Balanced Agile and Disciplined Software System Development Guide (Photocopy Edition)

Author: Barry Boehm
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Agility and discipline, these two contrasting attributes, are complementary factors in software development. Planning-driven developers must possess a certain level of agility, while agile developers must also maintain a degree of discipline. The key to success lies in finding the balance between the two. Depending on the environment and risks, this balance point varies across different projects. Those who always go to extremes based on passion must eventually learn how to allocate their focus according to actual circumstances. This book directly introduces actionable core concepts and provides constructive methods for defining a balanced software development strategy. The author demonstrates the bureaucracy and stagnation caused by disciplined but unagile practices, as well as the slackness and result-irrelevant technical fervor caused by uncontrolled agility. By introducing a day in the lives of two development teams and analyzing case studies, the book illustrates the differences and similarities between agile and plan-driven approaches, showcasing the best development strategy that combines all characteristics. After an objective and pragmatic analysis, it ultimately provides clear and practical guidance for all software professionals—how to find the optimal balance between agility and discipline in any project.