AGILE: Is fast efficient?

In this rapidly changing world, I have found that production of some kind of object or service needs to be incredibly fast-paced in order to be moderately to extremely well-received. One answer to this complex situation came in the form of AGILE.

AGILE was devised as a methodology for completing software products according to a strict schedule. Through Scrums, typically a week or some other defined set of time, engineers and product managers can quickly push iterations of their product. This can be incredibly helpful. Small goals to keep to while working seem to increase productivity. Successes can result almost immediately in some cases, which will boost self-esteem of the workers.

While AGILE seems to have a broad appeal, and for good reason as it can spike a team's level of success, it does have its cons. Product development cycles do not necessarily work very well when a strict deadline has been given. Certain features will almost always take a good deal longer to build. One can take a few hours, another can take a day, and perhaps a more important one can take anywhere from two weeks to two months.

For these reasons, AGILE can be both helpful and detrimental. If a team's objective is to push out a product in some form as soon as possible, then AGILE's methodology can work wonders. The cycle will move fast, allowing for the software to be grown sort of like a tree that begins small and increases in girth. However, in some cases it would be much better to have a product finalized to an extent before release. If that is the requirement, then AGILE would probably be the wrong way to develop it.

Above all, the AGILE system is definitely situational. Though you can keep in mind how adaptable it is as well. It is really not meant to have one solid process that cannot be changed.