Dive into the transformative world of Agile software development with DVT as we spotlight its pivotal role. Explore efficiency, collaboration, and continuous improvement in this dynamic journey toward software excellence.
DVT CEO Jaco van der Merwe believes motivation is the driving force behind successful teams in any industry, and his keynote talk examines how agile software development methods add that vital yet often elusive element.
“How is it possible that a seemingly highly skilled team struggles to meet business deadlines while a team of comparably average professionals can consistently deliver value?” asks Van der Merwe. “Skills may impact the quality of a team’s delivery, but without the ‘secret sauce’ called motivation even the best teams can fall short of expectations – and often do.”
Van der Merwe emphasises that achieving success in project management requires a focus on business agility. He argues that motivating the development team is crucial and that adopting Agile methodologies, such as Scrum, can be the key to enhancing the development process. In contrast to the traditional waterfall framework, an Agile approach brings flexibility and responsiveness, making a significant difference in delivering outstanding results.
“Agility itself is built around the concept of human motivation, so the proper application of Agile methodologies can motivate people to be more successful, usually without them even realising it,” he says.
Senior DVT Android Developer Rebecca Franks joined Van der Merwe at the DevConf conference in 2017 to explore the merits of Google’s all-new Android Things platform.
“Almost any developer can build IoT apps with Android Things, even without prior electronics experience,” says Franks. “It’s a really intuitive addition, and can even be used with existing Android libraries, making it a no-brainer for developers of all levels.”
Van der Merwe emphasises that DevConf was the ideal forum for discussing business agility and various other topics related to the agile software development life cycle. At this event, like-minded professionals explored subjects such as agile software development methodology, scrum, development team dynamics, effective project management, and the overall development process. The conference provided a platform to delve into different frameworks and development methods, comparing traditional waterfall approaches with the efficiency of an agile team. The shared objective was to accelerate the delivery of quality software products through innovative agile development practices in the software development allows.
“Regardless of the industry segment or even business size, many local companies recognise that to remain competitive in the market they need custom software solutions of high quality that add business value earlier and are delivered into production faster,” he says.
“Everything about developing, testing, deploying and managing high-quality software applications can only be improved through shared ideas with fellow professionals, which is why DevConf is always a vital part of our development strategy as a company.”
Van der Merwe, with over 20 years of IT experience, plays a crucial role in the architecture, design, and construction of major software development projects in the utilities, finance, and insurance industries. He leads a team of 600 staff specialising in business agility, agile software development methodology, and agile software development life cycle. The team provides testing and related services for clients in South Africa and the UK, emphasising an agile development approach throughout the development process. Their expertise spans the scrum process, development practices, and the software development lifecycle, distinguishing them from traditional software development approaches.
Franks spends much of her time developing the popular DStv Now Android app, adding new features and supporting old ones. In her spare time, she manages her open source app, Book Dash, which contains free African story books for children, and regularly speaks at conferences and local Android meetups, emphasising her dedication to Agile software development.
Editor's Note: This post was originally published on 21 February 2017, and was updated on 5 December 2023