Agile Manifesto & Agile doesn't fit everywhere

Question 1

Agile manifesto

Answer 1

Agreed upon a set of agile values and principles. (4 values and 12 clarifying principles, along with core practices)

Question 2

When might it make more sense to use an agile approach?

Answer 2

When there is a high uncertainty of work.

Question 3

Stacey complexity model

Answer 3

The Stacey Complexity Model helps determine the best approach to decision-making and management based on the level of certainty and agreement about a project or problem. It divides scenarios into four zones. This model helps identify when traditional project management works versus when adaptive, flexible methods are needed. (tech vs requirement uncertainty)

Question 4

Simple zone (Stacey model)

Answer 4

High certainty and agreement. Use standard processes and best practices.

Question 5

Complicated zone

Answer 5

Certainty is high, but agreement requires expert analysis. Use expert judgment and structured approaches.

Question 6

Complex zone

Answer 6

Low certainty and agreement. Use iterative methods (e.g., Agile) and experimentation.

Question 7

Chaotic zone

Answer 7

No certainty or agreement. Immediate action is required to stabilize the situation before planning.

Question 8

Predictive (waterfall) approach

Answer 8

The frequency of delivery is low, and the degree of change is low. Fixed requirements, activities performed once for the entire project, single delivery, the goal is to manage cost.

Question 9

Iterative approach

Answer 9

We get feedback all the time. Deliveries are low-frequency and high-degree of change. Dynamic requirements and activities are repeated until correct, and there is a single delivery. The goal is the correctness of the solution. Practical when a product or result must go through successive prototypes or proofs of concept before final release.

Question 10

Incremental approach

Answer 10

Delivering in increments. High degree of delivery and low degree of change. Dynamic requirements, activities performed once for a given increment, frequent smaller deliveries, goal is speed.

Question 11

Adaptive (Agile) approach

Answer 11

The frequency of delivery is high, and the degree of change is high. Dynamic requirements and activities are repeated until correct, with frequent small deliveries and customer value via frequent deliveries and feedback.

Question 12

Hybrid approach

Answer 12

A mix of various approaches with retrospectives. It may be used as a transition strategy to a different approach. Uses some parts of predictive and some parts of agile.

Question 13

Retrospective

Answer 13

A structured meeting held at the end of a project or a specific project phase (common in Agile/Scrum) to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and how processes can improve in the future.

Question 14

Mostly agile with some predictive (hybrid)

Answer 14

Integrating an external component developed in full by an external vendor means that a single iteration might be required after their component is delivered.

Question 15

Mostly waterfall with some agile

Answer 15

Delivering a straightforward project but trialing a new material in incremental releases.

Question 16

A combined predictive and agile approach

Answer 16

A linear project, where tasks are tracked using Kanban and daily scrums are used for updating work.

Question 17

Issue: Demand pattern is sporadic

Answer 17

Build in a cadence (sprint or regular timebox) to help the team demo, retrospect, and take in new work.

Question 18

Issue: A new team who needs process improvement

Answer 18

Retrospect more often and select improvements

Question 19

Issue: Flow of work is often delayed or interrupted

Answer 19

Make the work visible using Kanban boards, and limit the work in progress.

Question 20

Issue: Quality of deliverables is poor

Answer 20

Consider using the Test Driven Development practices (test-first), finding the root cause through retrospectives and error-proofing.

Question 21

Issue: More than one team is needed to build a product

Answer 21

Use Agile scaling frameworks, starting with Scrum of Scrums.

Question 22

Issue: Team is new to Agile approaches

Answer 22

Start by training team members in Fundamentals of the Agile mindset and principles. Workshop a specific approach once chosen.