Agile Project Management: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Agile project management is frequently used in software development. This methodology emphasises collaboration and continuous improvement of a product or service. Although this methodology was used as early as the 1950s, it wasn’t until 2001 that a group of software developers published the Agile Manifesto, which established the 12 principles and four values of Agile.

Agile isn’t only meant for software developers, though; it applies to other fields such as marketing, HR, and finance. To keep up with demand, the Project Management Institute anticipates more than two million jobs opening for qualified project managers worldwide through 2030 [1]. The demand for project managers in information technology, healthcare, and government in India should remain positive. According to Glassdoor, the average annual salary for an Agile project manager in India is ₹16,90,000 [2].

What is Agile project management?

Agile is a project management approach that uses short cycles, or sprints, to develop a product or service. In Agile, the team plays a large role. The project’s tasks or conditions often change, and the project team produces more frequent deliverables. The Agile method moves more fluidly and quickly than other approaches to project management. 

Agile project management principles

Agile promotes 12 principles. These principles show the importance of customer collaboration and responsiveness to change, also known as agility [3]:

1. “Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

2. “Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

3. “Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference for the shorter timescale.

4. “Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project. Build projects around motivated individuals.

5. “Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.

6. “The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

7. “Working software is the primary measure of progress.

8. “Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

9. “Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

10. “Simplicity—the art of maximising the amount of work not done—is essential.

11. “The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organising teams. 

12. “At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.”

Agile also has four values:

1. Emphasis on the importance of individuals and interactions rather than processes and tools

2. Valuing working software over documentation

3. Valuing collaboration with the customer instead of contract negotiations

4. Responding to change rather than sticking to a plan

Who is part of an Agile project management team?

The team's roles depend on the methodology used, which includes Scrum, Kanban, Crystal, XP, Lean, and others. The project or program manager is a key Agile project management team figure. Scrum roles include Scrum Master, product owner (or product manager), and development team. 

The Agile method emphasises face-to-face communication, so many teams work in one location, though some organisations have a remote workplace with team members in various locations. Agile teams should contain motivated individuals with the resources to fulfill their roles. The roles within the team depend on which Agile methodology an organisation uses.

Common Agile project management methodologies

Agile teams benefit from using one workflow. Some Agile teams use Scrum, while others prefer Kanban, Lean, or other methods. Some teams combine Agile with the Waterfall approach, which means they may use a traditional workflow for stakeholders, but the team uses a Scrum approach for its work. 

Scrum

Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex projects. Scrum, which got its name from rugby teams in training, emphasises cross-functional teams who are self-organising and open-minded. Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland developed Scrum in the 1990s and wrote the Scrum Guide to help others use this project management framework. 

The Scrum theory is leanness and empiricism, based on the idea that true knowledge comes from actual, lived experience. The five values of Scrum are commitment to achieving goals, courage, focus, openness, and respect.

Scrum requires the roles of Scrum Master, product owner, and the development team. A Scrum Master is the person on the team who helps everyone understand and implement Scrum and is responsible for the Scrum team’s effectiveness. The Scrum Master:

• Coaches the team on self-management

• Helps the organisation implement Scrum

• Helps team members remove impediments

• Facilitates communication with stakeholders

• Makes sure meetings are productive and positive

• Supports the product owner in efficiently maintaining the product backlog

• Helps teams focus on completing high-quality project outcomes

The product owner maintains the product backlog, a living document that contains a prioritised list of features for the product or service. It lists each item's value, order, description, and effort estimate. The product owner refines the backlog regularly so that the Scrum team can work effectively.

Kanban

Kanban is another framework used in Agile and DevOps software development. Kanban emphasises transparent visual feedback, real-time communication, and efficiency. Work tasks stay on a Kanban board, which you create using project management software such as Jira. Each column on the Kanban board represents the phases or steps tasks must pass from to-do to completion. Each task or item on a Kanban board has its own card showing critical information, including possible screenshots. Kanban templates allow users to customise their dashboards and have views such as flow diagrams, charts, and other reports. 

Toyota began using the Kanban method in the 1930s in its car factories, and today, it can be applied to any industry. Software teams use the same principles to match the work in progress (WIP) to the team’s capacity. 

Lean

Lean is a collection of tools that help teams improve their processes. The goal of Lean is to eliminate waste and inefficiency. Differences between Lean and Agile methodologies include that Lean has more structure and a focus on continuous process improvement based on analytical systems and process analysis of performance. This adds significant value to Agile, which tends to be more informal with a single project-focused intuitive approach.

Benefits of Agile project management

Agile is useful because it applies to nearly every industry, helping them work more efficiently by streamlining processes. Understanding the methodology's benefits and limitations can help determine if it's the right choice for your project.

Pros and cons

Agile project management allows for continuous improvement and is flexible and adaptive. For example, incorporating feedback throughout the process means software customers won’t have to wait until the end of a project to see the results, reducing the likelihood they won’t like the features. Agile also helps reduce waste and inefficiencies, as you can catch problems early.

One downside to Agile project management is that if team members such as the Scrum Master don’t effectively perform their roles, the project could veer off track, causing delays or other risks. In all Agile project management methodologies, it’s crucial for teams to work together without conflicts. Mistakes like being too aggressive with the workload, resisting compromise, not connecting emotionally with team members, or making assumptions are threats to the Agile team.

How to become an Agile project manager 

You can become an Agile project manager through various paths. These include obtaining a bachelor’s degree, gaining professional experience at a workplace, completing a master’s degree, or pursuing certifications.

Earn a bachelor’s degree.

Many Agile project management jobs require a bachelor’s degree or higher. While some universities have specialised degrees in project management, many students study business administration, engineering, or management or a more specialised field such as construction management or information technology project management.

Gain professional experience. 

Another way to get your foot in the door is to work as part of an Agile project management development team, whether through a voluntary position, internship, or entry-level job. Exploring various work environments through internships lets you see which fields you want to enter in the future.

Consider earning a master’s degree.

A master’s degree in project management helps position you for leadership roles in the future. It can also help you stand out in the job candidate field. Another option for a related degree is an MBA. Master’s programmes in the fields you want to work in are also beneficial, whether marketing, health care, or any other industry.

Get certified. 

Organisations like the Project Management Institute (PMI), APMG International, the International Consortium for Agile, and Scaled Agile Academy offer certifications and credentials for Agile project management. Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP) is the certification programme from the PMI. 

Next steps

Agile project management, widely used in software development, focuses on collaboration and continuous improvement. This methodology is applicable across various fields, such as marketing and finance, and emphasises short cycles, frequent deliverables, and adaptability to changing project conditions.

Start your path toward a career as a project manager by earning a certification like the Google Project Management Professional Certificate on Coursera. This beginner-level programme contains six courses, including Agile Project Management, and covers the foundations of Agile project management, effective project documentation, strategic communication, and more.