Agile Practice- Chapter 3

Question 1

Life Cycle Selection

Answer 1

Approach used based on the project

Question 2

Predictive Life Cycle

Answer 2

Traditional approach with the bulk of the work done upfront, then executing in a single pass; Activities performed in a single pass

There can be projects with a predominantly predictive approach with some elements of agile.
Example- An engineering firm that is building a facility with a new component. The majority of the project is routine and predictable; incorporating a new component (roofing material) would mean an agile approach (iterative) to test the roofing material

Question 3

Characteristics of Predictive Life Cycle
(Non-Agile Approach)

Answer 3

1. Low risk
2. Stable Team
3. Requirements are firm
4. Single Delivery
   Goal- Manage Cost

Question 4

Predictive Life Cycle Model

Answer 4

Analyze-Design-Build-Test-Deliver

Question 5

Iterative Life Cycle- Flow

Answer 5

Allows feedback for unfinished work to improve and modify that work; it allows feedback on partially completed or unfinished work

Question 6

Characteristics of Iterative Life Cycle

Answer 6

1. Improve the product or result through successive prototypes or proofs of concepts
2. Each prototype yields stakeholder feedback and team insights
3. Team incorporates new information by repeating one or more projects into the next cycle
4. High complexity projects
5. Frequent changes
6. Scope is subject to differing stakeholder’s views of the final project
7. Takes longer

Question 7

Iterative Life Cycle- Flow

Answer 7

Analyze- Analyze Design (Prototype)-Build/Test (Refine)- Deliver

Question 8

Incremental Life Cycle

Answer 8

Provides finished deliverables that the customer may be able to use immediately

Increment- A functional , tested and accepted deliverable that is a subset of an overall project

Question 9

Incremental Life Cycle Characteristics

Answer 9

1 Performed once for a given increment
2. Frequent smaller deliveries
3. Optimizes work by delivering value to sponsors/customers more often than a single final product
4. Plan initial deliverable before beginning their work and they begin work on that first delivery as soon as possible

Goal- Speed; businesses can’t afford to wait until everything is finished. Customers are willing to receive a subset of the final project.

Question 10

Incremental Life Cycle-Flow

Answer 10

Analyze Analyze Analyze
Design Design Design
Build Build Build
Test Test Test
Deliver Deliver Deliver

Question 11

Agile Life Cycle

Answer 11

An approach that is both iterative and incremental to refine work items and deliver frequently

Agile approaches can have predictive components.

Example- A particular element is non-negotiable or not executable using an agile approach. Integrating an external component developed by a different vendor that can’t or will not partner in an incremental way. Especially if a single integration is required.

Question 12

Agile Life Cycle Characteristics

Answer 12

1. Repeated until correct
2. Frequent small deliveries
3. Iterate over the product to create finished deliverables
4. Team gains early feedback and provides customer visibility, confidence, and control of the product
5. Team can release earlier; project may provide early return on investment because the team delivers the highest value work first
6. Team expects requirements to change
7. Delivery uncovers hidden or misunderstood requirements

Question 13

Agile Iteration Based Life Cycle- Flow

Answer 13

Requirements
Analysis
Design
Build
Test

Each timebox is the same size and results in working tested features. The cycle repeats as needed.

Question 13

Agile Flow-Based Life Cycle- Flow

Answer 13

Requirements
Analysis
Design
Build
Test

Each timebox is different. In the flow, the time it takes to complete a feature is not the same for each feature. Work in progress (WIP) limits set the amount of work that can exist in a work flow.

Question 14

Assessment Models

Answer 14

Exist to help determine the likely fit or gaps for using agile approaches

These should be completed as a group.

Small group should consist of sponsor, technical lead, and customer.

Large group should consist of sponsoring group, project execution team, impacted business groups, governance group, customer community

It is important to follow the consensus.

Question 14

Dynamic Systems Development Method
(DSDM)

Answer 14

Questionnaire and organizational suitability to gauge likely fit and problem areas

Question 14

Crystal

Answer 14

Ranks projects by size and the criticality of the product or service being developed.
- less critical; smaller projects with lighter controls and simpler approaches
- large mission or life critical projects; use more rigor and validation

Question 15

Agile Approach Assessment

Answer 15

1. Culture- Is there a supportive environment with buy-in for the approach & team trust
2. Team- Is the team of suitable size to be successful in adopting agile? Is the team experienced? Is there access to business representatives?
3. Project- Are there high rates of change? Is incremental delivery possible? How critical is the project?

Question 15

Hybrid Life Cycle Examples

Answer 15

Campus Construction Project
Incremental Approach- Completing some buildings earlier than others. Each individual delivery may be well known (predictive)

Question 15

Questions that should be asked before determining which approach to use

Answer 15

1. How can we be most successful?
2. Is feedback necessary as the team produces value?
   (If yes, incremental life cycle)
3. Is it necessary to manage risk as ideas are explored?
   (If yes, iterative life cycle or agile.)

When the organization can’t deliver intermediate value, agile approaches may not be useful.