How to Run an Agile Project

The first step in figuring out how to run an Agile project is to select your project framework. For instance, Scrum, Kanban, and Lean are all popular Agile frameworks you can use to organize and run your project. Using the Scrum methodology, here are the 6 steps to running an Agile Project:

1. Assign your team

Once you’ve selected your framework, it’s time to assign your project team. If you’re using the scrum methodology, your team will include a Scrum Master and a Product Owner, as well as any other team members you need for development, production, testing, etc. 

2. Document requirements

Next, the Product Owner will need to roadmap your product. Your product roadmap is a high-level visual of the requirements for your project. It should include a rough time frame for when you’ll develop each requirement. 

From the roadmap, a Product Backlog is created that sets the priorities for the project and documents and prioritizes the features and requirements for the product. 

3. Create your sprints

Based on the requirements documented and the time estimates, you can now break your project down into sprints and create your release plan. The release plan documents what requirements will be included in the iteration of your product at the end of each sprint. For instance, Sprint One may end with a prototype. 

4. Plan and execute your sprint

Once you’ve outlined how many sprints you’ll have, the length of each, and the requirements for each, you can create a detailed plan and schedule for your initial sprint. 

Then it’s time to execute your first sprint. The Scrum Master should host a daily meeting each morning to bring the team together, discuss progress, and tackle any issues. 

5. Host a retrospective

At the end of the first sprint, you’ll have a review meeting, called a Sprint Retrospective, to discuss the outcomes of the sprint and any changes that need to be incorporated into the next one. 

6. Repeat steps 4 & 5

Then the detailed planning for the next sprint is finalized, and the cycle repeats itself until you complete the final sprint and deliver the final product to the customer.