Category: Agile

How Salesforce DevOps Can Help You To Transform Your Business?

Salesforce DevOps can prove to be extremely useful for IT companies with its ability to automate the delivery pipelines of companies.  In this competitive world, surviving is getting difficult as tight-rope walking for IT companies. So to strive and survive, it is critical to developing products faster.  To shorten this, Salesforce DevOps encourages collaborative efforts where the team works together and gets the job done efficiently and quickly. Salesforce DevOps enables IT organizations can become agile and innovative.

Salesforce DevOps transformation will bring significant cultural and procedural changes and help in shared decision-making. While collaboration and standardization will eventually refine and lead to steady optimization. It will also enable tracking of the metrics.

Points to keep in mind before implementing DevOps

First, you need to measure how things work currently and identify the pain points.

Gauge the current position of the organization on different metrics such as agility and ability to handle change. 

Resolve the issues that are apparent by employing tools and techniques and structuring them. 

Then repeat the steps. DevOps is not a one-time implementation thing and as new issues emerge, repeat the process and make changes as needed.

How Salesforce DevOps Can Help You To Transform Your Business?

 

A) Improvement in The Build Quality

DevOps gives rise to the culture of knowledge and information sharing with the collaboration of development and operations. As a result, it brings together both dev-centric attributes such as features, performance, and reusability and ops-centric attributes such as deployability and maintainability to uplift the overall code quality. 

B) Improved Recovery in case of mishaps

Companies have to live with the threat of IT failure that can happen at any time. This is bad for the reputation of companies; especially if the customer-facing side of the business is affected. In DevOps’ incremental and ongoing development approach, which allows possibilities of changes in case of disaster. If you are releasing hundreds of changes in one large deployment, you are closer to failure and bad recovery. Simply because you will have to reinvent the wheel again by starting to code and deploy from the scratch.

C) No Conflict Between Stability vs. New Features

In the DevOps environment, the entire team is involved in ensuring new features and stability. The combination of a shared codebase, continuous integration, test-driven techniques and automated deploys expose problems earlier in the process, as the code isn’t hurled towards the operations team at its end. Besides, access to real-time data allows DevOps engineers to quickly understand the impact of application changes. As there is no need for team members to wait for a different team to troubleshoot and fix the problem, resolution times are on the lower side.

D) Better Economies of Scale

Along with effective collaboration, DevOps also bring sound automation. Companies can leverage this feature to automate repetitive tasks without getting worried about errors. For instance, regression and performance testing can bring about a small change in a rapid manner. Development can become more robust and stable through frequent backups and rollovers. If all these functions get automated, companies can curtail large manual costs. If the scope of a company is large, this can seriously mean significant monetary savings.

E) Accelerated Application Delivery through Agile

Traditionally, the development team first builds the code and then tests it in an isolated environment, where the operations team takes over for production. This non-alignment between the two teams throws up lots of misunderstandings, as they aren’t on the same ground regarding infrastructure, configuration, deployment, log management, and performance monitoring. In turn, it slows down the production process.

Conclusion

As DevOps brings synchronization among all the IT-related teams, companies can actually accelerate delivery and cut down the release time. Moreover, it allows early detection of errors that keep code in a releasable state all the time. Due to the cumulative effects of all these factors, companies can go to market in a desirable time and reap the benefits of a competitive edge. Want to know more details about it? Reach out to our award-winning team at GoodWorklabs here

 

Agile Methodology Vs. Waterfall Methodology

When it comes to administering a project, the most common goal of every organization is to accomplish it within the deadline with zero possible errors. And in that case, both agile and waterfall methodology is in the game! However, being a product owner, it’s indeed your responsibility to opt for the best-fit choice. Because each product has individual prerequisites and each methodology comes with its own perk. So, making a choice between agile and water methodology entirely relies on the type of project. But still, to help you make a decision, here we will be comparing both, explaining their benefits, features, and approaches.

