Agile ProjectsMyths & Selection Criteria

AgileIs NOT a silver bullet

So why choose Agile then?

• Because it's 'cool'

• Someone said to do it

• I like how you 'stand up'

• You are so 'Retro'!

Why do projects?• Projects are about introducing change to;

• New or existing processes, systems, applications. Eg; New payment system

• RTB - Running the business or BAU changes. Eg; Update the website content

• CTB - Change the business to compete or survive. Eg; Discounted offer

• Organisations need to be good at projects in order to deliver change

• And we know projects sometimes fail or not deliver the expected change for many many reasons

• We are not selling rainbows and unicorns we are about delivering value

Agile is ONE way of being good at delivering projects

Projects Succeed because...• User involvement and commitment

• Executive / Senior Management sponsorship

• Defined business objectives

• Good control of project costs

• Skilled and experienced team

• Proven technology

• Why has your project been considered a success??

And they fail because...• Unclear scope, objectives and requirements

• Changing scope, objectives

• Poor project management and governance

• Lack of skills and experience

• Artificial and unrealistic deadlines

• Use of new technology

• Poor quality

• Why did your project fail??

Different types of projects

Source:Alan McSweeney

• Simple

• Well proven

• Well defined / agreed

• Highly complex

• Highly uncertain

• Highly un-defined / agreed

Is there a Nirvana?

Agile v's the rest

Agile Manifesto

We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it.

Through this work we have come to value:

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

• Working software over comprehensive documentation

• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

• Responding to change over following a plan

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

– Mike Cohen

“....allows us to focus on delivering the highest business value in the shortest time”

You said what?

Why Agile?

Source: 7th Annual State of Agile Survey

This feels weird

it's only weird if it doesn't work

http://youtu.be/2oiHPEzCa08

The A Checklist for suitability• Do the sponsor and management understand and accept the agile philosophy as their buy-in is essential?

• Will the team members be empowered to make decisions?

• Is there senior user commitment to provide end user involvement? Can the organisation accommodate the frequent delivery of increments?

• Will it be possible for the project team to have access to the users throughout the project?

• Will the project team remain the same throughout as stability is important? Will the team have appropriate skills?

• Will the individual project team consist of 6-8 people or less?

• Will the project use technology suitable for prototyping?

• Is there a highly demonstrable user interface?

• Is there clear ownership?

• Will the solution development be computationally non-complex as the more complex the greater the risks? Can the solution be implemented in increments?

• Has the development a fixed timescale?

• Can the requirements be prioritised - Must have O Should have Could have O Wont have (MOSCOW)

• Can users define requirements interactively?

Source:Alan McSweeney

Pragmatic1. of or pertaining to a practical point of view of practical considerations

A list of when not to• Process control / real-time applications

• Requirements that have been fully specified before any programs are written

• Safety-critical applications

• Solutions aimed at delivering re-usable components (a contentious one, however this talks to the theory we are building and delivering business value NOW not for tomorrow)

• Well known and understood scope, risk, technology, - very little "newness", we've done this before we can do it again

• Building a house!

Selection criteria ideas• How complex is the project (think back to the classifications)

• How much of the plan & requirements have you pre-baked, you may be further along project methodology and approach than you think

• Who's hungry? What appetite is there for Agile, don't do it if it doesn't feel right

• How engaged can/will you product owner(s) be?

• Stability and accessibility to resources?

• Flexibility towards scope. If you can't or won't accept change then don't bother

• COLLABORATE, COMMUNICATE, ADAPT, TEST, LEARN

–Mike Cohen

“Agile is not something you become, it's something you become more of”

Have Fun!

Date: December 2013 Authored by: Matt Hickman, Agilista!