonia Randhawa have adopted Agile methods into various projects with overwhelming success, prompting a review of how technology firms are benefitting from the integration.

The Traditional (Waterfall)Lifecycle and Its Faults
Whether it is in the area of software development or any other area of technology development, the Waterfall method has a very specific lifecycle. Specifically, it is often mapped as:

1. Analysis of the Problem and Requirements
2. Initial Design
3. Development
4. Testing and Review
5. Maintenance

At first glance, this lifecycle and its many intricacies appear to be more than enough to design, develop, and deploy a product. There are discrete functions for designers, programmers, testers, managers, etc. However, the reality is that the success of the traditional method hinges on a single concept: the end goal of the project doesn’t change. After all, introducing revisions late into the product lifecycle can be absolutely devastating in terms of design, testing, and even personnel management. With tech, though, the needs of the customer and the requirements for the final product can change in an instant. For this reason, among others, Agile is often seen as a solution.

How Sonia Randhawa and Others Use Agile in Tech
Innovation with technology doesn’t always occur at the beginning of the product lifecycle. Oftentimes, the creation of a novel product will result in discoveries midway through the development phase that will transform the end goal. For example, a banking website might discover that their payment options would better serve its customers as an independent money-transfer app. If you’re using the Waterfall lifecycle, that often means going back to the drawing board and starting from square one.
However, those that are integrating Agile into their product lifecycles, like innovator Sonia Randhawa and others, often get the added benefit of being able to start, stop, and redirect as needed. Unlike the Waterfall method, Agile has the capability to produce multiple product iterations while still working towards an end product that is pleasing to the customer. To better imagine this scenario, here is a basic framework for an Agile tech product lifecycle:

1. Create cross-functional teams rather than stick with a single line of authority
2. Generate the list of work that needs to be done (the backlog)
3. Use the backlog to establish “iterations”, each one a short, discrete task that results in a shippable product.
4. Conduct risk management throughout every step
5. Integrate Scrums, daily meetings that can be used to change or redirect development
6. Receive customer feedback at several points throughout the development lifecycle.

There are several notable differences between Agile and Waterfall development.  For example, people involved with the tech life cycle in any products, not just programming, will often have deliverable products much earlier in the product lifecycle and will have the teams in place to make adjustments towards the end of the development phase.

Tech developers like Sonia Randhawa have successfully used Agile to ensure they can swiftly change directions for the product function, provide better involvement with customers, and remained geared to troubleshoot an existing product or develop a new generation with ease.

Ways That Tech DevelopersUse Agile in Real Situations
Like many development philosophies, the ability to be “agile” by using the titular philosophy is tempting, but it’s also necessary to see real examples of Agile in action. One such example can be seen in the development of a Smart Refrigerator. The early development iterations could introduce functionality like a touch screen, providing a product that the customer can see and offer feedback on while other features, like internet connectivity, are still being created.

The deliverable and customer involvement are highly valued along with the speed with which various facets of the product are introduced. Thus, the first iteration of the touch screen might not be perfect or even entirely useful on its own, but the Agile product lifecycle offers something to build on while maintaining customer involvement.

Agile is changing the face of tech development in terms of product lifecycles, altering the flow of creation. Adopters of this philosophy such as Sonia Randhawa use Agile to focus on speed while maintaining the ability to shift gears quickly. Yet, it’s important to remember that Agile is only as good as its execution. Proper training and implementation require instruction at all levels, or it could be less effective and even detrimental. However, when done properly, the end result is a better form of innovation that has its priorities in the right place: the customer.

source:https://github.com/sonirw