1. Gathering and Understanding Requirements

The first step of any project is a thorough understanding of user needs. This process often includes:

• Interviews with stakeholders and end users
• Requirements documents and specifications
• Workshops for analyzing and elaborating requirements
• Creating user stories

2. Planning and Prioritization

After gathering requirements, it's necessary to plan the project scope and set priorities. This usually includes:

• Creating a product backlog - a list of all features ranked by priority
• Estimating task size (usually in "story points")
• Planning sprints - short timeframes for development (usually 1-4 weeks)
• Defining goals for each sprint

It's important to note that, unlike traditional projects, planning in an agile environment is performed continuously throughout the project, not just at the beginning.

3. Design and Architecture

Before starting implementation, it's necessary to define the design and architecture of the solution:

• Technical architecture (databases, APIs, integrations)
• UX/UI design (wireframes, mockups, prototypes)
• System design (diagrams, data models)
• Defining coding standards and technical practices

Although the agile approach avoids excessive detailed planning in advance, a certain level of architectural design is necessary to ensure scalability and sustainability of the solution.

4. Implementation Through Sprints

In this phase, software development begins, organized into sprints:

• Sprint planning - selecting tasks for the current sprint
• Daily standup meetings - short daily progress reviews
• Development and testing of functionality
• Regular code integration (Continuous Integration)
• Sprint review - demonstration of completed functionality to the client
• Sprint retrospective - process analysis and defining improvements

The key advantage of sprints is rapid feedback from users and the ability to adjust priorities and requirements during development.

5. Testing and Quality Assurance

Testing in an agile environment is not a separate phase but is integrated into the entire development process:

• Unit tests - testing individual components
• Integration tests - testing interaction between components
• Automated testing - creating scripts for repetitive tests
• User testing - validation with real users
• Regression testing - verifying that new changes don't negatively impact existing functionality

6. Delivery and Implementation

After the software is developed and tested, the delivery phase follows:

• Preparing infrastructure and environments
• Deployment automation (CI/CD pipeline)
• Data migration (if needed)
• User training
• Go-live strategy and rollback plan in case of issues

7. Support and Maintenance

The project doesn't end with production delivery - the phase of support and maintenance follows:

• Monitoring performance and availability
• Rapid response to detected issues
• Regular upgrades and patches
• Collecting feedback for future improvements
• Documentation and knowledge transfer

Challenge 1: Changing Requirements

Problem: Frequent changes in requirements can lead to shifting focus and "scope creep."

Solution: Implement a clear process for change management. Each new feature should be evaluated, prioritized, and added to the backlog, not immediately implemented.

Challenge 2: Time Estimation

Problem: It's difficult to precisely estimate how much time will be needed to implement functionality.

Solution: Use relative estimates (story points) instead of absolute ones (hours/days). After a few sprints, the team will develop a feel for velocity, and estimates will become more accurate.

Challenge 3: Collaboration with Remote Teams

Problem: When team members are geographically dispersed, it can be difficult to maintain effective communication.

Solution: Use video calls for meetings, asynchronous communication tools, and ensure overlapping working hours. Regularly organize team-building activities for remote members as well.