AHRQ IT software development utilizes both a traditional software development life cycle (SDLC), and an Agile (i.e. Scrum) development methodology. Traditional SDLC process has a defined linear process and phases. Scrum is an iterative and incremental agile software development framework for managing product development. It defines "a flexible, holistic product development strategy where a development team works as a unit to reach a common goal", challenges assumptions of the "traditional, sequential approach" to product development, and enables teams to self-organize by encouraging physical co-location or close online collaboration of all team members, as well as daily face-to-face communication among all team members and disciplines in the project.
AHRQ IT provides support in developing and maintaining a portfolio of over 20 applications including both web-based and mobile applications. This support includes maintaining agency production systems as well as the architectural, engineering, configuration management, and hosting services need to support these systems. We work in an agile framework, managing multiple teams working in two week sprint cycles. Our professionals provide full technical support for the entire AHRQ application enterprise.