The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility

The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility
Author :
Publisher : Addison-Wesley Professional
Total Pages : 387
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780132702591
ISBN-13 : 0132702592
Rating : 4/5 (91 Downloads)

Synopsis The Software Project Manager's Bridge to Agility by : Michele Sliger

When software development teams move to agile methods, experienced project managers often struggle—doubtful about the new approach and uncertain about their new roles and responsibilities. In this book, two long-time certified Project Management Professionals (PMPRs) and Scrum trainers have built a bridge to this dynamic new paradigm. They show experienced project managers how to successfully transition to agile by refocusing on facilitation and collaboration, not “command and control.” The authors begin by explaining how agile works: how it differs from traditional “plan-driven” methodologies, the benefits it promises, and the real-world results it delivers. Next, they systematically map the Project Management Institute’s classic, methodology-independent techniques and terminology to agile practices. They cover both process and project lifecycles and carefully address vital issues ranging from scope and time to cost management and stakeholder communication. Finally, drawing on their own extensive personal experience, they put a human face on your personal transition to agile--covering the emotional challenges, personal values, and key leadership traits you’ll need to succeed. Coverage includes Relating the PMBOKR Guide ideals to agile practices: similarities, overlaps, and differences Understanding the role and value of agile techniques such as iteration/release planning and retrospectives Using agile techniques to systematically and continually reduce risk Implementing quality assurance (QA) where it belongs: in analysis, design, defect prevention, and continuous improvement Learning to trust your teams and listen for their discoveries Procuring, purchasing, and contracting for software in agile, collaborative environments Avoiding the common mistakes software teams make in transitioning to agile Coordinating with project management offices and non-agile teams “Selling” agile within your teams and throughout your organization For every project manager who wants to become more agile. Part I An Agile Overview 7 Chapter 1 What is "Agile"? 9 Chapter 2 Mapping from the PMBOKR Guide to Agile 25 Chapter 3 The Agile Project Lifecycle in Detail 37 Part II The Bridge: Relating PMBOKR Guide Practices to Agile Practices 49 Chapter 4 Integration Management 51 Chapter 5 Scope Management 67 Chapter 6 Time Management 83 Chapter 7 Cost Management 111 Chapter 8 Quality Management 129 Chapter 9 Human Resources Management 143 Chapter 10 Communications Management 159 Chapter 11 Risk Management 177 Chapter 12 Procurement Management 197 Part III Crossing the Bridge to Agile 215 Chapter 13 How Will My Responsibilities Change? 217 Chapter 14 How Will I Work with Other Teams Who Aren't Agile? 233 Chapter 15 How Can a Project Management Office Support Agile? 249 Chapter 16 Selling the Benefits of Agile 265 Chapter 17 Common Mistakes 285 Appendix A Agile Methodologies 295 Appendix B Agile Artifacts 301 Glossary 321 Bibliography 327 Index 333

Agile Project Management

Agile Project Management
Author :
Publisher : Pearson Education
Total Pages : 666
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780321659170
ISBN-13 : 0321659171
Rating : 4/5 (70 Downloads)

Synopsis Agile Project Management by : Jim Highsmith

Best practices for managing projects in agile environments—now updated with new techniques for larger projects Today, the pace of project management moves faster. Project management needs to become more flexible and far more responsive to customers. Using Agile Project Management (APM), project managers can achieve all these goals without compromising value, quality, or business discipline. In Agile Project Management, Second Edition, renowned agile pioneer Jim Highsmith thoroughly updates his classic guide to APM, extending and refining it to support even the largest projects and organizations. Writing for project leaders, managers, and executives at all levels, Highsmith integrates the best project management, product management, and software development practices into an overall framework designed to support unprecedented speed and mobility. The many topics added in this new edition include incorporating agile values, scaling agile projects, release planning, portfolio governance, and enhancing organizational agility. Project and business leaders will especially appreciate Highsmith’s new coverage of promoting agility through performance measurements based on value, quality, and constraints. This edition’s coverage includes: Understanding the agile revolution’s impact on product development Recognizing when agile methods will work in project management, and when they won’t Setting realistic business objectives for Agile Project Management Promoting agile values and principles across the organization Utilizing a proven Agile Enterprise Framework that encompasses governance, project and iteration management, and technical practices Optimizing all five stages of the agile project: Envision, Speculate, Explore, Adapt, and Close Organizational and product-related processes for scaling agile to the largest projects and teams Agile project governance solutions for executives and management The “Agile Triangle”: measuring performance in ways that encourage agility instead of discouraging it The changing role of the agile project leader

