Understanding the Core Problem The core issue being addressed is how to effectively evaluate project management solutions in a comprehensive, holistic manner. Often, organizations take a narrow approach focused solely on features, functionality and costs when selecting PM tools and methodologies. However, this fails to account for critical cross-functional impacts and alignment with broader business…
The Dilemma of Timeboxes Timeboxes, such as sprints in agile development, create a recurring deadline for delivering working software. On one hand, timeboxes propel the team to make regular progress. The cadence of sprints forces planning, prioritization, and production. On the other hand, time pressure can lead to rushed work and technical debt. Rigid timelines…
The Core Problem of Missing Stakeholder Perspectives Developing software without direct input from end users leads to products that fail to address user needs. Lacking perspectives from target demographics creates gaps in understanding that manifest in frustrating user experiences. Surfacing pain points requires engagement with stakeholders. When end user access is constrained, developers miss qualitative…
Seeking Multiple Objectives Finding the appropriate balance between achieving short-term wins and making progress towards long-term goals is a complex endeavor facing many organizations and individuals. On one hand, demonstrating immediate returns provides validation and urgency for continued investment. On the other hand, focusing solely on quick wins can preclude meaningful advancements requiring sustained effort…
Defining Project Objectives in Context Defining clear, focused project objectives is crucial for ensuring alignment with wider business goals and strategies. Well-defined objectives provide a north star for teams to work towards and help connect specialized project work to overarching corporate priorities. Aligning with Company Mission and Values Before setting project goals, it is important…
Defining Impediments An impediment is any obstacle that prevents an agile team from making progress on their sprint goals and delivering working software. Impediments can take many forms including: Missing or inadequate resources (e.g. people, infrastructure, information) Organizational constraints such as policies or processes External dependencies from other teams or vendors Technical challenges and bugs…
Defining Technical Debt and Its Effects Technical debt refers to the implied cost of additional rework caused by choosing an easy software solution now instead of using a better approach that would take longer. It is called “debt” because it incurs interest payments in the form of extra effort required later on to maintain suboptimal…
The Problem of Repeatedly Finishing Sprints Early Agile software development teams working in sprints often face the issue of repeatedly completing user stories and finishing sprints earlier than planned. This consistent pattern points to systemic problems in the sprint planning and estimation process. When sprints continually finish ahead of schedule, it leads to frustration for…
Understanding Team Velocity Team velocity refers to the amount of work a team can complete within a single sprint iteration in an agile development environment. It provides a metric for estimating capacity and measuring progress. Optimizing velocity involves finding the right balance of workload for the team within each sprint. Velocity depends on multiple factors:…
Understanding Unpredictability in Agile Projects Agile software development embraces change and uncertainty as inherent aspects of building complex systems. Unlike traditional waterfall projects with rigid scopes and plans, agile teams operate in short iterations and continuously adapt based on new learnings and shifting priorities. While agility confers advantages in fluid environments, quantifying the implications of…
