By definition, an IT project is a temporary structure to govern and deliver a complex change (such as a new product or platform) into an organisation. However, to be truly competitive, an organisation needs to be able to deliver a continuous stream of change. Managed properly, this negates the need for a project and the associated cost overheads. This is fundamentally what #noprojects is. The approach, structure, tactics and techniques available to successfully deliver continuous change. At its core, #noprojects is predicated on the alignment of activities to outcomes, measured by value, constrained by guiding principles and supported by continuous delivery technologies. This presentation will introduce you to #noprojects. You will learn how to define an outcome and create an Outcome Profile. You will also learn how to manage change within the context of an outcome through the Activity Canvas.

1. @eleybourn
@eleybourn
If you need to run a project – you’ve already failed
#noprojects
Evan Leybourn
Agile India 2016

2. @DipeshPala
@eleybourn
Come with an open mind
This is a controversial topic

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PART ONE
Understanding projects

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@eleybourn
What exactly is a project?
A temporary structure to govern and deliver a
complex change (such as a new product)

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@eleybourn
Projects are expensive
The three O’s of project cost;
1. Overheads,
2. Overruns and
3. Opportunity costs

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@eleybourn
Projects fail
The definition of insanity is to “do the same thing
and expect a different result”

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@eleybourn
Projects focus on the wrong thing
What is measurable not what is valuable

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@eleybourn
Projects are temporary (products aren’t)
Products don’t end when the project does – don’t
artificially constrain them & lose key skills

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@eleybourn

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PART TWO
introducing #noprojects

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@eleybourn
Continuous change is the alternative!
The approach and structure to successfully deliver
continuous change without a project

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@eleybourn
What is #noprojects?
The alignment of activities to outcomes
measured by value,
constrained by guiding principles and
supported by continuous delivery technologies

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The continuous culture
Continuous delivery,
deployment,
monitoring,
strategy,
planning,
design,
marketing,

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PART THREE
Where to begin

15. @DipeshPala
@eleybourn
Outcomes over outputs
Outcomes are valuable, planned, slowly changing
and define a common direction for all work

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@eleybourn

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@eleybourn
Working principles
Common, agreed, and prioritised constraints that
shape all activities
(e.g. quality, communication, staff engagement,
security, or branding)

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@eleybourn
Understanding the value of work
Value degrades

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@eleybourn
Understanding the value of work
High value activities may come later

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@eleybourn
Understanding the value of work
Local Maxima

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@eleybourn
Understanding the value of work
The “So What” Factor

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@eleybourn
Value delivery teams
Dedicated cross-functional teams that contain the
required skills to deliver an outcome
(e.g. developers, testers, HR, accountants,
sales/marketing)

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PART FOUR
Delivering work

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@eleybourn
The activity canvas
An activity is any discrete work that is undertaken
as part of a change

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@eleybourn

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@eleybourn

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@eleybourn

28. @DipeshPala
@eleybourn
The technology of #noprojects
Automated testing, continuous integration,
continuous delivery, and DevOps

29. @DipeshPala
@eleybourn
Funding #noprojects
Change the question – not “how much will this
cost?”, but rather “how much is it worth?”

30. @eleybourn
Evan Leybourn
IBM GBS
leybourn@sg.ibm.com
@eleybourn
slideshare.net/eleybourn
sg.linkedin.com/in/evanleybourn