Elements of Software Project Management

Elements of Software Project Management
Author :
Publisher : PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.
Total Pages : 252
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9788120341616
ISBN-13 : 8120341619
Rating : 4/5 (16 Downloads)

Synopsis Elements of Software Project Management by : G. P. Sudhakar

Project management requires immense skills to achieve the end-result. But sometimes lack of project management skills results in failures. It is therefore, essential to study the basic features of project management. This book is a contribution towards that goal. Divided into three sections--introduction, people-related aspects or human resources and advanced topics--the book brings forth the inside-story of the software project management in an IT company. The simple descriptive style of presentation will enable any beginner to get a clear picture of the procedures that are followed in the IT companies. Intended for undergraduate and postgraduate students of computer science and engineering, this textbook will also be useful for many software engineers and professionals dominating the hierarchy of the IT industry. Key Features: Review Questions to grasp the topics easily Quiz Questions to reinforce the understanding of the subject Relevant Case Studies depicting various situations and the necessary actions and decisions to be taken.

Managing Agile Projects

Managing Agile Projects
Author :
Publisher : Pearson
Total Pages : 272
Release :
ISBN-10 : UOM:39015061428820
ISBN-13 :
Rating : 4/5 (20 Downloads)

Synopsis Managing Agile Projects by : Sanjiv Augustine

Your Hands-On, "In-the-Trenches" Guide to Successfully Leading AgileProjectsAgile methods promise to infuse development with unprecedented flexibility, speed, and valueand these promises are attracting IT organizations worldwide. However, agile methods often fail to clearly define the manager s role, and many managers have been reluctant to buy in. Now, expert project manager Sanjiv Augustine introduces agility "from the manager s point of view, offering a proven management framework that addresses everything from team building to project control. Augustine bridges the disconnect between the assumptions and techniques of traditional and agile management, demonstrating why agility is better aligned with today s project realities, and how to simplify your transition. Using a detailed case study, he shows how agile methods can scale to succeed in even the largest projects: Defining a high-value role for the manager in agile project environmentsRefocusing on "outcomes--not rigid plans, processes, or controlsStructuring and building adaptive, self-organizing "organic teams"Forming a guiding vision that aligns your team behind a common purposeEmpowering your team with the information it needs to succeedManaging the flow of customer value from one creative stage to the nextLeveraging your team members strengths as "whole persons"Implementing full-life-cycle agility: from planning and coding to maintenance and knowledge transfer Customizing agile methods to your unique environmentBecoming an "adaptive leader" who can inspire and energize agile teams Whether you re a technical or business manager, "Managing Agile Projectsgives you all the tools you need to implement agility in "your environmentand reap its full benefits. "Managing Agile Projects is part of the Robert C. Martin series.(c) Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Agile Project Management

Agile Project Management
Author :
Publisher : Pearson Education
Total Pages : 484
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780321630025
ISBN-13 : 0321630025
Rating : 4/5 (25 Downloads)

