As an agile framework, Lean Software Development (LSD) is meant to optimize development efficiency and resources, while reducing waste. It is also known as the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) strategy because it intends to deliver only what the product needs. So, when a team practices the LSD strategy, it releases a minimum working version of the product and gets the response from users about what they liked, what they disliked, what extra features they want, and similar other details. Afterward, the team gradually enhances the product based on the feedback they collected.
Lean Software Development
In the present digital era, there is a massive demand for software, which requires software firms to deliver products at a rapid pace. It is achievable if development teams can minimize development time and ensure quick releases with fewer resources and defects. This is where the Lean Software Development (LSD) approach is making an impact. Let’s have a closer look at what is Lean Software Development (LSD) all about.
What Is Lean Software Development?
As an agile framework, Lean Software Development (LSD) is meant to optimize development efficiency and resources, while reducing waste. It is also known as the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) strategy because it intends to deliver only what the product needs.
So, when a team practices the LSD strategy, it releases a minimum working version of the product, and gets the response from users about what they liked, what they disliked, what extra features they want, and similar other details. Afterward, the team gradually enhances the product based on the feedback they collected.
Toyota, the Inventor of the Lean Development Approach
The lean development approach is not the strategy that was invented by software firms. Its first form was practiced in the manufacturing industry in order to maximize customer value and minimize waste by optimizing the production and assembly lines. The automaker Toyota is believed to be the inventor of the lean development process, which they called the Toyota Production System. As per this process, all those actions that do not impact the car’s functionality were termed as waste, therefore excluded from the process.
Gradually, other manufacturers also started adopting the same system, which eventually turned its name to “Lean”. In the software industry, LSD was introduced in 2003 by the publication of the book Lean Software Development.
Main Principles of Lean Software Development
There are 7 main principles of LSD, as follows:
- Eliminate waste
- Deliver faster
- Strengthen learning
- Empower team
- Delay decision-making
- Build integrity in
- Optimize system
The above principles have remained unchanged for many years. With LSD 7 principles and the best set of practices, development teams can ensure efficient and faster software development.
Pros & Cons of Lean Software Development
Although LSD seems a perfect framework to release a minimum-working version of the product and gradually improve it, still it has both advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
- Optimized use of resources and development time results in faster deliveries with more functionality.
- All invaluable activities are eliminated, thereby reducing cost.
- Gives the development team the power to make decisions, thereby boosting morale and enhancing productivity.
- Gives importance to users’ feedback greatly, thereby resulting in more users’ involvement and better-quality products.
Cons
- Due to high reliance on the development team, it is difficult to scale the LSD framework compared to other frameworks.
- Can result in development mistakes if documentation is not proper and customer requirements are not understood properly.
Wrapping Up
The success of LSD depends on how well-qualified is the development team and how much trust the organization has in the team. Overall, many organizations are actively using the LSD framework for software development, as it is optimizing the development process and empowering the team to only focus on those activities that are actually valuable for the final product.