Introduction to Agile Project Management Tools
Agile Project Management Tool is a value-driven approach that encourages just-in-time work culture to deliver higher quality output within the stipulated time. In today’s competitive environment, a project manager must have the ability to adapt to frequent changes in terms of cost, time and scope to drive his/her team members to deliver top-quality productivity. Agile project management software breaks down the complex work structure into smaller tasks to be completed within a specific time and it encourages short frequent feedback. In traditional project management (sometimes known as waterfall) feedback collection and frequent changes, based on the requirement, are highly discouraged. That is why Agile becomes one of the popular and widely used software tools to attain the estimated target without deviating the time schedule.
Key Features of Agile Project Management Tools
These are the salient features of Agile software.
- Performance Tracking: This feature helps to measure the actual progress status of the project. It also makes easy to realize each member’s performance rate.
- Obstacle Identification: It aids in identifying the obstacles which need immediate attention and rectification.
- Teamwork: This feature abolishes the e-mail sharing process because it supports strong employee collaboration for exchanging information.
- Customer Portal: The customers can give their feedback and suggestion on this customer portal. The developers may use it for any rectification or advancement.
- Time Estimation: The estimation tool updates the time schedule after completion of each project-related task and it helps the project manager to meet the deadline.
Benefits of Agile Tools
- Ensure high-quality production.
- Encourage higher customer satisfaction.
- Collaboration and co-operation within team members.
- Reduce the risk factor.
- Increase project predictability.
- It helps to control waste and improve product quality.
- Faster detection of issues and rectification.
- Enhance focus on specific customers’ requirements.
Types of Agile Project Management Tools
Agile project management has been around for a decade. A project manager realizes its importance in a project due to its flexible nature. Within the expected time limit it supports the project manager and team members to meet the deadline and yields quality products. That is why the market is flooded with various project management tools, but the project manager should have a clear idea about the features and application of the tools before choosing any particular one. Though there is a band of project management tools, yet a few are considered here for discussing elaborately:
1. IceScrum
IceScrum, an open-source scrum project management software, has been developed by French company Kagilum, SAS in 2011. It is compatible with various platforms including Linux, Mac, and Windows and integrates with different apps such as Google Drive, Github, Dropbox and much more. This software runs on Java web application and it provides a virtual task board and sticky notes which the project manager uses to do the task.
This Agile software tool has products with features that are known as stories. These stories represent several tasks of the project team and those tasks are visualized by cards. Further, the stories are divided into sprints to achieve the target which is fixed on the basis of team strength, priorities, and resources. Bugs, acceptance test, and sandbox are the other features which include value to the project.
But this software tool is not suitable for a large organization where multiple projects are running at the same time. However, it assures to meet the deadline effectively for a single project.
Website – https://www.icescrum.com
2. Trello
Trello is considered as one of the best project management software invented by Toyota to enhance the productivity and flexibility of team members. As it is based on Kanban methodology, its framework includes different tools such as boards, lists, and cards. Boards define the project where lists show the details of priorities and responsible persons; on the other hand, a card is the basic unit of the board. Trello provides a long list of power-ups like Github, Slack, Hub staff and so forth. It is compatible with all kinds of a mobile platform and its success rate is high due to its simplicity in adaptation and flexibility. Yet, it is not as effective in a big project where hundreds of tasks are handling at a time.
Website – https://www.trello.com
3. TargetProcess
TargetProcess is highly customized software providing complete solutions using Scrum, Kanban or any other pre-set processes. It includes all the important features like user stories, tasks assignment, bugs, and impediments. One of the crucial features which make it significant from others is a visual coding system. This Agile tracking tool assimilates easily with other external software like Mercurial, Git and Subversion. Even it helps to export and import data from Excel.
Its customization structures become beneficial at the initial stage of the project. But some users complain about its speed and scrolling screen and so the user interface tool has to be improved from its current standard.
Website – https://www.targetprocess.com
4. Wrike
Flexible project management demands effective tools to make instant changes (if required) in order to save up costs and resources. Wrike is a flexible project management tool that has the capacity to unite and consolidate multiple projects with enhancing a team’s proficiency level. Besides that, it provides a 3-page layout through which the project manager gets clear visibility of project operations. Its powerful analytics help to create a report for top executives as well as stakeholders.
Though Wrike is complete with recent reports and enhancements, yet its mobile version is a little bit lagging behind in the process.
Website – https://www.wrike.com/
5. Hansoft
Hansoft, an agile project management tool, is designed and developed to enhance the productivity and capability of project teams. It provides flexible planning features for short-term and long-term projects. Hansoft offers to apply or integrate any project management approaches like Scrum, Gantt, Kanban or Waterfall. Its fast and intuitive interface, powerful find/report tools and other essential features can run different project management methods easily. Hansoft is scalable and configurable it is inspired by Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) as well as the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Website – https://www.perforce.com/products/hansoft
There are numerous agile tools in the global market, but which one will be appropriate depends on the objective of the project, team size, the ultimate product and the number of projects. As the competition of the global market is increasing, the adaptability of Agile tools is enhancing gradually. In the era of digitization, while more companies decide to shift in digital workplace that is highly based on speed, flexibility and increasing productivity, Agile or hybrid methodologies will be expected to bring the utmost solution.
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