Software development has multiple steps that take months to complete if not managed properly. The worst case scenario is when major defects occur which delay the delivery, adding multiple months again. 

So how does one prevent the issues that come with software development? The solution is simple. Use methods that can streamline production and create a faster development process. One of these methods include the Agile Software Development process. 

Let’s say you’re looking in on how to improve your team’s development life cycle. You’ve chosen to try the agile software method. How do you know if you have all the key members required for it? That’s what we’re here for. Learn about the different roles in agile software development below.

What is Agile Software Development?

Agile software development is an advanced form of managing your team’s development process. It’s all about maneuvering the daily requirements with flexibility and logical decision making to reach the deadline of delivery.

The whole goal of agile software development is to cleanly deliver specific parts of the developer project. The agile methodology is a safe practice that has largely replaced its predecessor, the waterfall model. 

For the agile methodology to work, capable team members are required to collaborate with the clients. There needs to be open communication and members ready to adapt to any possible issues and setbacks within the development life cycle.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Agile Software Development

Before we learn about the many roles in agile software development, you should be aware of its pros and cons. That way, you can decide whether or not your team should apply the agile methodology on their software development.

Advantages

There are many advantages to agile software development. However, the three main points that entice developer teams and managers opt for the method are listed below:

• Customer Satisfaction

Clients can expect satisfaction upon delivery. This is because the agile method ensures each step is properly executed and functions as it should. Additionally, the collaboration between the client and the developer team provides transparent communication for further changes.

• Quality Improvement

The role of quality in agile software development is to enhance it. The agile method ensures that each stage of the development life cycle is quality-approved instead of experiencing setbacks near its delivery date.

• Flexibility

No one can predict the future. That’s why the agile method’s benefit is about how the team reacts to unforeseen changes. Because of their adaptability and preparedness for any event, the project continues to develop regardless of any possible setbacks.

Disadvantages

While the benefits are tempting you should also keep in mind that this method isn’t perfect. Here are some examples of the possible disadvantages you may encounter when implementing the agile method:

• Inaccurate Documentation

A big issue with the agile method is the lack of documentation processing. The role of documentation in agile software development is often ignored. However, providing documentation and reports regularly should create a more seamless production.

• Poor Resource Planning

Since the goal of the agile method is to be flexible, there are chances of poor resource planning. While it does meet deadlines and provide quality delivery, it doesn’t ensure accurate predictions in resources required.

• High Demands on Developer Team and Client

The challenging part about using the agile methodology is the demands it has for the team and its clients. Commitment is required to ensure a higher success rate during development. Failure to do so could result in devastating setbacks.

Roles in Agile Software Development

To create the success that the agile software development strategy promotes, you will need a handpicked team of professionals. These professionals must be collaborative, committed, and experienced in advanced practices in their field to ensure quality delivery within the given deadline. 

Scrum Master

The most commonly associated in agile method is the scrum master role. Unlike the other roles required in agile software development, the scrum master excels in a Scrum, a subset of the said method. The scrum master acts as both facilitator and coach throughout the entire development life cycle. They implement the Scrum method to organise, generate value, and adapt to the complex setbacks that could occur during the development life cycle.

Scrum masters must have advanced knowledge about all the roles in Agile Software Development. That way they can accurately give proper facilitation of each stage without possibly lacking answers to their problems. Most scrum masters have a certification that shows their proficiency in their career. Below are examples of the responsibilities of a scrum master:

• Organising Product Development into Sprints: The main objective of the scrum master is to divide the stages of development into sprints. Sprints are testing procedures involving collaboration which create a more efficient progress throughout the entire development lifecycle.
• Oversees the Project Development: Scrum masters must also oversee the developers and their progress alongside their development of sprints.
• Removes Impediments: An important responsibility of the scrum master is to remove potential blockers from the paths of the developer team. This could be done either by solving it quickly or preventing distractions.
• Coaching: Scrum masters also coach the team on solutions should the developers experience blockers or setbacks.
• Facilitates Communication: The scrum master is the main point of contact between the developer team and the product owner. He ensures every discussion is clear, transparent, and concise.

