Categories
Agile Leadership

Agile parallels

I had done a course with Chris recently on Sales and I was interested on his take on Project Management and I was not disappointed. Chris has a clear way of explaining things and providing great examples to cement the knowledge.

I wanted to see how Agile methodologies map to the Twelve Steps to Managing a Project Successfully.

Twelve Steps to Managing a Project Successfully

  1. Define the project.
  2. List the tasks.
  3. Plan the running order.
  4. Add contingency.
  5. Consider crashing.
  6. Make a Gantt chart.
  7. Calculate resource requirements.
  8. Assess risks and prepare action plans
  9. Monitor progress using the Gantt chart.
  10. Monitor costs.
  11. Readjust your plan.
  12. Review.

Here is my take of each of the steps with an Agile twist:

ItemClassical Project ManagementCustomAgile
Define the projectClear scope and objectives set at the beginning, with detailed planning upfront.Clear scope and objectives set at the beginning of each sprint, allowing for some flexibility in implementation.Flexibility to adapt to changing requirements throughout the project, allowing for continuous improvement.
List the tasksTasks are clearly defined and prioritized in a detailed project plan.Tasks are clearly defined and prioritized, with some flexibility for adjustments based on evolving needs.Agile teams can quickly respond to changing priorities and customer needs, enhancing responsiveness and customer satisfaction.
Plan the running orderStrict adherence to predetermined project schedule and sequence of tasks.Adaptable planning to accommodate changing priorities or unforeseen circumstances.Agile planning allows for iterative and incremental delivery, enabling faster time-to-market and early feedback.
Add contingencyContingencies are included in the initial project plan but may be inflexible.Built-in flexibility to accommodate unforeseen challenges or changes in project scope.Agile teams can adapt quickly to unforeseen challenges, leveraging iterative planning and incremental delivery to manage risks effectively.
Consider crashingOvertime or resource reallocation may be used to meet deadlines, but with limitations.Flexibility to adjust resources or timelines within certain constraints to meet project deadlines.Agile methodologies provide various options for managing tight deadlines or resource constraints, such as reprioritizing backlog items or adjusting sprint scope.
Make a Gantt chartGantt charts are commonly used to visualize project schedules and dependencies.Gantt charts or similar tools may be used, but with flexibility to adapt as needed.Provides a visual representation of tasks and dependencies, aiding in communication and planning.
Calculate resource requirementsResource requirements are calculated based on detailed project plans and estimates.Resource requirements are assessed and adjusted as needed throughout the project lifecycle.Supports effective resource management and allocation, facilitating efficient project execution.
Assess risks and prepare action plansRisks are identified and addressed through proactive risk management processes.Risks are continuously assessed, with proactive mitigation strategies in place.Encourages continuous risk assessment and mitigation, improving project resilience and adaptability.
Monitor progress using the Gantt chartProgress is tracked using the Gantt chart, with deviations addressed through formal change control processes.Progress is tracked using the Gantt chart or similar tools, with flexibility to adjust plans based on real-time feedback.Provides visibility into project progress and helps identify potential bottlenecks or delays.
Monitor costsCosts are monitored closely against the budget, with any deviations addressed through formal change requests.Costs are monitored throughout the project, with adjustments made as necessary to stay within budget constraints.Enables effective cost management and budget tracking, ensuring project stays within budget constraints.
Readjust your planChanges to the project plan are managed through formal change control processes.Plans are adjusted as needed based on evolving requirements or feedback, with appropriate documentation and communication.Supports adaptive planning and decision-making, enabling teams to respond quickly to changing circumstances.
ReviewFormal reviews are conducted at key project milestones to assess progress and identify areas for improvement.Regular reviews are conducted to evaluate progress, identify lessons learned, and make continuous improvements.Promotes continuous learning and improvement, enhancing team performance and project outcomes.

It think the interesting journey in each of these steps is to figure out the “Custom” for the client and deliver what is right for them.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/learning/project-management-simplified-2019

Categories
Agile

Validated Learning Board

Session from Agile Speakers

In the last Agile Speakers session we decided to take the “Validated Learning Board” tool from the “Agile Leadership Toolkit” for a spin.

We had 4 participants but only time for taking one person’s learning from Idea to Validation.

The Idea was “Improve team value generation (team metrics)”.

Basically the idea to come up with team metrics that will add value to team.

In the Refine phase we came up with 2 metrics:

  • % of issues worked on
  • Lead time

In the Build phase we decided to concentrate on 1 metric for the Sprint and closed in on “% of issues worked on”. To simplify things we worked with number of issues instead of percentage.

In the Measure phase we came up with an imaginary 10 issues.

  • 6 of the issues were Sprint goal related
  • 2 of the issues were Ad-hoc
  • 2 of the issues were Bugs

In the Learn phase we had two attendees from the meeting play Happy an Unhappy customer.

Case 1: The Happy customer was happy because 60% of the issues were Sprint Goal related.

Case 2: The Unhappy customer was unhappy because 20% of the issues were ad-hoc and wanted to know why this was not planned beforehand.

Taking “Case 1” further in the Validation phase, the stakeholder appreciated the 20% allocation for ad-hoc and 20% allocation for bugs. This was continued in future sprints keeping the team and stakeholder happy.

Taking “Case 2” further in the Validation phase, the team reduced ad-hoc issues to 10% in the next Sprint and increased the Sprint goal related issues to 70% keeping the team and stakeholder happy.

What I like about the “Validated Learning Board” tool is that we can take epic level items and manage them with a simple workflow:

Idea–>Refine–>Build–>Measure–>Learn–>Validate

Links:

#10:focus – Validated Learning board for tracking your Product development ideas – Edwin Wopereis (Kramp) • sjoerdly.com

Tools:

https://jamboard.google.com/