Agile vs. Adaptive Project Frameworks: A Comparison
As software development has evolved over the years, so have project frameworks. Agile and Adaptive are two popular approaches that are often compared and sometimes even confused with each other. This post will provide a factual and unbiased comparison of Agile and Adaptive project frameworks, discussing their differences and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach.
Agile Project Framework
According to the 2021 Agile Manifesto, "Agile software development delivers valuable software through the collaboration of self-organizing and cross-functional teams." It values individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change over rigid contracts and plans. Agile started as a counter-reaction to the heavyweight Waterfall methodology, which required extensive upfront planning and documentation, and did not support frequent changes.
The Agile project framework consists of various methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, eXtreme Programming (XP), and Lean. These methodologies follow the Agile principles and focus on iterative and incremental development. They require work to be divided into small tasks that can be completed in a sprint or a cycle. Agile teams prioritize tasks based on their importance and build working software at the end of each cycle.
Advantages of Agile
- Quick Time-to-Market: Agile teams are quick to market as they work in short cycles and produce functional software during each iteration.
- Flexibility and Adaptability: Agile values respond to change over rigid planning, allowing teams to adapt to changes positively.
- Transparency: Agile teams work in a highly collaborative environment where everyone is kept informed and can make contributions as per their capacity.
Disadvantages of Agile
- Lack of documentation: Agile teams often lack documentation, which can make it hard for outside teams to understand the software's architecture or maintain the software.
- Lack of predictability: Agile is highly flexible, which can also make it hard to predict project timelines, budget, and resources.
Adaptive Project Framework
The Adaptive project framework is built on the same Agile principles but focuses on more complex and dynamic projects. According to SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), Adaptive is a flow-based approach that emphasizes fast feedback, continuous learning, and value delivery. Adaptive approach puts emphasis on monitoring the team's performance metrics and using regular checkpoints or reviews to identify areas that need improvement. Adaptive approach allows for a more dynamic and responsive approach to management.
Advantages of Adaptive
- Flexibility: This approach has an ability to adapt quickly to change, making it a better solution for complex or ambiguous projects.
- Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Continuous feedback and reviews allow teams to improve their processes and deliverables continuously.
- Better Risk Management: Continuous reviews and feedback help to identify potential risks and issues in the project, which can be mitigated promptly.
Disadvantages of Adaptive
- High Complexity: The Adaptive approach can be more complicated than other approaches, requiring an experienced team.
Agile vs. Adaptive
Agile and Adaptive share many similar principles but differ in their approach to management. Agile is a better choice for simple, well-defined projects that need to be delivered quickly with collaboration, continuous feedback, and transparency. Adaptive, on the other hand, is better suited for complex, dynamic and ambiguous projects that may require more sophisticated management.
In a nutshell, Agile is best suited for smaller teams working on simpler projects, while Adaptive is better suited for larger teams working on more complex projects.
References
- Agile Manifesto (https://agilemanifesto.org/)
- Scaled Agile Framework (https://www.scaledagileframework.com/)
- Looking Beyond Agile: An Overview of Software Development Methodologies, Katherine Mattos, J. Michael McCarthy, 2018.