There are no bad or intricate projects but just inefficient project managers. Project Managers ensure optimal use of all resources despite the hurdles that might occur due to increased regulations, volatility and the pressure to deliver at a low cost. Yet another roadblock for enterprises and medium scale business is to adopt rapid changes and have the flexibility to innovate in disruptive times. That is possible with Agile Project Management.
At ISHIR, we can provide Agile Project Management Service that includes advisory to deliver projects with several unpredictable business challenges. We have a team of industry’s best and most experienced project managers and scrum masters who can help you with successful project delivery, program management and setting up of Project/ Program Management Office (PMO). We can help build a holistic agile project management approach to enterprises for Agile Transformation. The holistic approach is critical to truly become ‘agile’, which implies changing the DNA of the way enterprises work.
6 Steps to Agile Project Management
Project planning
Agile project planning involves creating a high-level project plan that outlines the scope, objectives, and timeline of the project.
Sprint planning
Agile projects are typically broken down into short iterations called sprints. Sprint planning involves defining the goals and scope of each sprint.
Sprint execution
During the sprint, the team works on completing the tasks and activities identified during the sprint planning phase. This phase involves frequent communication and collaboration.
Daily stand-ups
Daily stand-ups are short, daily meetings where the team discusses progress, identifies any obstacles or issues, and plans for the day ahead.
Sprint review
At the end of each sprint, the team conducts a review to evaluate the progress made during the sprint and identify areas for improvement.
Monitor progress
Agile project management involves continuous monitoring of progress. This involves tracking the status of tasks, identifying any challenges, and making adjustments as needed.
What difference a good project management can make to your project?
The formula for a software project success is
If you remove any of the elements from the above equation, the project will fail. The most commonly ignored ones are the project management efficiencies and the project methodology.
Gone are the days when even larger projects heavily depended upon the development company’s estimations and timeline at the project’s onset. The scope once agreed upon was considered to be the one carved in stone, and after months of development, the battle would begin between the client and the development company about ‘only 30% achieved in 80% of the timeline and 80% of the budget. Thanks to the Agile-Scrum methodology, both parties have tighter control over the progress and the budget.
How we do it @ ISHIR?
Knowing is one thing, and applying another, the same is true for Agile and Scrum practitioners too. What we have mastered over the years, not even 50% of that is applied by so-called PMP and Scrum Certified Managers; most of the time, they fail to use wisdom and learning correctly and fail the projects miserably and cause budget bleeds and scope creeps.
At ISHIR, we boast of a very tight approach to project management, involving both parties, setting up the accountabilities, user acceptance criterion, bi-weekly demos, tab on monthly budgets, and the highest level of daily and weekly communication. We would not talk about talent here because it’s given that we work with A-level talent, and they are like essential ingredients to the mix, who need a master chef, i.e., Project Manager or Scrum Master, for the perfect recipe.
Agile v/s Traditional
Project Management
Project Management
Flexibility
It is highly flexible, allowing teams to adjust their plans and strategies as per the requirement.
It is highly flexible, allowing teams to adjust their plans and strategies as per the requirement.
Documentation
It emphasizes collaboration and teamwork, with team meetings and open discussions.
In traditional project management, team members work independently on their assigned tasks.
Risk management
It focuses on creating just enough documentation to support the project requirement.
It often requires extensive documentation throughout the project lifecycle.
Collaboration
It is majorly designed for projects with a shorter time frame, and delivering value quickly.
It is better suited for larger, more complex projects.
Timeframe
It prioritizes risk management throughout the project, to identify and mitigate risks early on. It tends to address risks later in the project lifecycle.
It focuses on customer involvement with regular check-ins and feedback sessions.
User Involvement
It is focused on completing the project according to the original plan and timeline.
It is more rigid and inflexible, with less scope for change.
Key Benefits
Increased flexibility and adaptability
Agile project management is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing teams to adjust their plans and strategies as needed. This can help teams respond quickly to changing circumstances and ensure that they are delivering the right value to stakeholders.
Improved risk management
Agile project management prioritizes risk management throughout the project, with a focus on identifying and mitigating risks early on. This can help teams minimize potential problems and ensure that projects are delivered on time and within budget.
