Bridge Methods: Complementary Steps Integrating Agile Development Tools and Methods with Formal Process Methodologies

This paper describes a “Bridge” method for successfully integrating Agile concepts with traditionally linear and sequential software development lifecycles. A software development and management environment is constructed to serve project oversight, management control, and team planning and task scheduling needs. The new method and environment enable project stakeholders to acquire a clear and constructive understanding of each other’s activities. The method is neither a tentative step toward Agile nor a ‘maturing’ of an already Agile environment. Instead the Bridge is a complementary destination methodology incorporating the techniques from both Agile and Formal methods that have proven effective in large, complex software delivery environments. The method and environment are assessed within a large enterprise integration and software development project, and refined using an Action research methodology. This work advances the thinking about Agile’s usefulness and its ability to effectively address multiple stakeholder needs for large enterprise development projects.