Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to define and describe agile movement and its application to software development and other projects. The agile movement has brought about significant evolution in the process of software development. Its methods have increasingly been adopted globally and as a result, they have become one of the main software development approaches that are used today. It has provided businesses with a much faster and nimbler method for developing software. This is especially important for the ever-growing internet software industry and the emergent mobile technology. To achieve this goal, this study will provide a brief background regarding the development of the movement by focusing on its origin and famous agile manifesto. Characterization of the agile software processes is essential in explaining how the process can be used to shorten the lifecycle of projects. This study will also cover various agile methods that have received recognition in project and software management. In line with this, arguments have been put forth concerning agile projects being more successful than other types of projects. This study will clarify this argument. A set of agile principles that are likely to be applied to all types of projects will also be discussed. Personal opinions and experiences ensure a deeper understanding of the application of agile in software development and will hence be explored.