What is the chief difference between agile and waterfall methodology?

Both waterfall and agile are two popular management methodologies in the software development industry. But there is a fine line that distinguishes the two, i.e., their approach and functionality. In simple terms, waterfall methodology is a linear process where a team needs to execute each step in a project before proceeding to the next phase. On the other hand, the agile methodology involves working synchronously on different aspects of a project. 

Now let’s learn about each management methodology in detail

Agile Methodology

Agile Methodology is extremely flexible and requires team initiative to accomplish a project. Well, there is no denying that a software development program can take years to complete. And what if the technology changes in between? To adapt to changes and modifications in technologies even late in the development program, the agile methodology was first introduced. The best part of this development methodology tends to complete a project with a short deadline.

However, the only downfall it can experience is: that the team might need to put more effort in the later stages if changes need to be made for the former phases. 

Waterfall methodology

The waterfall methodology is particularly suitable for projects where the final outcome is lucidly established right from the beginning. To be more precise, waterfall methodology is applied when the objectives of each step in a particular project are clear. So, the team needs to work on each aspect at a single time. Due to this reason, the project can take more time to finish. Also, it can create a hindrance when the stakeholders figure out any error in the later phases of the development program.

The comparison between the two – 

Both the development methodology comes with their individual perks and drawbacks. And basically, the project type determines which will be the safest bet to work with. So comparing waterfall with agile will be futile in general. Still, we have juxtaposed the two for easy decision-making depending on the projects.

  • Flexibility

Speaking of flexibility, agile is more flexible and can welcome certain changes during ongoing development. Waterfall, on the other hand, has a fixed timetable where the entire development program is mapped out beforehand.

  • Client involvement

Agile needs the client’s involvement in each stage of the project development. Whereas, once the goal of a project is established, the waterfall does not ask the clients to take part in the project. Though it has its own disadvantages but it is primarily useful for clients with busy schedules and where the project details do not client’s intervention in between

  • Budget

In terms of budget, the waterfall methodology works within a pre-fixed pricing quote. However, agile methodology encourages multiple experiments and modifications which can massively alter the pre-planned budget but is beneficial as it gives insight to the clients as and when the project proceeds.

 

Final Words

If you’re confused between agile and waterfall methodology, it’s always better to consult experts who will understand your project requirement and give you the right suggestion. As for GoodWorkLabs, we follow the agile methodology of managing projects as it keeps both the client and developers on the same page. To more about our ways of working, reach out to our expert team here

8 Tools to Implement Agile Methodology in Your Business

Agile Methodology Tools in Business

Timely delivering projects under a defined deadline and a set budget is a priority for those companies who wish to maintain their credibility, reputation, and prestige. Projects that get delayed give a hard time to the enterprises throughout their hierarchy because late project delivery has a significant impact on the morale, level of productivity and focus as well. To make matters worse, incorrect implementation of agile methodology might force the employees to leave the company due to excessive stress.

In such a stressful situation, the single best thing an employer can do is to take a step in the right direction at agile methodology, which is where the real tools of project management enter to play. The tools help in the identification of the actual status of a project, the expected tenure of a project and all its practical applications.

agile methodology tools

Entering into the world of project management, one is a witness of the importance of flexible working methods while also ensuring the implementation of futuristic and latest techniques for gathering the results quickly. There are some project management tools which come in handy to assist in the implementation of Agile project methodology of management.

The eight best tools which we have for you to choose from are:

1. Trello

One of the most widely utilized tools of project management, Trello is renowned for its straightforward user interface (UI) and easy usability. The functioning of Trello can be figured out even by a beginner who does not have too much knowledge in the field of project management.

Trello gives you cards along with dragged columns. The primary columns are three of them that include To Do, Doing, Done. Pulling the map to the appropriate box involves the rest of the tool to plot and create new columns, a rapid and simple procedure.