Synopsis Agile Project Management by : Jim Highsmith

Please note - there is now a second edition of this book available, with the ISBN of 0321658396. “Jim Highsmith is one of a few modern writers who are helping us understand the new nature of work in the knowledge economy.” —Rob Austin, Assistant Professor, Harvard Business School “This is the project management book we’ve all been waiting for—the book that effectively combines Agile methods and rigorous project management. Not only does this book help us make sense of project management in this current world of iterative, incremental Agile methods, but it’s an all-around good read!” —Lynne Ellen, Sr. VP & CIO, DTE Energy “Finally a book that reconciles the passion of the Agile Software movement with the needed disciplines of project management. Jim’s book has provided a service to all of us.” —Neville R(oy) Singham, CEO, ThoughtWorks, Inc. “The world of product development is becoming more dynamic and uncertain. Many managers cope by reinforcing processes, adding documentation, or further honing costs. This isn’t working. Highsmith brilliantly guides us into an alternative that fits the times.” —Preston G. Smith, principal, New Product Dynamics/coauthor, Developing Products in Half the Time One of the field’s leading experts brings together all the knowledge and resources you need to use APM in your next project. Jim Highsmith shows why APM should be in every manager’s toolkit, thoroughly addressing the questions project managers raise about Agile approaches. He systematically introduces the five-phase APM framework, then presents specific, proven tools for every project participant. Coverage includes: Six principles of Agile Project Management How to capitalize on emerging new product development technologies Putting customers at the center of your project, where they belong Creating adaptive teams that respond quickly to changes in your project’s “ecosystem” Which projects will benefit from APM—and which won’t APM’s five phases: Envision, Speculate, Explore, Adapt, Close APM practices, including the Product Vision Box and Project Data Sheet Leveraging your PMI skills in Agile environments Scaling APM to larger projects and teams For every project manager, team leader, and team member

The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile

The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile
Author :
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages : 432
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781118991046
ISBN-13 : 1118991044
Rating : 4/5 (46 Downloads)

Synopsis The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile by : Charles G. Cobb

Streamline project workflow with expert agile implementation The Project Management Profession is beginning to go through rapid and profound transformation due to the widespread adoption of agile methodologies. Those changes are likely to dramatically change the role of project managers in many environments as we have known them and raise the bar for the entire project management profession; however, we are in the early stages of that transformation and there is a lot of confusion about the impact it has on project managers: There are many stereotypes and misconceptions that exist about both Agile and traditional plan-driven project management, Agile and traditional project management principles and practices are treated as separate and independent domains of knowledge with little or no integration between the two and sometimes seen as in conflict with each other Agile and "Waterfall" are thought of as two binary, mutually-exclusive choices and companies sometimes try to force-fit their business and projects to one of those extremes when the right solution is to fit the approach to the project It’s no wonder that many Project Managers might be confused by all of this! This book will help project managers unravel a lot of the confusion that exists; develop a totally new perspective to see Agile and traditional plan-driven project management principles and practices in a new light as complementary to each other rather than competitive; and learn to develop an adaptive approach to blend those principles and practices together in the right proportions to fit any situation. There are many books on Agile and many books on traditional project management but what’s very unique about this book is that it takes an objective approach to help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of both of those areas to see how they can work synergistically to improve project outcomes in any project. The book includes discussion topics, real world case studies, and sample enterprise-level agile frameworks that facilitate hands-on learning as well as an in-depth discussion of the principles behind both Agile and traditional plan-driven project management practices to provide a more thorough level of understanding.

Agile Portfolio Management

Agile Portfolio Management
Author :
Publisher : Microsoft Press
Total Pages : 294
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780735638488
ISBN-13 : 0735638489
Rating : 4/5 (88 Downloads)

Synopsis Agile Portfolio Management by : Jochen Krebs

Agile development processes foster better collaboration, innovation, and results. So why limit their use to software projects—when you can transform your entire business? Written by agile-mentoring expert Jochen Krebs, this book illuminates the opportunities—and rewards—of applying agile processes to your overall IT portfolio. Whether project manager, business analyst, or executive—you’ll understand the business drivers behind agile portfolio management. And learn best practices for optimizing results. Use agile processes to align IT and business strategy Adapt and extend core agile processes Orchestrate the collaboration between IT and business vision Eliminate wish-list driven requirements, and manage expectations instead Optimize the balance of projects, resources, and assets in your portfolio Use metrics to communicate project status, quality, even team morale Create a portfolio strategy consistent with the goals of the organization Achieve organizational and process transparency Manage your business with agility—and help maximize the returns!

