What is Agile Epic?

Prerequisite: Software Engineering | Agile Software Development

Based on the needs or requests of customers or end-users, a body of work is broken down into specific tasks, which is known as Agile EPIC. An epic serves to manage tasks when adopting agile and DevOps. Basically, an epic is a collection of user stories that are related to each other and then combine to form one large story. It is basically a project management framework that is used by software development teams in many organizations. Epics are very helpful to organize the work and create a hierarchy.

Why use Agile Epics?

• It improves the organization’s work.
• It set up clear priorities.

Understanding the terms:

• Stories: These stories are the end-user demands or requirements; that is why they are also known as “user stories.”
• Features: It has a variety of functions and stories, as well as multiple themes and user stories.
• Initiatives: It has a common objective that drives the teams working in the organization efficiently.
• Themes: A theme can be defined as the goals of an organization.

Points to Consider When Creating an Agile Epic:

• Reporting: All the drafting takes place here for the project managers and team associates to keep track of the project.
• Storytelling: In this step, the process or mechanism is described as to how the person arrived at the current or proposed state of the feature or product.
• Epic Culture: This determines the organization’s culture and values.
• Timeline: It defines the complete timeframe so that the product or project can be completed on time.

Let us take an example of a wedding reception:

• Here, Epic had a reception with 200 guests. Now, it is the wedding planner’s responsibility to ensure that all the user stories are completed so that clients can be satisfied.
• The user stories could include picking a venue, preparing food, and selecting decorations according to the client’s needs.
• Now, each and every user story will have numerous tasks within it. So, it should be completed within the given time frame.
  

How To Assess Agile Epics?

To visualize the epics, one can opt for burndown charts. The results of these charts keep the team motivated and stakeholders informed about the project. Basically, it shows the estimated amount and the actual amount of work that is to be done on a sprint. It has two axes, where the x-axis indicates time and the y-axis indicates stories.

How Does the Burndown Chart Assist Teams in Meeting Their Objectives?

With the help of the burndown chart, the team can monitor its progress and the work that is left to be done. In this way, they can achieve their goal at the right time.

How To Manage Agile Projects?

Kanban boards can be used to manage projects and epics. It shows transparency and great execution of the project. With this connection, one can break down the work without any interference in their on-going work.

Benefits:

• It breaks large workloads down into small tasks. Basically, epics cut down on unnecessary activities.
• Stakeholders can check the progress of the team’s Agile epics if they need access to the information.
• It increases team productivity by allowing them to track their progress towards their goals.
• As epics are broken down into small tasks, it saves time and effort.
• It has better organization of data. Basically, it helps to keep track of all ideas in the form of user stories in a single place.
• It improves timeline estimates and performance monitoring.
• Improved communication: Epics facilitate better communication among the team members, as they provide clarity on the overall goals and objectives of the project. This allows team members to work collaboratively towards the common goal, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
• Greater flexibility: Agile epics allow teams to be more flexible and adaptable to changing requirements. Since epics are broken down into smaller tasks, they can be easily reprioritized or adjusted as needed to accommodate new priorities.
• Enhanced visibility: Epics provide greater visibility into the project’s progress, making it easier for stakeholders to track and measure success. This, in turn, leads to better decision-making and increased stakeholder satisfaction.
• Improved quality: As epics are broken down into smaller tasks, it allows for better quality control and testing. This ensures that any issues or defects are caught early, reducing the risk of delays and additional costs down the line.
• Better risk management: Epics can help identify potential risks or roadblocks early on in the project, allowing teams to proactively address them before they become major issues. This helps to ensure that the project stays on track and is delivered on time and within budget.

Drawbacks:

• Because of the small tasks, there is sometimes confusion about the end product.
• The clash of ideas and mechanisms creates complications, and then the task of story and epic tracking becomes more complicated.
• The chance of vagueness increases when the teams do not coordinate well with each other.
• Lack of understanding: The Agile Epic methodology requires all stakeholders to be on the same page. However, if the stakeholders have different ideas and do not understand the process, it can lead to confusion, delays, and misunderstandings.
• Lack of transparency: In some cases, Agile Epic can be too flexible, leading to a lack of transparency in the development process. This can make it difficult to track progress, identify issues, and make informed decisions.
• Overcomplication: In some cases, Agile Epic can be overcomplicated, leading to an unnecessary increase in time and effort. This can lead to confusion and frustration among team members, which can have a negative impact on the overall quality of the project.
• Dependency on technology: Agile Epic requires the use of specific software tools and technologies to be effective. If the team is not comfortable using these tools, it can lead to a lack of productivity and effectiveness in the development process.
• Dependency on teamwork: Agile Epic requires strong teamwork and communication among all team members. If the team is not working together effectively, it can lead to delays, mistakes, and a lack of progress towards the end goal.