The cards are objects which can be assigned to resources that are relevant and include the estimation, completion process as well as delivery dates of the projects underway. The reputation of Trello is evident from the fact that even Twitter makes the use of Trello.

 

2. Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) 

If you love using Microsoft Stack, VSTS is the perfect tool for your needs. The device facilitates easy integration with Visual Studio, helping manage a technical project with maximum ease. Until five users, the option of using VSTS is free and some premium features that can be purchased. The best feature of VSTS is the mechanism to trace any changes in the code which is the best thing a developer can ever hope for.

 

3. JIRA 

When you talk about authenticity, Jira is that tool which lives up to your expectation in project management and is known for being the best tool for tracking the records of jobs done through Agile management. Be it small businesses, enterprises or big organizations, Jira is ideal for business of all sizes.

Just like Trello, columns and tickets are there for you to display the different phases of your work. These tickets can be made and then be attached to a resource. When you complete a sprint, the performance of each can be measured through pie charts and graphics representations too.

 

4. AXOSOFT 

It is a software for an Agile project which is helpful in the identification of bugs in the project and then taking up an accurate Scrum framework to plan these projects. Axosoft has many tools which make the developers work conveniently and create features which are under the budget, on the right schedule and free of bugs.  

Agile followers are in love with Axosoft because of the way this software helps business through the creation of an Agile workflow. The progress report of each is very transparent, and Axosoft also keeps it centralized which ultimately results in practicing Agile methodology to a maximum extent in any team.

 

5. ASANA 

Asana is one among the best task managing software, and facilitates a team for planning, sharing and tracking the advancement of a project with the mapping of every resource’s performance within the organization.

The interface is pretty easy. You need to create a workplace, add the projects required for completion. It is easy to allot, track and organize the tasks thereafter. You can also add up notes, comments, and tags to be clear and expressive with the motto.

 

6. Zoho Sprints 

Zoho Sprints assigns you the authority for creating backlogs through a drag and drop feature. You can also stretch the stories of individual users with priorities, which is an added feature other than allotting tasks to a team.

Every work item can be noted duly in a time sheet that has budget control measures like the billable and non-billable hours for a particular piece of the project.

 

7. WRIKE 

Wrike tool has dashboards, customizable workloads, and charts which boost a project in flowing freely. There are a lot of updating options where all kinds of scattered information that rests on your mail, images, and documents can be easily accessed. Simply put, WRIKE helps in streamlining the workflow that is relevant to the timely completion of a project.

WRIKE also features the collection of necessary information from the cloud, sending of emails and also seamlessly merges with applications like JIRA and Salesforce.

 

8. Velocity Chart 

This tool helps to have an idea about the value that is generated in every single sprint, helping you to estimate the amount of work which will be completed in subsequent runs. In other words, you can easily measure the velocity of your team’s work.

The Velocity Chart adds up the estimates for every complete and incomplete story. These estimates can be on factors like hours, business value and any other factors that can be assigned to a numerical value.

If you wish to include Agile methodology in your project management practice, the eight tools that we listed above can prove to be crucial to have quick and efficient project management. If you would like to implement agile methodologies to your project, you can contact us here.

The advantage of using SCRUM methodology

SCRUM forms a part of the agile software development framework that helps organizations with their technology product development. Having a simple framework, Scrum was originally used for the software development products, but now, most of the companies and organizations make use of this software framework for their complex and innovative projects.

The advantage of using SCRUM methodology

Scrum, as a whole, provides a flexible development strategy, which is required mainly in the field of product development and maintenance, as the customer’s requirements and expectations are considered to be volatile. Rather than following the traditional mode of strategies and sequential development process, Scrum is able to provide the freedom of changing the software terms and the development process based on the requirements of the customers.

Benefits of using SCRUM methodology

SCRUM methodology is able to provide certain benefits for the teams, companies and their products and services, along with providing assistance for the individuals. Being an empirical software strategy, these benefits of Scrum will help you understand its function.