Better collaboration and teamwork
Agile project management helps better collaboration and teamwork, with regular team meetings and open discussions. This can help team members stay aligned and work together more effectively, leading to better outcomes.
Higher stakeholder satisfaction
Agile project management is stakeholder-centric and delivers value to stakeholders. This helps improve stakeholder satisfaction and ensure that the project meets business goals.
Faster delivery
Agile project management focuses on delivering value quickly and regularly. This help teams meet stakeholder needs more effectively and generate positive outcomes sooner.
More predictable outcomes
Agile project management emphasizes continuous monitoring of progress and regular progress reports. This can help teams identify potential roadblocks and adjust their plans as needed, leading to more predictable outcomes.
What is Agile POD Team?
An Agile Pod Team, also known as an Agile Pod, is a small, cross-functional team that follows the Agile methodology for software development. The term “pod” is used to emphasize the close collaboration and communication within the team, which is similar to the way that pods of dolphins work together to achieve a common goal.
An Agile Pod Team typically consists of 5-9 members, including developers, testers, designers, and product owners. The team works together in short, iterative cycles called sprints, which usually last 1-4 weeks. During each sprint, the team focuses on delivering a small, working piece of software that provides value to the customer.
The Agile Pod Team is designed to be self-organizing and autonomous, with the ability to make decisions quickly and adapt to changing requirements. The team holds daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and identify any roadblocks, and at the end of each sprint, they hold a retrospective to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved.
The Agile Pod Team approach is often used in large organizations to improve collaboration, speed up development, and increase customer satisfaction.
How to Plan and Implement a great POD Team?
- Define the Team’s Purpose: Before assembling a POD Team, it is important to define the team’s purpose and goals. Identify the project requirements, customer needs, and desired outcomes to ensure that the team’s focus is aligned with the overall objectives.
- Assemble the Team: Identify the right mix of skills and expertise needed for the team. Typically, a POD Team includes developers, testers, designers, and product owners. Look for team members who have a collaborative and customer-focused mindset.
- Establish Agile Methodology: The team should adopt an Agile methodology to guide their work. Agile emphasizes flexibility, continuous improvement, and customer feedback. The team should select the Agile framework that best suits their project and team structure, such as Scrum, Kanban, or Lean.
- Set Clear Goals: Once the team is formed, set clear, measurable goals for each sprint. Goals should be achievable within the sprint timeframe and aligned with the team’s purpose and overall project objectives.
- Develop a Plan: Create a detailed plan for each sprint, including tasks, timelines, and dependencies. Assign tasks to team members based on their strengths and expertise.
- Communicate Effectively: Communication is key to the success of a POD Team. Establish regular communication channels, such as daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, and retrospective sessions. Encourage open and honest communication among team members and with stakeholders.
- Continuously Improve: The POD Team should continuously review their processes and outcomes to identify areas for improvement. Conduct regular retrospectives to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved.
How Agile Project Management and Agile POD team are tied together?
Agile project management and POD Teams are closely tied together because Agile is a methodology that emphasizes the use of cross-functional teams, such as POD Teams, to deliver high-quality software products. Agile project management provides a framework for managing the work of POD Teams, while the POD Teams provide the people and expertise needed to execute the Agile process. The Agile methodology emphasizes flexibility, continuous improvement, and customer feedback. Agile project management provides a framework for organizing work into sprints, setting priorities, and managing tasks. The Agile process is designed to accommodate changes and feedback, enabling teams to respond quickly to changing requirements and customer needs. POD Teams are an essential component of the Agile methodology. They are small, cross-functional teams that work collaboratively to deliver software products. POD Teams are designed to be self-organizing and autonomous, with the ability to make decisions quickly and adapt to changing requirements. POD Teams work within the Agile framework, using Agile project management practices to manage their work. The Agile process provides a structure for setting goals, prioritizing tasks, and managing dependencies. The POD Team provides the expertise needed to execute the Agile process, including developers, testers, designers, and product owners.
Overall, Agile project management and POD Teams are closely tied together. Agile project management provides a framework for managing the work of POD Teams, while POD Teams provide the people and expertise needed to execute the Agile process. Together, they enable teams to deliver high-quality software products that meet the needs of their customers.