The Agile PMP Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

Introductions Product consultant and agile evangelist for VersionOne Previously a Senior Project Manager for CheckFree and John Harland Company PMP, CSM, DSDM Agile Project Leader Board member of APLN and the current Treasurer. Founder APLN Atlanta

Product consultant and agile evangelist for VersionOne

Previously a Senior Project Manager for CheckFree and John Harland Company

PMP, CSM, DSDM Agile Project Leader

Board member of APLN and the current Treasurer. Founder APLN Atlanta

Why are we here today ?

What is Agile? Umbrella term to describe a family of methodologies Engineering best practices Leadership philosophy Project management methodology

Umbrella term to describe a family of methodologies

Engineering best practices

Leadership philosophy

Project management methodology

What is Project Management? When will the project be done? How much will it cost? Do we all agree on what done looks like? What are the risks to delivering time and on schedule? How will we mitigate these risks so we can get done

When will the project be done?

How much will it cost?

Do we all agree on what done looks like?

What are the risks to delivering time and on schedule?

How will we mitigate these risks so we can get done

Let’s take a look at Traditional Project Management

Balancing the Triple Constraints There is a dynamic relationship between time, cost, and scope When one of the three variables change, there is necessarily a change in one or more of the other two Understanding and managing the relationship between these variables the primary job of the Project Manager

There is a dynamic relationship between time, cost, and scope

When one of the three variables change, there is necessarily a change in one or more of the other two

Understanding and managing the relationship between these variables the primary job of the Project Manager

Managing Project Scope Project scope is the set of deliverable the project is approved to build Defined at a high level in the business case or project charter Defined in greater detail in a product requirements document or a work break down structure

Project scope is the set of deliverable the project is approved to build

Defined at a high level in the business case or project charter

Defined in greater detail in a product requirements document or a work break down structure

Managing Project Costs Project cost is the sum of all capital expenditures, contractor expenses, and internal cost of labor Project managers track project expenses in relationship to the budget Responsible for making sure the project is spending money at the right rate and time

Project cost is the sum of all capital expenditures, contractor expenses, and internal cost of labor

Project managers track project expenses in relationship to the budget

Responsible for making sure the project is spending money at the right rate and time

Managing the Schedule The project schedule defines when all the deliverables should be completed and who is going to do them The project schedule also defines the order of the deliverables and is used to track physical percent complete.

The project schedule defines when all the deliverables should be completed and who is going to do them

The project schedule also defines the order of the deliverables and is used to track physical percent complete.

Building the Project Schedule Scope for the project is defined and the size of the deliverables are estimated Deliverables are sequenced and resource needs are calculated Based on the size, available budget, dependencies, and constraints; the project timeline can be calculated

Scope for the project is defined and the size of the deliverables are estimated

Deliverables are sequenced and resource needs are calculated

Based on the size, available budget, dependencies, and constraints; the project timeline can be calculated

Traditional Waterfall Scheduling

What always happens when we approach the business with our project schedule ?

Add more resources (crashing)

De-scope or phase the project

Overlapping Phases (fast tracking)

Project Baseline and Critical Path Once the project sponsors agree to the schedule, the schedule is locked and becomes the baseline Once the project has a baseline, the project manager will calculate the critical path and begin tracking earned value Earned value measures how much the project is spending relative to time and deliverables

Once the project sponsors agree to the schedule, the schedule is locked and becomes the baseline

Once the project has a baseline, the project manager will calculate the critical path and begin tracking earned value

Earned value measures how much the project is spending relative to time and deliverables

What about uncertainty ?

Project Risk Assessment What are the factors that could impact our ability to meet our project objectives Risk can be categorized by likelihood of occurrence, impact severity, and ability to detect The project managers prioritizes risk and create mitigation strategies

What are the factors that could impact our ability to meet our project objectives

Risk can be categorized by likelihood of occurrence, impact severity, and ability to detect

The project managers prioritizes risk and create mitigation strategies

Primary Traditional Project Constraints Scope is typically the primary driver… time and cost are calculated based on the size of the project Assumes an ability to accurately predict scope, cost, and schedule

Scope is typically the primary driver… time and cost are calculated based on the size of the project

Assumes an ability to accurately predict scope, cost, and schedule

So… what’s new about Agile Project Management?

