Beverley Head
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 07:49
Agile software development which has been gathering pace over the last decade involves an iterative approach to systems development. Instead of the traditional waterfall approach where the software lifecycle steps through concept, analysis, design, construction, testing and maintenance, Agile software development is more iterative.
It demands IT and business staff take a far more collaborative and continuous approach to systems development allowing information systems to be quickly modified to react to fluctuating business conditions.
While the approach promises nimbler systems development and a competitive edge for early adopters there are hurdles to clear before the benefits emerge.
Financial services company Suncorp, which has been implementing the approach across the business since 2007, and now performs about 80 per cent of all IT development using an Agile approach has experienced a productivity drop as its 1700 IT staff get to grips with what amounts to a fundamentally different way of working. According to Katrina Rowett, the executive manager of the business technology change programme at Suncorp, who will be speaking at the Agile Australia conference, the real benefits of the Agile approach only kick in on around the third iteration of using the approach.
She believes however that the rewards eventually outweigh the initial challenges. “So far the benefits have included a faster return on revenue and delivering business functionality faster meaning we can bring product features to market faster and pip our competitors to the post, for example with mobile banking.
“We can also fulfil our compliance requirements for a truckload less money.”
Continued page 2
 |
Microsoft Office 365Try an easy-to-use set of web-enabled tools for business-class productivity services. Office 365 provides anywhere-access to email, important documents, contacts, and calendars on almost any device.  |
Latest Headlines from IT INDUSTRY
