Mujeeb => .NET

More project managers and developers have turned to using Agile project management methods. The benefits associated with this type of project handling have been lauded up to the high heavens, and many have heard - so much so that some may tend to think that using Agile project management methodologies guarantee a failure-safe IT project or programme.

That is not the case, if the people executing it do not make a proper job of using it, the IT projects can still end up as something that you definitely don’t want them to be - unsatisfactory, unsuitable, and unsuccessful.

To help you harness the full potential of Agile project management, the following tips may be able to guide you:

1. Train everybody about Agile project management. If you choose to use Agile to manage your IT projects, make sure that each member of the team is knowledgeable about it.

Though it should come as fairly obvious, many project managers still fail to realise that the project should not start if the team members are not trained in using Agile. Investing time and effort into educating everyone about this system translates into better usage of the system, and better chances at completing projects successfully.

2. Time it well. One of the most common reasons why web projects fail is because the time periods set for the project is inefficient. Project planning has to focus on proper use of time so that the project would be completed well within the project manager’s set period. In addition, project planning has to visualise each task well to guarantee that they would be finished according to the set time.

3. Construct a scope statement. Scope creep can cripple the progress and organisation of the project. Before starting it, the project manager should carefully establish the parameters that the team would cover, and whilst the project is underway, the Scrum master should make sure that the members stick to the scope. Web projects would have a higher chance of succeeding if the scope is followed to the last letter - and if it features no new additions that may disrupt the process.

4. Set your metrics. Another feature that Agile project management lacks is the presence of a cohesive set of metrics that you can use to evaluate the project.

You can work around this by employing a metric system. Having this would enable you to continually check to ensure that your project is going smoothly.

5. Set expectations properly. Agile does not have a very clear set of Best Practices, thus making it hard for team members to rely on established methodologies that they can all use.

To prevent the potential damage that this may trigger, it would be a good idea to compile a list of practices that members have found to be effective, whilst removing those that only provide complications and issues.

6. Success shouldn’t have to exclude learning. Many project managers fail to realise that - sometimes - making mistakes is just another way of learning. Projects fail because team members are too focused on getting it done right that when they don’t, they don’t see that the opportunity of failure should have been a chance at learning.

7. Choose the right leader. A lot of the success of the whole project would depend on the abilities of the project leader to guide the whole team. Many an IT project has ended up unsuccessful because of poor project planning and implementation.

Your chosen ScrumMaster must be exactly that - a master at melding all the essential parts together, ensuring that they work, and following up on those that need help.

8. Everyone should work it. Agile project management focuses on constant communication between all the members of the project, as well as proper task delegation. But, this does not automatically mean that everyone involved would immediately pitch in their parts of the process.

Having a good project management system would be better if the whole team makes an effort to keep up their respective ends of the work, and deliver accordingly.

9. Don’t play hide and seek. Many IT projects do not see their successful fruition because team members and stakeholders can’t stay focused on the project long enough to complete it together. Extracurricular activities that present impediments to the process should be avoided.

Whilst the project has not been completed yet, everybody should be accountable for their duties. Your goals for your IT project can’t be achieved if you’re trying to find each other half the time.

10. Keep the communication lines open. IT projects normally fail because goals have not been clearly relayed and proper understanding has not been established as communication was not handled well. Agile would only work so much if the details of and about the project are clear to every member of the team.

11. Hold retrospective meetings. Retrospective meetings consider three important aspects of the project implementation: what was successful, what was not, and what needed improving for the next sprint.

Agile project management will not be as effective as it can be if the team does not hold retrospective meetings, or fail to understand its essence completely. The success of the project is largely determined by how the team members can learn from each other, and help each other.

12. It’s all in the details. Agile makes it possible for project managers and developers to decompose the whole project into actions and deliverables. But, this has to be done carefully so that the project flow would run smoothly. Project leaders should take the time to examine each project closely so that the project’s decomposition would not trigger later problems and issues for the team and the success of the project.

Source: Ultro digital