Sprint, then Fly: Teaching Agile Methodologies with Paper ...

1 2017 Proceedings of the EDSIG Conference ISSN: 2473-3857. Austin, Texas USA v3 n4324. _____. Sprint, then Fly: Teaching Agile Methodologies with Paper Airplanes Mark Frydenberg David J. Yates Computer Information Systems Department Bentley University Waltham, Massachusetts Julie S. Kukesh Mendix Corporation Boston, Massachusetts Abstract As industry embraces the Agile methodology for application development, universities are shifting their curricula to teach Agile principles along with traditional waterfall concepts. This Paper describes a simulation game offered to students in a first-year computing concepts course to introduce both models of application development. Students work in development teams to design, build, and test Paper airplanes following both waterfall and Agile principles to experience the roles, processes, and challenges of each. Participants track their team's progress throughout the activity, so they can draw conclusions about the benefits and challenges of each approach.

2 Survey results indicate that students learned the various roles and approaches of both methods through this experience. Keywords: Agile , waterfall, simulation games, app development 1. INTRODUCTION use of cross-functional teams that collaborate closely with business stakeholders, flexible and The widespread implementation and acceptance progressive requirements gathering, and early of Agile Methodologies in industry during recent delivery of working product followed by rapid years has caused universities to reexamine iteration of these tasks. approaches for Teaching software development concepts across the curriculum. The Agile Both Agile and waterfall Methodologies try to methodology (Cunningham, Principles behind the bring the right resources to the project at each Agile Manifesto, 2001) is a set of principles that phase of development. Waterfall is define the people, process and work-output for organizationally agnostic but siloed with respect the development and delivery of software and to how to accomplish this, while Agile leverages applications.

3 In contrast to a traditional waterfall collaborative, cross-functional teams in every development methodology, which relies on phase of development. The Agile Manifesto gathering user requirements, developing, testing, (Cunningham, Manifesto for Agile Software and deploying software sequentially, Agile makes Development, 2001) and guiding principles _____. 2017 ISCAP (Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals) Page 1. 2017 Proceedings of the EDSIG Conference ISSN: 2473-3857. Austin, Texas USA v3 n4324. _____. (Cunningham, Principles behind the Agile Both waterfall and Agile Methodologies place Manifesto, 2001) shown in Appendix 1 describe participants in roles that contribute toward the the tenets of the Agile development process. design and development of a completed product. Tables 1 and 2 present the roles implemented in This Paper presents an interactive game in which many waterfall and Agile development activities.

4 Students build Paper airplanes to simulate The authors have simplified the names and waterfall and Agile development processes. descriptions for the sake of introductory students;. Students learn about waterfall and Agile models Agile teams in industry may use slightly different for software development, team member roles, names or descriptions. In a waterfall model, and development processes that guide each participants take on the following roles, shown in methodology. The authors facilitated this exercise Table 1. with students enrolled in an introductory technology course at a business university. Requirements Organization Design The Paper presents a high-level overview of waterfall and Agile Methodologies , and Development summarizes relevant literature regarding the Test and Build Teaching of these in a variety of higher educational contexts. A discussion of simulation Maintenance games used to teach Agile concepts follows.

5 The Paper then describes a simulation game using Figure 1 (a). The waterfall model is a sequential Paper airplanes to introduce Agile concepts, and design process. summarizes the results of this activity. The Paper concludes with reflections from students and observations from the activity's facilitators. Research Questions The following questions guided the development of the simulation game described in this Paper , and the study of its implementation: After participating in the simulation, will students be able to distinguish between waterfall and Agile development concepts and Figure 1 (b). The Agile model is an iterative design processes? process. (Fongamanda, 2012). After completing the simulation, will students be able to describe the different team member roles, development approaches of waterfall and Agile Methodologies , and their benefits and limitations?

6 Role Description After reflecting on the simulation, will Analyst Business and systems analysts ensure students be able to identify how they might that the product fulfills customer requirements and is delivered efficiently apply Agile concepts beyond software and effectively. development, into the activities of their own Developer Responsible for design and development daily lives? of product components required in the current release. 2. WATERFALL AND Agile OVERVIEW Tester Verifies that the product is fit for customer use and validates that the Figure 1 illustrates the differing approaches of product works as designed. waterfall and Agile Methodologies . Waterfall Table 1. Waterfall development team member follows a sequential process, whereas the Agile roles and descriptions. development process relies on frequent meetings In an Agile model, team members take on the with all participants who set their immediate following roles shown in Table 2.

7 Goals and identify obstacles toward making progress. _____. 2017 ISCAP (Information Systems & Computing Academic Professionals) Page 2. 2017 Proceedings of the EDSIG Conference ISSN: 2473-3857. Austin, Texas USA v3 n4324. _____. Role Description customer is an important measure, but not the Business Responsible for articulating customer only measure, of the team's effectiveness. It is Analyst requirements - focusing on delivering also important to consider efficiency for a variety value early and often - as well as of reasons, not the least of which is that any team release planning for the product. in any context has finite resources to devote to a Product Reconciles and harmonizes project. In higher education, Agile projects often Owner stakeholder requirements to help develop user stories (see Table 3) and span a semester or a quarter and deliver products assures the quality of the product.

8 Usually developed by fixed-sized teams. Scrum Owns the Agile process for their team. Master Responsible for delivering user stories Companies and government agencies are for the current iteration and coaches adopting Agile development strategies because of the team in doing so. their focus on delivering value and their catalytic Developer Merges the developer and tester roles effect on innovation. According to Rigby et al. from waterfall. Focuses on delivering (Rigby, Sutherland, & Takeuchi, 2016, para. 7). components of the product needed in "these days most companies operate in highly the current iteration. dynamic environments. They need not just new Table 2. Agile roles and descriptions. products and services but also innovation in functional processes, particularly given the rapid In addition, understanding the following spread of new software tools.

9 Companies that vocabulary and concepts are key to participating create an environment in which Agile flourishes in an Agile development exercise: find that teams can churn out innovations faster in both those categories." However, these authors Concept Definition caution " Agile is not a panacea. It is most User Stories Express the "why, what and who" of desired business value effective and easiest to implement under for many types of product conditions commonly found in software backlog items, especially innovation: The problem to be solved is complex;. features. solutions are initially unknown, and product Product Backlog Prioritized list of the items - requirements will most likely change; the work features and other capabilities - can be modularized; close collaboration with end needed to develop a successful users (and rapid feedback from them) is feasible.

10 Product. and creative teams will typically outperform Standup Short daily meeting in which command-and-control groups." (Rigby, team members describe what they did the day before, what Sutherland, & Takeuchi, 2016, para. 12). they will do that day, and where they need help. Despite its widespread use and professed Sprint Current iteration of product simplicity, most organizations experience delivery, which has four challenges when adopting Agile development activities: planning, execution, practices. The most recent State of Agile survey review and retrospective. (VersionOne, 2017, p. 2) found that "While 94%. Table 3. Agile vocabulary and concepts. (Rubin, of respondents said their organizations practiced 2012). Agile , they also stated that more than half (60%). of their organizations' teams are not yet 3. Agile ADOPTION IN THE ENTERPRISE practicing Agile .