UI/UX Designer

UI/UX designers are all about ensuring a product’s functionality while maintaining a user-friendly layout. Additionally, UI/UX designers also prioritises the appearance of the product and how it must align with the branding of the product owner.

Most of the time the UI/UX designer’s involvement is at the very start. They start by finding user requirements, usability research, and prototyping while testing and refining the user interface. However, their roles in agile software development add active collaboration with developers and product owners for continuous development.

• Designing Aesthetically-pleasing Layout with User-Friendly Functions: The primary function of the UI/UX designer is to design a layout that’s user-friendly and functions as it was designed to be. 
• Revamping Based on Feedback Loops: UI/UX designers also must update their designs based on the feedback of the product owners, clients, and those involved.
• Collaborate with Developers and Product Owners to Finish Final Design: Any changes made that require the UI/UX designer’s input should have collaboration between the scrum developers and product owners.

QA Testers

The role of a tester in agile software development is to ensure high-quality outputs before deployment. To do so, they would require feedback loops, create testing plans with scripts or cases, and collaborate with developers on areas of improvement within each sprint.

QA testers collaborate with product owners, developers, and their scrum master. This is to ensure that the quality of the project is maintained. Should there be any sudden defects, QA testers must collaborate with their team to quickly solve any issues provided. 

Additionally, QA testers provide insights important regarding the progress of each member of the team.

• Ensures Quality Before Deployment: The main task of QA testers is to assure the team that there are no more issues regarding the quality of their delivery. 
• Collaborates with Team to Assess and Identify Areas of Improvement: QA testers must collaborate with other team members for assessment and identification of any possible blockers while providing solutions.
• Maintaining and Creating Testing Plans, Scripts, and Cases: QA testers are also responsible for creating testing plans, testing scripts, and testing cases. As a result, maintaining these testing resources are important as well. 

Developer Team

Software developers utilising the waterfall method can simply isolate themselves and commit to their tasks. However, that’s impossible when utilising the agile method. 

The developer team consists of members who will be planning and delivering tasks necessary for the product’s development cycle. At times a software development manager role in agile method is even included. 

The developer team varies in number depending on what the product requires. However, anyone within the developer team has these common tasks:

• Managing, Estimating, and Planning Assigned Tasks: Developer team members are assigned specific tasks during each stage of delivery. They must ensure the progress and estimation of their tasks.
• Regular Reporting on Status of Tasks: Agile method requires consistent reporting and discussion of potential blockers. As a result, developer team members must regularly report on the status of their tasks during meetings.
• Collaboration with Team Members on Overall Effort: Developer team members must continuously collaborate with each other to ensure maximum effort with each sprint.

Product Owners

Did you know that the agile method can’t be fully implemented without your help? Just like with the other roles in agile software development, product owners have a vital input necessary to keep it effective.

The product owner is the person who owns the vision for the project itself. Their main goal is to explain in detail what the minimum viable product (MVP) is and produce the project’s budget over time. 

Product owners must be attentive, collaborative, and have strong interpersonal skills to maintain a cooperative relationship between their customers. During the agile software development, the product owner has a wide range of responsibilities:

• Monitoring Delivery Progress: Keep up-to-date with the progress of the project while providing any necessary information or input requested of the team.
• Receiving Feedback Loops (optional): Should there be a minimum viable product involved, continuously receive and organise feedback from customers and employees for insight and improvement.
• Ensuring Product Vision Meets with Target’s Needs: Ensure that your product caters to your target audience and your brand’s vision. 
• Creation of the Product Vision and Sharing it to the Team: The development doesn’t start without its beginning. Create the vision of your product and share it to the scrum team to begin development.

Conclusion

That concludes everything you need to know about the roles in agile software development. Hopefully it’s given you some idea about whether or not your team can implement the agile method. Keep in mind that since the agile method is quite demanding, it’s recommended to outsource software developers instead.

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