Primary Agile Project Constraints Time and cost are the real drivers… scope has to be able to vary Agile is a framework, a new way of looking at product development, that gives the project team the ability to inspect outcomes and adapt accordingly Scope Time Cost Scope

Time and cost are the real drivers… scope has to be able to vary

Agile is a framework, a new way of looking at product development, that gives the project team the ability to inspect outcomes and adapt accordingly

A Fundamental Paradigm Shift Not all projects are predictable Market uncertainty drives change The less certain we are about our requirements, the more we need to plan to adapt

Not all projects are predictable

Market uncertainty drives change

The less certain we are about our requirements, the more we need to plan to adapt

Agile embraces uncertainty !

Agile is a risk mitigation technique when our assumptions about predictability do not hold

The Cost of Change Cost of traditional change management is too high in many project contexts Change control is bureaucratic and slow We become resistant to change when we should embrace change

Cost of traditional change management is too high in many project contexts

Change control is bureaucratic and slow

We become resistant to change when we should embrace change

How often to we really take process cost into consideration when planning our projects ?

Still answering the five questions… When will the project be done? How much will it cost? Do we all agree on what done looks like? What are the risks to getting done on time and on schedule? How will we mitigate these risks so we can get done

When will the project be done?

How much will it cost?

Do we all agree on what done looks like?

What are the risks to getting done on time and on schedule?

How will we mitigate these risks so we can get done

… but taking a difference approach Deliver working product in short cycles Keep the evolving product highly visible Inspect outcomes frequently Change our product or processes as we learn more to ensure acceptable outcomes Do less work that will change

Deliver working product in short cycles

Keep the evolving product highly visible

Inspect outcomes frequently

Change our product or processes as we learn more to ensure acceptable outcomes

Do less work that will change

… and a shift in focus Focus less on predictive up front planning Focus more on delivering value Focus more on collaboration with the business Focus more on engaging the team

Focus less on predictive up front planning

Focus more on delivering value

Focus more on collaboration with the business

Focus more on engaging the team

Moving away from activity based Project Management toward value based Project Management …

Not all value based project management is agile …

Proto-Iteration Planning

Iterative Planning

Predictive Feature Based

Agile Project Management

Agile and the PMBOK

Agile and the PMI process groups Initiation Planning Execute Monitor Control Closing

The Importance of Language Companies don’t change over night People need to bridge the old language to the new Help teams understand new concepts within the old model

Companies don’t change over night

People need to bridge the old language to the new

Help teams understand new concepts within the old model

Understanding Agile in the context of the PMI knowledge areas…

Project Time Define deliverables not activities Strive to reduce dependencies between deliverables Prioritize don’t sequence. Work from the top of the list. Estimate based on relative size Releases and iterations always end on time. Time Management Activity definition Activity sequencing Activity resource estimating Activity duration estimating Schedule development Schedule control

Define deliverables not activities

Strive to reduce dependencies between deliverables

Prioritize don’t sequence. Work from the top of the list.

Estimate based on relative size

Releases and iterations always end on time.

Project Cost Cost is defined by your willingness to invest Cost estimates are the product of the team size and project duration Cost Management Cost estimating Cost budgeting Cost control

Cost is defined by your willingness to invest

Cost estimates are the product of the team size and project duration

Project Scope Scope is defined at progressive levels of detail. Plan scope, deal with project realities, and make tradeoffs. Allow room for scope negotiation when planning project scope Collaboration and frequent interaction Scope Management Scope Planning Scope Definition Create WBS Scope Verification Scope Control

Scope is defined at progressive levels of detail.

Plan scope, deal with project realities, and make tradeoffs.

Allow room for scope negotiation when planning project scope

Collaboration and frequent interaction

Project Risk Business Risk, Technical Risk, and Logistical Risk Risk management is built into the structure of the project Risks are constantly visible and managed through iterations Risk lists, response planning, and mitigation strategies Risk Management Risk management planning Risk identification Qualitative risk analysis Quantitative risk analysis Risk response planning Risk monitoring and control

Business Risk, Technical Risk, and Logistical Risk

Risk management is built into the structure of the project

Risks are constantly visible and managed through iterations

Risk lists, response planning, and mitigation strategies

Project Quality Quality is not an afterthought Test first design Test driven development Continuous integration Continuous testing Quality Management Quality planning Perform quality assurance Quality control

