What the Business Expects from Agile (and what development should expect in return)

Dave Ungar, PMP April 28, 2010

(What the Business Expects from Agile and) what development should expect in return

Dave Ungar, PMP April 28, 2010

Introduction

Business Priorities, Goals & Roadmap

The Agile Premise

Onward …

Expectation #1

The business *can* prioritize.

Expectation #1.1

Traceability:o    Long-term Plano    Business Strategy/ Priorities

o    Target Outcomeso    Short Term Planso    Project Goalso    Project Objectiveso    Iteration Objectiveso    User Storieso    Tested Code 

Expectation #2The business makes a commitment with development input.

To make that work:•The business needs to be able to define the goals (product objectives, outcomes)•Business needs to know how to envision at a high level. Think in terms of business outcome and not product attributes.•Development needs to know how to estimate at a high level

Expectation #3

The business will properly resource based on those estimates AND will have a contingency budget or descoping plan

Planning Example

(omitted/ confidential - sorry)

Expectation #4Change is not the norm.

Expectation #4.1

Change needs to be controlled

Expectation #5Regular, honest communication with an eye toward problem solving

Expectation #6Make it real before you make it right.

Right product --> right way --> nice buttons

Expectation #6.1Do the simplest (smallest) thing possible to meet the

requirements in front of you.

REF: Kano Model: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kano_model

"Working software" - is the objective of the development team at the end of an iteration.

“Business value” is the objective of the business.

Our goal is to make these two things the same.

Convergence

  Business Development

1 The business *can* prioritize.  

1.1 Traceability Traceability

2 High Level Vision, business outcome Agile, High-level estimates

3 Contingency / Descoping method  

4 Change is not the norm  

4.1 Control Changes  

5 Honest communication & problem solving Honest communication & problem solving

6   Make it real before you make it right

6.1   Simplest thing possible

SUMMARY