Agile Project Management with Scrum

Agile Project Management with Scrum
Author :
Publisher : Microsoft Press
Total Pages : 214
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780735637900
ISBN-13 : 0735637903
Rating : 4/5 (00 Downloads)

Synopsis Agile Project Management with Scrum by : Ken Schwaber

The rules and practices for Scrum—a simple process for managing complex projects—are few, straightforward, and easy to learn. But Scrum’s simplicity itself—its lack of prescription—can be disarming, and new practitioners often find themselves reverting to old project management habits and tools and yielding lesser results. In this illuminating series of case studies, Scrum co-creator and evangelist Ken Schwaber identifies the real-world lessons—the successes and failures—culled from his years of experience coaching companies in agile project management. Through them, you’ll understand how to use Scrum to solve complex problems and drive better results—delivering more valuable software faster. Gain the foundation in Scrum theory—and practice—you need to: Rein in even the most complex, unwieldy projects Effectively manage unknown or changing product requirements Simplify the chain of command with self-managing development teams Receive clearer specifications—and feedback—from customers Greatly reduce project planning time and required tools Build—and release—products in 30-day cycles so clients get deliverables earlier Avoid missteps by regularly inspecting, reporting on, and fine-tuning projects Support multiple teams working on a large-scale project from many geographic locations Maximize return on investment!

Integrating CMMI and Agile Development

Integrating CMMI and Agile Development
Author :
Publisher : Pearson Education
Total Pages : 565
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780132172752
ISBN-13 : 0132172755
Rating : 4/5 (52 Downloads)

Synopsis Integrating CMMI and Agile Development by : Paul E. McMahon

Many organizations that have improved process maturity through Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI®) now also want greater agility. Conversely, many organizations that are succeeding with Agile methods now want the benefits of more mature processes. The solution is to integrate CMMI and Agile. Integrating CMMI® and Agile Development offers broad guidance for melding these process improvement methodologies. It presents six detailed case studies, along with essential real-world lessons, big-picture insights, and mistakes to avoid. Drawing on decades of process improvement experience, author Paul McMahon explains how combining an Agile approach with the CMMI process improvement framework is the fastest, most effective way to achieve your business objectives. He offers practical, proven techniques for CMMI and Agile integration, including new ways to extend Agile into system engineering and project management and to optimize performance by focusing on your organization’s unique, culture-related weaknesses.

Managing Iterative Software Development Projects

Managing Iterative Software Development Projects
Author :
Publisher : Addison-Wesley Professional
Total Pages : 670
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780132702560
ISBN-13 : 0132702568
Rating : 4/5 (60 Downloads)

Synopsis Managing Iterative Software Development Projects by : Kurt Bittner

The Practical, Start-to-Finish Guide to Planning and Leading Iterative Software Projects Iterative processes have gained widespread acceptance because they help software developers reduce risk and cost, manage change, improve productivity, and deliver more effective, timely solutions. But conventional project management techniques don’t work well in iterative projects, and newer iterative management techniques have been poorly documented. Managing Iterative Software Development Projects is the solution: a relentlessly practical guide to planning, organizing, estimating, staffing, and managing any iterative project, from start to finish. Leading iterative development experts Kurt Bittner and Ian Spence introduce a proven, scalable approach that improves both agility and control at the same time, satisfying the needs of developers, managers, and the business alike. Their techniques are easy to understand, and easy to use with any iterative methodology, from Rational Unified Process to Extreme Programming to the Microsoft Solutions Framework. Whatever your role–team leader, program manager, project manager, developer, sponsor, or user representative–this book will help you Understand the key drivers of success in iterative projects Leverage “time boxing” to define project lifecycles and measure results Use Unified Process phases to facilitate controlled iterative development Master core concepts of iterative project management, including layering and evolution Create project roadmaps, including release plans Discover key patterns of risk management, estimation, organization, and iteration planning Understand what must be controlled centrally, and what you can safely delegate Transition smoothly to iterative processes Scale iterative project management from the smallest to the largest projects Align software investments with the needs of the business Whether you are interested in software development using RUP, OpenUP, or other agile processes, this book will help you reduce the anxiety and cost associated with software improvement by providing an easy, non-intrusive path toward improved results–without overwhelming you and your team.