Agile case study. PMI Government Community of Practice

Case Study:WA State DOL

The 21st Century GovernmentWill Be Agile

Joseph Flahiff

PMI Agile CoP Community

Engagement Lead

15 years Traditional and AgilePresident of Whitewater Projects, Inc.

Author, Speaker, Coach, Consultantjoseph@whitewaterprojects.com

PMIACP

License eXpress

Long Long Road 2008• First attempt at

starting

Multiple Designs & revisions

Estimated 3 years to complete

2010• Shelved• Lack of resources

Sat for 2 years2011• Urgent need• Deadline 2012

Reduced scope by 1 year

New Estimate 2 years

Results

Benefits

• Quality of the Product• Time and Cost Savings• Employee Satisfaction

Agile and the Government

• Federal • General Accounting

Office• Dept. of Defense• NASA• Veterans Affairs• FBI• GSA• Many more

• Washington State• DOL• DIS• DNR• DOT• L&I• ESD• OCIO• More…

… congressional interest has contributed to the identification of numerous examples of lengthy IT projects that incurred cost overruns and schedule delays while contributing little to mission-related outcomes. To reduce the risk of such problems, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recommends modular software delivery consistent with an approach known as Agile.

Agile and the Government

• Federal • General Accounting

Office• Dept. of Defense• NASA• Veterans Affairs• FBI• GSA• Many more

• Washington State• DOL• DIS• DNR• DOT• L&I• ESD• OCIO• More…

The Original Approach

Contract/ Charter

Requirements

Design

Build

Test

Deploy

Prod Support

2 Years

10

Reality

Contract/ Charter

Requirements

Design

No, how about this?!

Looking Good!

What does it mean to be Agile?

Agile is the ability to adapt to changes as fast or faster than changes occur.

Agile is NOT a noun…it’s an adjective

Flexible

A Broader Definition

Build Cycle Build Cycle Build Cycle Build CycleBuild Cycle Build Cycle

Change Cycle Change Cycle Change Cycle Change Cycle

A Broader Definition

Build Cycle Build Cycle Build Cycle Build Cycle

Change Cycle Change Cycle Change Cycle Change Cycle

Project Requirements

Modularize and Prioritize

Adaptability

Release 1

Release 2

Release 3

Release 4

Release 5

Release 6

Release 7

Release 8

Release 9

Release 10

Release 11

Release 12

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Release Value

Iterative Delivery

License eXpress

DDD

DDD

DDD

DDD

DDD

DDD

DDD

DDD

Simple…in Theory

Not as Easyas it Looks

4 Dimensions of Agility

Culture

Culture is a set of organizational beliefs and behaviors that create the working environment.

Challenges:

• Complacency

• Collaboration

• Self-Direction

• Cross Organizations

Technical Practices

Leadership

Busin

ess Sy

stem

s

Cultu

re

AGILEORGANIZATION

People

Systems

Leadership

The leaders job is twofold:

1. Provide clear direction

2. Removers of obstacles and smoothers of paths

Challenges:

• Trust of the iterative Process

• Availability/Authority/Knowledge

Technical Practices Busin

ess Sy

stem

s

Cultu

re

AGILEORGANIZATION

People

Systems

Leadership

Business Systems

Set of connected processes, tools, beliefs and policies that support the business.

Challenges:• Legacy Reporting• 100% Staff Allocation• Contracting• Status Reporting

Technical Practices

Leadership

Busin

ess Sy

stem

s

Cultu

re

AGILEORGANIZATION

People

Systems

Technical Practices

Technical practices are the tools and techniques used to deliver customer value.

Challenges:• Adoption of new tools• Traditional Artifacts• Trust of new practices

Leadership

Busin

ess Sy

stem

s

Cultu

re

AGILEORGANIZATION

People

Systems

Technical Practices

Getting StartedTransformation is fractal

• Culture• Self-Direction

• Leadership• PO Group

• Business Systems• Pilot to get staffing

• Technical Practices• Retrospectives

Questions Before We Close

Summary

References and Additional Reading• Contact info

• joseph@whitewaterprojects.com

• Articles on Agile by Joseph Flahiff• www.whitewaterprojects.com/articles/

• Agile in government papers• GAO - Effective Practices and Federal Challenges in Applying Agile Methods

• http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/593091.pdf• DOD Strategic Guidance

• http://www.defense.gov/news/defense_strategic_guidance.pdf• OMB 25 Point Plan to Reform Federal IT

• http://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/digital-strategy/25-point-implementation-plan-to-reform-federal-it.pdf

• Other Reading• The New, New Product Development Game

Joseph Flahiff

PMI-Agile CoP Engagement Lead

15 years Traditional and AgilePresident of Whitewater Projects, Inc.

Author, Speaker, Coach, Consultantjoseph@whitewaterprojects.com

@joseph_flahiff

PMIACP