Key Points

• The best Agile tools should work for projects of any complexity.
• Make sure your chosen tool integrates with other aspects of your workflow.
• Good tools should scale, as few organizations remain fixed in growth.

What are the best tools for Agile? Agile as a methodology can seem somewhat freeform, despite following rather rigid planning. Further, since Agile projects are typically broken down into individual components, complex projects can spin out of control quite quickly. As such, it makes sense to employ solid and dependable tools for the Agile workflow.

So, with that in mind, we’re taking a look at the cream of the crop when it comes to maintaining and managing complex projects. Some of these tools aren’t going to apply to every single project you’ll come across. However, their core functionality and ease of use should make them a mainstay for any organization.

What Is Agile?

Agile is a project management methodology that focuses on people first and foremost. As such, there is less time spent on developing reliable processes and more focus on communication between all strata of the Agile project. This is something detailed in the Agile Manifesto and something that holds regardless of your deployment of Agile.

At its core, this is a methodology that promotes creativity, collaboration, and the ability to adapt as criteria for project completion shifts. It differs from something like Waterfall because there is less inherent rigidity to the game plan. Further, it is an iterative approach, meaning that feedback from the customer or quality assurance can readily be implemented after the testing of a prototype.

This coalesces to create a project management methodology that has transformed the very nature of software development and tech operations in the business world. Furthermore, it is a project management approach that doesn’t just listen to the customer, but takes notes and implements them before shipping the deliverable.

Is Agile Just for Software Development?

While Agile was initially developed with software in mind, it applies to a wide range of industries. My time in the tech industry was centered on just about everything short of the kitchen sink despite not writing a single line of code. When my team would prepare for new projects, we’d sit through Scrums and plan out our sprints.

Agile isn’t just for the tech industry, however. This sort of thinking can be applied to all sorts of industries. It might not be the best fit for something like the automotive industry, at least whole cloth, some aspects of the methodology can apply.

Data and communication are key factors when looking into developing products or services in the modern era. What Agile does is allow the lines of communication to stay open and clear while you’re seeking to deliver the best possible output to your customers. The ability to adapt means you’re not left scrambling when something goes awry.

The Best Agile Tools

Now that we’ve outlined the how and why behind Agile, it’s time to take a closer look at some of the tools in use by professionals in the trade. The best Agile tools are simply the ones that allow you to take on complex projects with minimal issues. In truth, there are a few specific criteria you should have in mind when looking for tools.

If I was picking out a tool for Agile projects today, I would consider the following:

• Ease of Use – The best Agile tools aren’t necessarily dead simple to use, but the learning curve should be gradual and shallow. Experienced practitioners can extract the full potential from tools, but the average person should get on well with just a crash course through the subject.
• Connectivity – Integration with various aspects of your workflow can make or break a project here. However, connectivity isn’t just about linking up with the business Slack or Teams. The ability to set up the means to communicate and collaborate is key here.
• Transparency – At a glance, the best Agile tools should tell you exactly where a project is standing. If the view of the project is in any way obfuscated or unclear, then this isn’t a solid tool that you can depend upon.
• Continuous Improvement – Agile is about continuously improving the processes and methods used to deliver products. As such, the best Agile tools scale and adapt as needed depending on any organizational changes enacted.

These criteria should be a focus, regardless of which of the tools you end up choosing at the end of today’s article. Simply put, you want Agile tools that scale and grow with your organization as priorities shift and the demands of your customers change.

Jira

When it comes to the best Agile tools, Jira is going to enter the conversation at least once. Jira is a project management suite developed with Agile in mind. While much of the workflow is tailored toward software development, that is underselling Jira. This is one of the most robust tools you’ll find when it comes to managing your projects.

Tasks are readily delegated and everything in your project is seen at a glance. Further, Jira offers fairly flexible pricing. If you’re looking for the top pick, this would be what I suggest. The wealth of documentation and learning resources means you’ll be up and running over the weekend.

Another perk for Jira is that it scales quite well. That means it’ll grow with your teams as you take on more and more complex projects. There is no such as a perfect tool, but Jira comes quite close and makes managing projects a breeze.

