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What’s the Problem with User Stories? Agile projects focus on very lightweight, simple requirements embodied in user stories. However, there are some problems with relying solely on user stories. They often don't contain enough accuracy for development, testing, or industry regulations. There's a better way to write detailed requirements that are still agile. |
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How to Make a Fixed-Scope Contract More Agile Establishing a contract that genuinely supports agile methods can be a significant challenge. By its very nature, a contract that specifies detailed, upfront deliverables contravenes the principles of flexibility and adaptation that are at the heart of agile. But it is possible—both parties just need to focus on results. |
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The Real Value of Cross-Functional Agile Teams Agile teams know that cross-functional collaboration is central to the methodology, but there are often barriers to fully embracing this idea. If teams are used to handoffs, it may seem like it makes sense to maintain the status quo. Try collaborating on something small to realize the true value of cross-functional teams. |
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Testing in the Dark Requirements only go so far in identifying areas to test. Sometimes testers are given no information at all, leaving it up to them to determine what to test. Don’t accept the need to indiscriminately test with no clear understanding. Your testing should be targeted, and these techniques will help focus your test effort. |
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Leave No Tester Behind Creating comprehensive automated tests within a sprint can be a challenge. If the testers don't finish the automation and the rest of the team moves on, testers get left behind and can't catch up. You need some techniques to keep everyone together and ensure that all essential work is accomplished—including test automation. |
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An Agile Mindset Teaches the Lessons We Need for COVID-19 Since we can't control the COVID-19 situation besides following safety protocols, and updates change almost daily, our circumstances necessitate agility from everyone, from employees to company leads. Let’s look at the practical agility lessons COVID-19 is teaching us and why an agile mindset is even more important now. |
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Code Integration: When Moving Slowly Actually Has More Risk Many decisions about code branching models are made in the name of managing risk, and teams sometimes pick models that make integration harder in the name of safety. Moving slowly and placing barriers to change can seem safer, but agile teams work best when they acknowledge that there is also risk in deferring change. |
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3 Questions for Easier, Less Stressful Project Estimates In agile development, the idea of precise estimates is unrealistic. But estimates are needed to inform decision-makers about whether it's worth solving a problem as it is currently understood. It sounds counterintuitive, but instead of asking for one estimate of cost and schedule, ask for three. Here's why it's more useful. |