Bridge Methods: Complementary Steps Integrating Agile Development Tools and Methods with Formal Process Methodologies

This paper describes a "Bridge" method for successfully integrating Agile concepts with traditionally linear and sequential software development lifecycles. A software development and management environment is constructed to serve project oversight, management control, and team planning and task scheduling needs. The new method and environment enable project stakeholders to acquire a clear and constructive understanding of each other\´s activities. The method is neither a tentative step toward Agile nor a \´maturing\´ of an already Agile environment. Instead the Bridge is a complementary destination methodology incorporating the techniques from both Agile and Formal methods that have proven effective in large, complex software delivery environments. The method and environment are assessed within a large enterprise integration and software development project, and refined using an Action research methodology. This work advances the thinking about Agile\´s usefulness and its ability to effectively address multiple stakeholder needs for large enterprise development projects.