PROJ-630: Planning II: Schedule/Budget/Procurement

The Agile methodology is a relatively new way of planning and executing projects. It works well for projects where the scope is unclear at the beginning and/or there is a high likelihood of scope continually changing. The most common example of these two situations is the software industry, but many non-software organizations have also begun applying Agile to new product development projects. In this assignment, you will write a case report to evaluate the appropriateness of Agile for a construction project.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Evaluate the appropriateness of Agile methodology.

Resources

• Textbook: Agile Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide to Using an Agile Approach
• Textbook: PMP Exam Prep
• Article: Characteristics of Agile Development Success
• IWU Resources Page
• Website: Evaluating Sources

Background Information

The traditional (also called waterfall) methodology of Initiating–Planning–Executing–Monitoring & Controlling–Closing works well only for projects with a clear and stable scope. Since projects with an unclear and unstable scope are becoming more common today, many organizations are using the Agile methodology to deal with such projects. Knowing which methodology is appropriate for your project is crucial for successful planning and execution of the project.

Instructions

1. In Agile Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide to Using an Agile Approach, read “Other Methods, Models, Framework and Toolkits,” in Chapter 2: Agile Principles & Mindset
2. PMP Exam Prep, Chapter 2: Framework
3. Read the article “Characteristics of Agile Development Success.”
4. In this assignment, you will you will develop a guidance document for use in determining whether future work would be best managed as traditional (waterfall) projects or managed in an Agile manner:
   1. Assume that you are in a project leadership position in a medium sized Specialty Coffee Distribution company, named “CafeLatte”.
   2. The owner of the company has attended a conference on Agile ways of managing work, and would like to find opportunities to try Agile practices at CafeLatte on future work. You’ve been asked to provide guidance on the pros and cons of Agile vs. Waterfall work, and develop decision making guidance for future projects.
5. To complete this assignment:
   1. Develop a one-page summary of Agile vs. Traditional project management approaches, describing what type of work is a best fit for each approach.
   2. Develop simple guidance (one-page) providing decision criteria for using Agile vs. Traditional practices for future projects. This can be in the format of your choosing (a series of questions/criteria, a decision flow diagram or written in paragraphs).
6. Your submission should be a minimum of 350 words.
7. Review the rubric your instructor will use to evaluate the quality of your work and make improvements as needed to meet the expectations outlined.
8. When you have completed your assignment, save a copy for yourself, and submit a copy to your instructor by the end of the workshop by using the quick link or the Activities button.