Introduction: History, Philosophy and Principles

Question 1

What are the problems with waterfall?

Answer 1

1. Prescriptive and bureaucratic
2. Problems/errors/good ideas that came up later become difficult to overcome or incorporate, as it would result to re-opening earlier stages that had already been closed down.
3. Customer may not even know what they wanted until they saw early prototypes.

Question 2

What was created to alleviate the issues of waterfall?

Answer 2

RAD

Question 3

What does RAD stand for/mean?

Answer 3

Rapid Application Development

Question 4

How does RAD work?

Answer 4

It minimises up front planning and design to prototyping comes in earlier. It uses an iterative cycle to develop and refine the solution to meet the business need as quick as possible.

Question 5

What was happening as RAD became more popular?

Answer 5

People started creating their own interpretations as there was no industry standard to define a RAD framework.

Question 6

Why was DSDM created?

Answer 6

To create standardisation.

Question 7

What does DSDM stand for?

Answer 7

Dynamic System Development Method

Question 8

What are the lightweight methods?

Answer 8

DSDM, Extreme Programming (XP), Lean Development, Scrum

Question 9

How was Agile created?

Answer 9

By a group of representatives from XP, Scrum and DSDM. They formed the Agile Alliance.

Question 10

What does Agile value more; individuals and interactions or processes and tools?

Answer 10

Individuals and interactions.

Question 11

What does Agile value more; working software or comprehensive documentation?

Answer 11

Working Software

Question 12

What does Agile value more; customer collaboration or contract negotiation?

Answer 12

Customer Collaboration

Question 13

What does Agile value more; responding to change or following a plan?

Answer 13

Responding to change

Question 14

What did RAD provide?

Answer 14

Quick fixes

Question 15

What are the problems with RAD?

Answer 15

1. Issues around supportability and scalability of solutions.
2. It’s application is heavily affected the quality of solutions as the design and analysis phases were cut out.

Question 16

What is the latest version of DSDM?

Answer 16

DSDM Atern

Question 17

What is the DSDM Philosophy?

Answer 17

“The best business value emerges when projects are aligned to clear business goals, deliver frequently and involve the collaboration of motivated and empowered people”

Question 18

What does DSDM agree on very early in the project?

Answer 18

Timescale, costs and the quality standard

Question 19

What is preferred over the late delivery of deliverables?

Answer 19

On-time delivery of a working but less than 100% solution.

Question 20

If problems occur during the project what happens in order for deadlines to be achieved?

Answer 20

The less important features will be dropped because time and costs are fixed.

Question 21

What approach does DSDM have?

Answer 21

Incremental and iterative

Question 22

What is the worst case scenario in DSDM?

Answer 22

Delivery of a Minimum Usable Subset of requirement.

Question 23

What is the expectation in DSDM?

Answer 23

To deliver more than the bare minimum

Question 24

When does the development part of the less important requirements start?

Answer 24

Once the important requirements are built and achieved to the agreed level of quality.

Question 25

What are the 8 principles of DSDM?

Answer 25

1. Focus on Business Need 2. Deliver on Time 3. Collaborate 4. Never Compromise Quality 5. Build Incrementally from Firm Foundations 6. Develop Iteratively 7. Communicate Continuously and Clearly 8. Demonstrate Control

Question 26

Explain what is meant by focusing on business need.

Answer 26

Every decision needs to be reviewed from the perspective of the overarching project goal.

Question 27

What is the overarching project goal?

Answer 27

To deliver the maximum benefit to the business in the shortest time possible.

Question 28

How is time seen in DSDM?

Answer 28

As a non-negotiable.

Question 29

What is the most important success factor?

Answer 29

Time

Question 30

When is the level of quality that needs to be delivered agreed?

Answer 30

At the beginning

Question 31

What does a 'good enough' solution mean?

Answer 31

When the business agrees the features in the Minimum Usable Subset meet the agreed acceptance criteria.

Question 32

What is does Enough Design Up Front mean?

Answer 32

Get the basic version of the product working ASAP, show the stakeholders and based on their feedback, refine and improve the product until it satisfies the business need.

Question 33

What is the traditional approach to design?

Answer 33

Big Design Up Front

Question 34

What is the Agile approach to design?

Answer 34

No Design Up Front

Question 35

What does incremental delivery mean?

Answer 35

Real business benefits being delivered as early as possible.

Question 36

What does DSDM rely on?

Answer 36

Iteration and embracing change?

Question 37

What does demonstrating control ensure?

Answer 37

Transparency

Question 38

What are the 6 instrumental success factors?

Answer 38

1. Embracing the DSDM Approach 2. Effective Solution Delivery Team 3. Business Engagement - Active and Ongoing 4. Iterative Development, Integrated Testing and Incremental Delivery 5. Transparency 6. The Project Approach Questionnaire

Question 39

What is building an effective Solution Delivery Team based on?

Answer 39

Empowerment, Stability, Skills, Size

Question 40

What does ensuring engagement rely on?

Answer 40

1. Commitment of time and involvement throughout 2. Day to day collaboration within business roles in the solution. 3. Supportive commercial relationship

Question 41

Why do timeboxes need to be structured?

Answer 41

So that each timebox delivers a potentially deployable increment of the solution.

Question 42

When do you give demos?

Answer 42

At the end of each timebox which gives proof of progress.

Question 43

What is the PAQ?

Answer 43

A simple checklist that is used to assess if the other success factors are likely to be met or if actions need to be taken to counter the risks that may come up from them being unfulfilled.

Question 44

When is the PAQ used?

Answer 44

1st during the Feasibility phase of the project to help shape the Foundation phase. AND THEN towards the end of the Foundations phase to help finalise.