Qual é a melhor maneira de escolher e usar metodologias ágeis para projetos de entrega global?

Before an organization moves onto implementing Agile methodology for global delivery, it is important to understand the key objectives that organization would like to achieve via Agile approach and whether leadership is ready to embrace this transformative change. Without having an agile mindset across all levels starting from portfolio level to team level, implementing agile processes alone would not yield the full benefit of Agile. Training on Agile is highly recommended to bring everyone on the same page. An agile readiness assessment exercise gives insight on the teams/roles/time zones/work streams etc and can be used for deciding agile framework and any foundation work needed before you kick off Agile implementation.

Choose an approach that supports flexibility and strong communication across different locations and time zones. Common agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, and Lean can be adapted to fit global teams Scrum works well for projects with clear goals and defined workflows, as it operates in short, structured cycles or sprints. However, global teams need strong communication and tools like video conferencing to coordinate daily stand-ups Kanban offers more flexibility and is ideal for teams needing to manage tasks dynamically without fixed sprint timelines. Using visual boards allows team members to track work in real-time, which is especially helpful for coordinating across time zones.

Its only fair to revisit and understand 'agile methodology' .. seen few failures where people blamed 'agile' where as the gap was in 'understanding agile' and compromising on principles .. e.g one of the key aspects is that a team member should be multiskilled and be able to perform more than one role (hands-on) then why do you hire business analyst who cannot code or write test cases, a coder who canrot do any qa etc..

Restructure teams, redefine roles of team members, if needed to align with Agile ways of working. Create reference structure of common artifacts such as user stories, features, estimation etc to minimize conflicts across global teams. At the same time, avoid being too prescriptive to discourage adaptation based on specific team situations.   Cross team dependencies - Use tools, well defined cadences to discuss and manage cross teams dependencies. Scrum of scrum, PI planning activities, common confluence space to highlight dependencies are some of the useful tools for this. Cultural sensitivity - Encourage cross teams interaction and cultural sensitivity to respect others culture. Culture overview session within teams may be helpful.

Select the Right Framework: Choose an agile framework (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) based on project needs, team structure, and geographical distribution. Align on Objectives: Ensure all global teams understand and agree on the project goals and agile practices. Facilitate Communication: Use collaboration tools and regular virtual meetings to keep teams connected and aligned across time zones. Adapt to Local Needs: Customize agile practices to address regional differences and constraints, while maintaining core agile principles. Monitor Progress: Regularly review and adjust processes to address challenges and optimize performance globally. These practices ensure effective implementation of agile methodologies in a global context.

There's no single "best" agile methodology for all global delivery projects. Different methodologies excel in specific context. For example - Imagine a global banking IT unit tasked with developing a mobile banking application. They may choose a hybrid approach: Scrum: Used for the overall project management framework, with sprints, product backlog, and roles like Product Owner and Scrum Master. Kanban: Used for individual team workboards for development, testing, and deployment tasks, allowing continuous flow and flexibility. XP practices: Employed for specific tasks like pair programming for critical features and test-driven development to ensure quality.

✅ Evaluar las necesidades del proyecto → Identificar si se requiere rapidez, adaptabilidad o mejora en la comunicación. ✅ Seleccionar la metodología adecuada → Opciones como Scrum, Kanban y Lean ofrecen enfoques distintos según el tipo de entrega. ✅ Implementar herramientas digitales → Plataformas como Trello y Jira facilitan la gestión ágil de tareas. ✅ Fomentar la colaboración global → Equipos distribuidos pueden beneficiarse de reuniones cortas y procesos iterativos. ✅ Medir y ajustar continuamente → Evaluar el rendimiento y adaptar la metodología según los resultados obtenidos.

Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid, TDD, BDD, DDD etc. are only for reference & and to start with, the actual methodology evolves over the period and is unique to each project or product. There is a famous say in Hindi - "hum jahan khade hoten hai line wahin se shuru hota hai"