The crystal agile framework
The Crystal agile framework is designed for software development. It emphasizes people rather than procedures, empowering teams to develop their solutions for each project rather than being constrained by pre-determined methodologies.
The agile doctrine prioritizes individuals and interactions over procedures and tools, and the Crystal approach is a direct subset of this value. Different teams are guaranteed to perform differently according to the technique. This would be determined by elements such as the size of the team and the project’s importance, among others. As a result, the strategy fosters flexibility to the group’s demands.
In agile framework Crystal, Teams Are divided as color-coded according to the number of individuals involved in the project and are classified accordingly;
● Teams with fewer than eight members are categorically prohibited.
● Teams with between 10 and 20 members are designated as crystal yellow.
● Teams with between 20 and 50 members are designated as crystal orange.
● Teams with between 50 and 100 members are designated as crystal red.
While working at IBM in the 1990s, Alistair Cockburn was responsible for establishing a framework for software development.
The History of the Crystal Agile Framework
While working at IBM in the 1990s, Alistair Cockburn was responsible for establishing a framework for software development.
By interviewing successful teams, he discovered that while there was no formal methodology in place, best practices varied depending on the size of the group, the importance of the task, and the priority of the study.
As a result of his investigation, he established a group of methods known as crystal agile.
The Importance Of The Crystal Agile Framework
In contrast to more set frameworks such as Scrum, Crystal recognizes that various teams will perform differently depending on the size of the group, the criticality of the project, and the priority of the project and invites users to customize the framework to their scenario.
When a small team communicates regularly, it doesn’t require as much status reporting and documentation as a large team. Crystal is a flexible framework that focuses on people and their interactions rather than procedures and equipment. In other words, this paradigm is a natural extension of one of the Agile Manifesto’s fundamental ideals.
Two essential concepts underpin the crystal agile framework:
● Teams can identify methods to enhance and optimize their workflows on their own.
● Every project is different and evolving, so the team in charge is best prepared to define how it will approach the task.
The Crystal Agile Framework Pros And Cons
Pros:
● Allows teams to operate in whichever manner they see fit.
● Direct team communication, openness, and responsibility are made more accessible.
● Teams can respond quickly to changing requirements thanks to the adaptable method.
● Furthermore, crystal agile methodologies may be applied to any firm, regardless of its size or industry. They use the best techniques from agile approaches like Scrum, lean startup, and crystal straightforward computer programming. The agile crystal technique is designed to enhance practically all facets of your business without requiring you to make drastic changes. Piece by piece, you will crystallize until every component is crystal clear.
Cons:
● Scope creep can occur when there are no predefined plans in place.
● Confusion might arise due to a lack of documentation.
The Crystal approach is one of the more adaptable Agile frameworks because it is created around a project’s people and is not dependent on any particular set of processes or technologies. It might be feasible for companies that wish to empower their employees to work in whichever way they see fit.
It’s worth noting that because Crystal prioritizes direct team engagement around the software they’re developing—while downplaying the need for documentation and reporting—other teams in the business may have less insight into the team’s progress.
How To Use The Crystal Agile Framework
The crystal agile framework is based on a set of concepts.
A family of seven principles is found at the center of the crystal. The first three are required for all crystal approaches, but the latter three are optional and can be used if they are deemed necessary:
Number one: on-time delivery
You should deliver code to your actual users frequently. Without this, you could create a product that no one wants.
Consider what you’ve done, how you’ve done it, and why you’ve done it. Reflect on the situation as a group and decide how to make it better in the future.
Osmotic communication is the third type of communication.
Because it permits knowledge to flow between team members as though by osmosis, Cockburn believes that co-location (having teams in the same physical place) is crucial.
Personal safety
Members of the team should feel comfortable discussing ideas openly and without fear of being ridiculed. There are no wrong responses or bad proposals when you’re on a crystal team.
Concentrate on your work
Team members should be aware of what they need to do next and be able to complete it. This necessitates clear communication as well as documentation when necessary.
Access to subject matter experts and users (number six).
When necessary, team members should be able to solicit feedback from real users and subject matter experts.
Technical tooling and equipment
According to the author, Cockburn advocated for development teams to access tools such as continuous deployment, automated testing, and configuration management as early as the 1990s. This means that faults and mistakes can be detected and corrected rapidly without human participation.