Monday

If you’ve got a smaller team and are looking to keep track of your Agile project, Monday might be just what you need. This is a handy visual tool that has categories for all sorts of internal organizational operations like production, IT, and so forth. Further, it has a rather forgiving free plan, allowing for smaller teams to make use of it on a trial basis.

Monday doesn’t have quite as much documentation and learning material available as Jira. However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. My short time with Monday revealed it to be quite intuitive, with task cards and projects spun up in a matter of minutes after viewing some learning material. Like Jira, there are certifications if you’d like to seek out dedicated employees who are adept in Monday’s use.

Like Jira, Monday is built to scale. Meaning that those small teams don’t have to scramble to find the best Agile tools as they grow. Scaling is a bit of a buzzword when looking at enterprise software suites, but I’d say it certainly fits the bill here.

Scrumwise

If anyone at your organization is looking to get into Scrum, then Scrumwise is a great fit. Scrum is one of the most effective means of managing an Agile project. Scrumwise, by extension, is one of the best Agile tools you’ll find on the market today.

Scrumwise allows for backlog management, release schedules, and keeping a closer eye on your sprints. If you’ve got an appointed ScrumMaster at your business, then they’ll likely appreciate this piece of software.

Trello

I’ve been a longtime user of Trello, approaching over a decade of reliable service. Trello isn’t just one of the best Agile tools in the business, but a great tool for anyone looking for some extra help managing a project. Trello operates similarly to a Kanban Board and readily serves the same purposes. However, it is a flexible project management tool that works well for delegating tasks.

It loses out on some of the more robust functionality seen in the likes of Jira and Scrumwise. However, it integrates well and scales admirably, regardless of the size of your organization. As such, it is one of the best options you’ll find on the market if you’re just looking for something dead simple to use.

Further, Trello can readily integrate with your workflows, especially if you’re using other Atlassian products like Asana. Simply put, this is a must-have if you’re looking for fast ways to manage complex tasks.

PlanView AgilePlace

AgilePlace was formerly LeanKit, which integrated Agile functionality with other principles of Lean like Kanban boards. The name has changed, but the core functionality of this tool remains largely unchanged. AgilePlace remains one of the best Agile tools thanks to the views available for a given task.

You can see the greater picture with a mere glance, and get granular control over individual teams working toward sprints. Further, AgilePlace has a robust set of analytics at your disposal, allowing for a continuous cycle of improvement if you choose to leverage it.

Icescrum

Icescrum is an alternative take on the same sort of philosophy and ethos set by Jira. While Jira has a somewhat steeper learning curve than its contemporaries, Icescrum takes a decidedly open approach to implementing Agile project management in your workflow. This is an open-source utility that keeps Scrum at the forefront when planning projects.

Further, it scales as you need it to. Since it is open-source, nothing is stopping an enterprise team from customizing Icescrum to fit their needs. Icescrum readily integrates with many enterprise applications, making it a perfect fit for the team looking for one of the best Agile tools with a degree of customization and modularity.

Asana

Rounding out our list of the best Agile tools is Asana. This is one of the top visualization and goal-oriented tools you’ll find on the market. Asana’s recent integration with artificial intelligence makes this one of the most powerful tools you’ll find on the market for automating and delegating workflows.

While not built with Agile as a top consideration, Asana readily integrates into an Agile workplace. It can be used as a tool for remaining on task for your entire organization or deployed in a smaller team environment. No matter the use, Asana remains a popular choice for digital workplaces.

Other Useful Tools and Concepts

Looking for some other tips and tricks to get you going? You might want to take a closer look at the common mistakes made when utilizing Six Sigma. Six Sigma remains a popular means of improving products and managing projects, but it takes a deft hand to correctly apply it.

Additionally, you might want to take a closer look at the roles of stakeholders in Agile. Agile, like all other project management approaches, has stakeholders. Knowing how they relate to your project is important to guarantee the overall success of any outputs.

Conclusion

The top Agile tools should make it a breeze to navigate even the most complex of projects. As such, make sure to try before you buy. All of the tools covered today should do more than what you expect for project management. However, some tools work better for organizations than others.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.