The agile approach is reshaping the world of web development as we know it. It is a response to rapidly changing market requirements and technologies, an incremental process geared toward teams that like to stay quick on their toes. What is more, it puts an emphasis on individual team members and customer collaboration rather than a predetermined set of tools and tasks. 

The only problem is that there are several agile models worth considering. To figure out which one suits you the best, you need to do your homework and weigh a variety of different factors. But, do not fret. We have compiled a guide on how to empower your team and maximize the outcomes. 

Initial considerations 

The app development methodology plays a pivotal role. 

It provides a suitable channel for communication and a framework for executing the project. Unlike models like Waterfall, which is essentially a series of rigid development stages, the agile approach leaves enough room for making tweaks on the fly. Nothing prevents you from testing since day one and then following a natural flow of activities. You are also able to produce working software in the early stages of development. 

So, how do we go about picking a specific agile methodology? Well, you can start by evaluating your own preferences, work styles, communication channels, and project specifics. After all, you will have to choose the approach you are most comfortable with, one that brings productivity boosts and makes your life easier. On the contrary, you should avoid imitating what others are doing and falling for hype and fads. It is all about a fine blend of simplicity and productivity. 

A killer combo 

Speaking of which, the combination of these two qualities is precisely why Scrum represents one of the most common agile methodologies used today. It also helps that there are only three major roles to keep track of: the Product Owner, the Development Team, and the Scrum Master. However, this is not to say that Scrum poses a one-size-fits-all solution. To make it work, one must make sure developers are prepared to perform short sprints, involve the customers, and hold daily meetings. One of the best things about Scrum is that it has a thriving community surrounding it, providing advice, helping with best practices and developing free scrum software that can help support a Scrum team.

Besides, we must acknowledge other approaches that have their unique advantages. Take the example of Kanban. Its main selling point comes in the form of boards for visualizing the workflow. They facilitate the process of uncovering issues and monitoring the progress. Similarly to Scrum, the project organization is utterly simple, but there are no roles that must be filled. Instead, task prioritization plays out with the help of a backlog. Key metrics are lead and cycle time (with Scrum it's velocity). 

Making the right call 

To make things even more complicated, there are other approaches that could fit your organization better. For example, Extreme Programming is a sound choice for teams with a lot of seasoned programmers used to working as freely as possible. On the other hand, Feature Driven Development involves more steps and pays dividends when multiple app development teams need to work simultaneously on larger projects. We should not overlook Lean either— it is excellent for companies aiming to deliver high value to end users. 

All of this brings us back to a crucial point. Everything hinges on your ability to align your practical needs with the logic of an approach and unlock its full value that way. So, at what pace you want to release new functionalities? Are you really fine moving forward in small bursts and heavily collaborating with customers? The answers to these kinds of questions enable you to navigate the maze of key decisions and implement the approach with minimum friction. 

Conclusion 

For better or worse, the answer to the million dollar question (of what approach is best) is not really cut-and-dried. Your best shot is to follow the aforementioned steps and take your time with the decision. 

So, know exactly what you are getting yourself into. Assess the way your team currently works and the size and complexity of the project. Your ultimate goal should be to let members communicate and work more effectively, rapidly responding to change and unexpected challenges. Making an educated choice should allow you to break the workload down into manageable bits and make the whole development process run like clockwork!