Quality is not an afterthought

Test first design

Test driven development

Continuous integration

Continuous testing

Project Communication Communication planning can be thought of in the traditional sense when looking outside the project team Collocation Information radiators Osmotic communication Communication Management Communications planning Information distribution Performance reporting Manage stakeholders

Communication planning can be thought of in the traditional sense when looking outside the project team

Collocation

Information radiators

Osmotic communication

Project Integration Agile has room for a Charter or a Vision statement Project management plans and approach statements More empowering style of management based on individual accountability Change control is built into the process. Tradeoffs managed in real time. Integration Management Charter Scope statement Project Management Plan Direct and Manage Project Execution Monitor and Control Project work Integrated change control Close project

Agile has room for a Charter or a Vision statement

Project management plans and approach statements

More empowering style of management based on individual accountability

Change control is built into the process. Tradeoffs managed in real time.

Project Procurement Agile does not deal much with procurement Approach contracts with adaptability in mind Build relationships based on trust Create win-win agreements Time Management Plan purchases and acquisitions Plan contracting Request seller responses Select sellers Contract administration Contract closure

Agile does not deal much with procurement

Approach contracts with adaptability in mind

Build relationships based on trust

Create win-win agreements

Project Human Resources Staffing based on available people and willingness to invest Build your team around motivated people Give them what they need to be successful and remove impediments Allow teams to self-organize Human Resource Management Human resource planning Acquire project team Develop project team Manage project team

Staffing based on available people and willingness to invest

Build your team around motivated people

Give them what they need to be successful and remove impediments

Allow teams to self-organize

What Can I Do Today ?

Agile Project Management Plans Explain agile processes in the context of an agile project management plan Build agile principles into the project charter or project definition document

Explain agile processes in the context of an agile project management plan

Build agile principles into the project charter or project definition document

Feature Based Deliverables Stop putting activities in your project plan Focus on outcomes… what are we going to build? What capabilities need to be in the system by when? Let’s start actually Earning Value

Stop putting activities in your project plan

Focus on outcomes… what are we going to build?

What capabilities need to be in the system by when?

Let’s start actually Earning Value

Iterative Planning Do detailed planning on iterative cycles Use the data gathered in the planning to do a reality check on your schedule Keep a higher level plan, maybe a milestone plan in a traditional PM tool

Do detailed planning on iterative cycles

Use the data gathered in the planning to do a reality check on your schedule

Keep a higher level plan, maybe a milestone plan in a traditional PM tool

Daily Stand-up Meetings Increase visibility Establish a sense of team work and collaboration Shared accountability

Increase visibility

Establish a sense of team work and collaboration

Shared accountability

Agile PM Model Project Manager as the center of the project Project manager as an enabler PM Team Team Team Team Team Team Team Team PM

Project Manager as the center of the project

Project manager as an enabler

Incorporate agile values and principles

Empowerment Create the context Manage the process not the people

Create the context

Manage the process not the people

Self-Organization " Simple, clear purpose and principles give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.” Dee Hock, Founder and Former CEO of Visa International

Trust Expect the best out of people Elevate the individual, give them respect Value people and encourage relationships

Expect the best out of people

Elevate the individual, give them respect

Value people and encourage relationships

Accountability Measure results, not processes or steps Focus on value Inspect the process Create a culture of accountability

Measure results, not processes or steps

Focus on value

Inspect the process

Create a culture of accountability

True Agile Project Planning

Know where you are … Know where you are going … Know what else you need to do to get there…

Great Project Managers take input from reality and deal with it

Resources Traditional Project Management http://www.pmi.org Agile Project Management and Leadership http://www.versionone.com http://www.apln.org http://www.agilealliance.org http://www.scrumalliance.org http://www.dsdm.org http://www.agilemanifesto.org How to contact me email: [email_address] Blog: http://blog.versionone.com Blog: http://www.leadingagile.com Presentation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cottmeyer

Traditional Project Management

http://www.pmi.org

Agile Project Management and Leadership

http://www.versionone.com

http://www.apln.org

http://www.agilealliance.org

http://www.scrumalliance.org

http://www.dsdm.org

http://www.agilemanifesto.org

How to contact me

email: [email_address]

Blog: http://blog.versionone.com

Blog: http://www.leadingagile.com

Presentation: http://www.linkedin.com/in/cottmeyer

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