Agile Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
Computer Science: OCR A Level, topic 2.3.5
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Agile Methodology
Software development methodologies are suitable in different situations and all of them have positive and negatives.
Merits of agile
- With an agile methodology, the client can take a product to market more quickly.
- Clients can receive incremental updates for the product.
- The final product has absolute certainty that it is what the client wanted as they are constantly involved with its development over each iteration.
Drawbacks of agile
- Agile offers less predictability compared to waterfall for timings and costings as the process constantly repeats.
- Agile methodology requires higher time input from the client as they are constantly required for feedback and consultation at all stages of the development process.
- Agile methodology can easily go off track and a project can last well beyond the initial idea, meaning high costs and high time input.
Usage
- Agile is best suited to projects where the client has a good idea of what they want, but also has a lot of time they can invest into controlling the project and feeding back on it.
Test yourself on Agile Methodology - Strengths & Weaknesses
Why are projects developed using the agile methodology likely to fit a client's vision for their product?