  • Improved quality of product development

Using Scrum enables you to generate the required methodology for developing the complex products in the simple way. The software team receives real time input and feedback from the customers and using this, they are able to constantly update the system as and when required. This provides room for improvement of the product quality on an immediate basis.

  • Faster delivery of projects

Compared to the traditional methodologies, Scrum is able to complete and deliver the projects about 40% faster to the customers. As just in time and real time updates are provided as the project is in progress, every change that requires to be done is executed immediately after the tester gets the information.

The advantage of using SCRUM methodology

  • High return of investment

This happens to be a continuation of the previous advantage of Scrum offering delivering projects in decreased time to market. Few defects that you encounter might cost your heavily, but the same can be remunerated easily. If there is a failure about to happen, it takes place in a fast rate, giving you the opportunity to save up on the cost you require to fix the damage.

  • Building team characteristics

Being a self-managed form of software development system, Scrum provides a chance for the members in the team to be creative and be hands-on throughout the project. Decisions are taken by every individual on the team, thereby giving them self-sufficiency in doing the work.

  • Generate required data

When using Scrum, the required metrics and the data for calculating the time and cost for the project and for taking other decisions are provided as and when required. Unlike other software systems generating the irrelevant data along with the relevant metrics, Scrum is able to distinguish and provide the developers the required information for completing the project.

The advantages that you can see while using Scrum methodology for product development has now made it one of the efficient and flexible software available in the market for developing and completing complex projects.

Decoding the Concept of Design Thinking With Eight Steps of Implementation

Design thinkingThe concept of Design Thinking has been gaining momentum these days, mainly due to the fact that it offers a very structured yet simple way to meet design challenges effectively. The methodology of problem solving stays the same in its inner core irrespective of the industry vertical being served.

Blending creativity in solutions construct, with customer understanding and iterative learning is what Design Thinking is based on. To help you out more in this regard, we have broken down the concept of design thinking into 8 vital steps. Let’s take a look at how these different steps or phases of design thinking can prove to be overall useful for designing a new IT solution.

1. Find the Purpose– It is the feel that one gets when something new should be introduced into the market and it has huge potential as a concept. The same feel or desire can fuel your vision as well as mission to bring that product or idea into the market.

2. Get a Closer Look– This step is about understanding the potential customers for the idea or product that we are going to bring into the market. So, market research companies can prove to be helpful in this regard. They will provide a clear picture of the probable future of your idea.

3. Find your Targeted Customers/Audience – Once you figure out who your targeted customers are, it is the time to understand them more closely, which can be done by diving deep into their world or environment. This process will help you know the blind spots.

4. Interact with your Targeted Customers/Audience – Once you get into the environment of your potential customers and analyze their behavior, it is the time to collect direct inputs from them.

5. Assimilate the Ideas – Your idea of building a product and its application on the actual ground is a complete different thing. So, based on the inputs received from your potential customers, you have to modify your product or idea accordingly. No doubt, numbers of brainstorming sessions are required in this case, and I feel that this is one of the most important steps, as it allows you a last major chance to bring up any significant changes before your product or idea finally rolls out in the market.

6. Integration – Based on the results obtained in the above step, now you should start building the first model or the prototype. The prototype should incorporate the inputs from design, marketing, development and intelligence department.

7. Test your Product/Service – This phase is about testing your prototype in the real environment.

8. Strengthening– From the last step’s result, we can get a little idea about how the idea or product should be promoted in the market. Dealing with the competition is something you have to plan out in this very step.

To wrap up

Following the above mentioned steps of Design Thinking can surely help us in rolling out a product or idea in a better way, with immense potential of achieving successful results.

‘Design Thinking’ is at the core of our DNA at GoodWorkLabs, and we practice it for every single product or a feature we craft. Our UX Design studio has been successful in creating path breaking products in software, mobile apps, and games arenas because we true follow ‘Design First’ philosophy and everything starts from the design perspective.

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