Agile 101
Jan 18, 2018
Agile 101
FeasibilityStudy
SDLC – What is it?Systems Development Life Cycle: The most commonly used, and generally accepted, project management approach..
Classic SDLC Characteristics
• Requirements & Tasks are expected to be well defined at outset.
• Methodology is highly document driven.• Project roles are highly structured and well
defined.• Communication is through PM and
Sponsor.• Typically long cycle
After 30 years of SDLC…What we’re doing is not working!
It’s All About…
Change!
The Agile Manifesto (2001) - A statement of values
Agile Practice favors:
Process and toolsIndividuals and interactions over
Following a planResponding to change over
Comprehensive documentationWorking Product over
Contract negotiation
Customer collaboration over
The Big Paradigm ShiftWe’re used to Agile Wants
Time Lines We’re done when it’s done.
Project Managers Disciplined self managing teams.
Fixed Budgets Assumed change means no fixed cost.
Predictable, all at once deliverables Incremental deliverables driven by value and constant learning.
Multiple matrixed units in multiple locations make up team
Co-location – one team.
Communication by Document Information Radiators.
Customer is removed Customer is part of team.
Certain Knowledge Action
User Stories – Simple statements of requirements written from the “customer's” point of view. “As an AP processor, I need to be able to retrieve and update vendor address information.”
Product Backlog – Collection of user stories that need to be addressed to consider the effort (Product) complete.
Sprint (aka Iteration) – A fixed length work period in which items taken from the backlog are satisfied. An Agile project is a sequence of sprints.
Sprint Planning Session – A team meeting in which the product owner reviews and explains each backlog items and it’s priority, the other team members task out the items and commit (or not) to performing each item, and the agile coach sets up the sprint management tools.
Sprint Review Session – At the closure of each sprint, work completed is presented and reviewed, lessons learned discussed, the overall sprint is evaluated and reviewed.
The Key Components of Agile
Agile rolesProduct Owner Is (or is the representative of) the Customer
Develops and maintains the Product BacklogPrioritizes the Product BacklogEmpowered to make decisions for all customers and usersPresents and explains Product Backlog to team
Scrum Team Performs the work directed by the CustomerSelf-organizingSeven plus or minus two performersBusiness and technical skills to build an increment of functionalityResponsible for estimating and committing to workFull autonomy and authority during a Sprint
ScrumMaster Guides the Agile ExecutionResponsible for the processResponsible for maximizing team productivitySets up and conducts meetingsRepresentative to management and teamCharacteristics of a border collie or sheepdog
The Agile Model
Faster – better - cheaperHospital – New Applicant Tracking System
Design Spec Code UAT LaunchChange Management & Approval
Waterfall Approach
SprintUsers stories Sprint Sprint
Agile Approach
Agile Methods – Putting the Manifesto to work
• ‘Adaptable’ development approach• ‘Human-centric’ thinking for creating business value
Agile Manifesto. (2001). Manifesto for agile software development. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from http://www.agilemanifesto.org
Realized asCustomer
Collaboration
Individuals &Interactions
WorkingSoftware
Respondingto Change
CustomerInteraction
High-Performance Teams
IterativeDevelopmentAdaptabilityor Flexibility
ContractNegotiation
Processes& Tools
ComprehensiveDocumentation
Followinga Plan
Agile Methods‘Values’
valuedmore than
valuedmore than
valuedmore than
valuedmore than
Agile Methods‘Principles’
Traditional Methods‘Values’
Realized as
Realized as
Realized as
What makes Agile work?
Better collaboration with business
More adapted to change/learning
Communication Motivation Doing Less Collective ownership Time boxes
Inspect & adapt Focus on the real thing Three heads are better
than one Collocation Information radiators Short feedback loops Team autonomy Accepted Responsibility
The Big Paradigm Shift – some realityWe’re used to Agile Wants What Works
Time Lines We’re done when it’s done. Time Boxes – not more than x time
Project Managers Disciplined self managing teams.
Collaboration between Coach and Product Owner
Fixed Budgets Assumed change means no fixed cost.
Cost Boxes – not more than x to spend.
Predictable, all at once deliverables
Incremental deliverables driven by value and constant
learning.
Pre-project user story sessions (Release Planning)
Team spread out Co-location. Core time in room or on phone/virtual presence
Communication by Document
Information Radiators & Conversations
Information Radiators captured electronically and
posted. Daily Meetings
Customer is removed Customer is in room as part of team.
Core time in room
Agile roles - a second look
When is Agile best?
• Creative Projects• New Technology Introductions• New Process Designs• Projects driven by critical business timing.• Projects with poorly defined needs
A word about ROI• Agile (138 pt.) and Traditional Methods (99 pt.)• Agile Methods fare better in all benefits categories• Agile Methods 459% better than Traditional Methods
Agile Methods Traditional MethodsLow Median HighCategory
ROI 240% 2,633% 8,852%
Satisfaction 70% 70% 70%
Quality 10% 70% 1,000%
Productivity 14% 122% 712%
Schedule 11% 71% 700%
Cost 10% 26% 70%Low Median HighCategory
ROI 200% 470% 2,770%
Satisfaction -4% 14% 55%
Quality 7% 50% 132%
Productivity 9% 62% 255%
Schedule 2% 37% 90%
Cost 3% 20% 87%
Rico, D. F. (2008). What is the ROI of agile vs. traditional methods? TickIT International, 10(4), 9-18.
About the Agile Coach• New(ish) role introduced
by Agile.
• NOT the same as or a replacement of the Project Manager.
• Focus on relationships, listening, facilitating.
• The Agile SME
• It’s not about the product!
An agile coach…Coordinating individual contributions
Coaching forcollaboration
Being a subjectmatter expert
Being a facilitatorfor the team
Being invested inspecific outcomes
Being invested inoverall performance
Knowing the answer
Asking the team forthe answer
Directing Letting the team findtheir own way
Driving Guiding