PMAGILEIDEAS

Lead time refers to the amount of time it takes for a project to be finished after it has been initiated. This can be estimated, but unexpected issues or changes in objectives can cause it to deviate from the initial projection if proper measures are not taken. For instance, a customer is on leave and we need an important input from him to proceed further. In project management, lead time refers to the duration required for completing an entire project or a significant phase of it. In Kanban workflows, lead time encompasses all three columns labeled "To Do," "Work in Progress," and "Work Waiting for Next Steps" once the task is added to the board. However, please note lead time is different from cycle time in Kanban project management, as cycle time measures the time taken to complete a task once work has begun on it. Cycle time starts when work on a task begins, not when it is added to the board. Lag time refers to delays that occur between tasks, like ...

Did you know about the fascinating "3 P's" of Project Management ? Each one is distinct yet closely related to the others: Projects, Programs, and Portfolios. 1. Projects are temporary endeavors taken on by companies or organizations. These could involve creating a new product, service, or achieving a specific result. 2. Programs are groups of related projects managed together as a cohesive unit. 3. Portfolios encompass various programs and projects within an organization. These can be related or unrelated, but they align with the company's overall strategy. So, essentially, multiple projects make up programs, and multiple programs constitute portfolios. The Project Management Institute (PMI) defines project management as "Project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements." For Project Managers , the key task is to strike a balance between project scope (deliverables), ava...

Do you know what is the most important topic in Project Management ? No doubt, it is Stakeholder Management . The reason behind its significance lies in the complexity of understanding, capturing, and documenting project requirements. To truly comprehend these ideas, it becomes imperative to align them with the needs and expectations of all involved parties. And that's where the concept of stakeholders plays a crucial role. Stakeholders encompass individuals, groups, or organizations with an interest in the project, capable of influencing its outcome through resource mobilization. According to the PMI®, stakeholders are "individuals and organizations who are actively involved in the project or whose interests may be positively or negatively affected as a result of project execution or successful project completion." To effectively manage stakeholders, a thorough analysis is indispensable. This process involves gathering information about them and categorizing them based o...

Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development , proposed by psychologist Bruce Tuckman in 1965, is one of the most famous theories of team development. It describes four stages that teams may progress through: forming , storming , norming , and performing (a fifth stage was added later: adjourning ). This model describes the evolution of a team's dynamics and leadership style as it progresses through these developmental phases. Does Scrum Team also follow Tuckman's model? Yes. All teams, according to Tuckman's approach, must move through each stage before either dissolving or operating at their highest level of effectiveness. The team's maturity is a key factor in determining how quickly it moves through these stages. In Scrum, without proper coaching, not all teams can inevitably progress to the norming or performing stages so quickly. Accelerating the team's transition to the performing stage is one of the main goals of organizations when using Scrum or any other agile m...

Why is Scrum being used in your project❔ 👉 Scrum is an easy process : No, scrum has a unique process that is difficult to master. It is merely a different set of procedures from those you previously followed. Scrum has its own set of guidelines, so using it to simplify things is not an option. 👉 It cuts down on my meetings : Really? Scrum provides clear meeting rituals for teams. Instead of the previous Project Status Meeting, Defect Review Meeting, Go Live Planning Meeting, etc., you now have Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. If there are fewer meetings, it can be accomplished by adjusting your previous procedure as well. 👉 The teams are enjoying themselves without any stress : No way, scrum activities are time-boxed. Your teams must therefore advance to the point where they can collaborate across functional lines and operate under strict time constraints. 👉 Scrum needs no documentation : Scrum does not discourage documentation and documentatio...

What is the primary difference between an Agile Practitioner and an Agile Coach , a great question we hear in industry, right? It's true that Agile coaches and Agile practitioners have expertise in Agile methodologies, but an Agile practitioner primarily focuses on executing Agile practices within a team, while an Agile coach takes on a broader role in coaching and guiding teams and organizations through Agile adoption and transformation processes. Let's look at these roles in detail. An Agile practitioner possesses advanced skills in Agile methodologies, embracing change and seizing new opportunities. They adhere to the values and principles outlined in the Agile Manifesto and have a comprehensive understanding of various Agile frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban, and XP. They leverage their expertise to advise teams on best Agile practices and provide guidance throughout the transition process. By assessing the team's current work model and identifying areas for improvem...

The difference between the roles of a Project Manager and a Scrum Master (Servant Leader or True Leader) , has become an intriguing and hotly debated subject with the rise of agile techniques and practices. The function of a project manager has changed throughout time as the modern workplace undergoes transformational changes with an emphasis on open culture, innovation, and regular delivery. Let's examine the core of these jobs, their duties, and their distinguishing traits, going beyond simple labels, in order to fully understand this progression. Compared to leadership, management has a more technical and conceptual viewpoint. It functions in a mechanical environment and is mostly focused on duties, control, and the accomplishment of the organization's vision. Delivery on time, control, effectiveness, speed, command, and doing things properly are priorities for management. It emphasizes following established protocols and is process-oriented. In order to create win-win scen...

Let's discuss 3 scrum anti-patterns, most Agile practitioners argue there is nothing like these 3 in scrum. But unfortunately, something like this exists. Sprint 0 , Hardening Sprint , and Release Sprint are terms used in the context of Agile software development methodologies. While these terms may be used by some teams or organizations, they are not universally recognized or endorsed by all Agile practitioners. Let's examine each of these terms individually: 1. Sprint 0 : Sprint 0 is sometimes used to refer to the initial phase of a project where the team sets up and prepares for the upcoming sprints. This phase typically involves activities such as project planning, defining the backlog, setting up the development environment, other infrastructure, training of tools, and establishing team roles and responsibilities. In Scrum, each sprint is expected to deliver a potentially releasable increment of product functionality hence it is definitely an anti-pattern. 2. Hardening Sp...

In the realm of project management, where success and organization intertwine, it is vital to recognize the equal importance of cybersecurity . For years, cybersecurity has remained a pressing concern for organizations worldwide, fueled by the rise of cybercrimes and complex, devastating attacks recently. Therefore, project managers must remain ever watchful, staying abreast of security threats and trends. Let us now take a quick glimpse into the cybersecurity essentials. Embedding Security at Every Stage : Throughout the various stages of project management, security stands as a vital element. 1. Defining Project Requirements : Security considerations should be integrated from the outset to protect sensitive data collected and stored. 2. Technical Planning : A comprehensive project execution plan is outlined, taking security into account. 3. Resource Management : Budget estimation, team and time management, and risk assessment are vital components that should incorporate security cons...

Scope creep , sometimes known as "requirement creep" or "feature creep" describes the phenomenon of project requirements expanding beyond their original scope as the project progresses. This expansion can manifest in various ways, such as transforming a single deliverable into multiple ones, increasing the essential features of a product from five to ten, or reevaluating requirements due to changing customer needs. So let's explore the causes of scope creep and check practical tips for preventing it. While scope creep can lead to delays and additional costs, it is not always detrimental. Customers' needs may evolve over time, necessitating adjustments to the project scope. Consequently, a competent project manager should anticipate and prepare for scope changes. Managing project scope involves implementing controlled and documented procedures for incorporating changes, rather than allowing uncontrolled creep to occur. Monitoring and controlling project chang...