Successful agile projects – 10 rules

The 10 Golden Rules The NEW golden rules for successful agile projects Keith Richards www.agilekrc.com #10goldenrules

Presentation Structure • • • • • •

Introductions Methodology The 10 (NEW!) golden rules Something goes wrong Further information Close and questions.

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Introductions • • • • • • • • •

agileKRC is a pioneering company at the forefront of agile thinking Specialising in all things agile (Scrum, DSDM, AgilePM, everything!)

Consultancy, training, coaching and mentoring Focusing on improving Agile capability at any scale Nearly 20 years experience of agile Detailed knowledge of combining PRINCE2 with agile IAF Accredited / APMG Certified Facilitator Author of ‘Agile Project Management’ (TSO) Voted ‘Most Valuable Agile Player’ UK Agile Awards.

Methodology • No science • No voting • No forensic analysis • …just my view!

• Yours will be different!

• “If everyone looked the same, we’d get tired of looking at each other!”.

Rule 10: If it is complicated, treat it as complicated • What exactly are you dealing with?

– BAU, a project, a programme?

• Most of agile only addresses BAU • Are you making a sandwich or a 3 course lunch?

• Take care with Epics • 99% of us still run projects • 99.9% of us still need project managers.

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Rule 9: Understand what self-organising is not • Self-organising is great • Self direction is not …and collective leadership… …is usually an accident waiting to happen • Watch out for ‘happy-clappy’ • Empowerment breeds commitment • Those at the coalface usually know what’s best …but they are not an island!.

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Rule 8: Get appropriate ownership of your agile • This agile journey that your are on… …do you know who owns it and runs it? …do they have enough time to do it?

• Where do you go when you have an idea?

• Is the PMO fully involved?

• How high up is support for this?.

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Rule 7: Measure it (as long as you know what ‘it’ is) • • • • •

‘Meten is weten’ ‘It’s a game of two halves’ Firstly – do you know how to measure success?

If you don’t, or can’t, you are in big trouble Secondly – do you capture the actuals?

“In God we trust. All others must bring data” – Dr. Deming.

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Rule 6: Play with the SCOPE and nothing else Put SCOPE centre stage It is the safest place to go for contingency Prioritise with MoSCoW The devil is in the detail …and we never need it all!

• Scope goes both ways – it is not all negative.

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Rule 5: Create a rich communication environment • • • • • • •

The source of so many problems is around communication Create a blend – know what channel to use Shift the traffic to the fatter pipes Are you drawing things?

Are things on the wall?

Is facilitation seen as a core competency?

Don’t underestimate the damage email can do!.

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Rule 4: Wear sensible shoes • Ok – its boring but… …do we have a business case? …do we have well written requirements? …have we thought about what happens downstream?

• What do you mean ‘we have already started!”

• Go slow early to go fast later on.

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Rule 3: Let ‘Inspect and Adapt’ become a mantra • • • • • • •

Plan, do, check, act Look for many small improvements Take your time For any problem – what caused it?

How can you change the process Shorten the feedback loops Can you make this ‘real-time’?.

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Rule 2: Collaborate. It’s a team game!

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In agile this word is everywhere Agile cannot function without this The whole is greater than the sum of its parts Get the team to gel Invest as much as you can in this Energisers or energy-sappers?

Got any email automatons?.

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Rule 1: On time. Every time.

• The most brutal of weapons • You can run but you cant hide • Hit the deadline… …or fail and take your medicine • Fast failure is very good for you • We live and work in a different age now • We don’t need it all …and if you do …agile becomes very limited.

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Further Information / Next Steps ??

• agileKRC offers accredited public courses, in-house training and coaching.

• Would you like an agile assessment or a project health check?

• Email us at info@agileKRC.com to find out how we can help you on your agile journey.

The (NEW) 10 Golden Rules • • • • • • • • • •

1. On time. Every time 2. Collaborate. It’s a team game!

3. Let ‘Inspect and Adapt’ become a mantra 4. Wear sensible shoes 5. Create a rich communication environment 6. Play with the Scope and nothing else 7. Measure it (as long as you know what ‘it’ is) 8. Get appropriate ownership of your agile 9. Understand what self-organising is not 10. If it is complicated, treat it as complicated #10goldenrules

The 10 Golden Rules Thank you!

info@agilekrc.com www.agilekrc.com #10goldenrules