Introduction: History, Philosophy and Principles Flashcards
What are the problems with waterfall?
- Prescriptive and bureaucratic
- 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.
- Customer may not even know what they wanted until they saw early prototypes.
What was created to alleviate the issues of waterfall?
RAD
What does RAD stand for/mean?
Rapid Application Development
How does RAD work?
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.
What was happening as RAD became more popular?
People started creating their own interpretations as there was no industry standard to define a RAD framework.
Why was DSDM created?
To create standardisation.
What does DSDM stand for?
Dynamic System Development Method
What are the lightweight methods?
DSDM, Extreme Programming (XP), Lean Development, Scrum
How was Agile created?
By a group of representatives from XP, Scrum and DSDM. They formed the Agile Alliance.
What does Agile value more; individuals and interactions or processes and tools?
Individuals and interactions.
What does Agile value more; working software or comprehensive documentation?
Working Software
What does Agile value more; customer collaboration or contract negotiation?
Customer Collaboration
What does Agile value more; responding to change or following a plan?
Responding to change
What did RAD provide?
Quick fixes
What are the problems with RAD?
- Issues around supportability and scalability of solutions.
- It’s application is heavily affected the quality of solutions as the design and analysis phases were cut out.
What is the latest version of DSDM?
DSDM Atern
What is the DSDM Philosophy?
“The best business value emerges when projects are aligned to clear business goals, deliver frequently and involve the collaboration of motivated and empowered people”
What does DSDM agree on very early in the project?
Timescale, costs and the quality standard
What is preferred over the late delivery of deliverables?
On-time delivery of a working but less than 100% solution.
If problems occur during the project what happens in order for deadlines to be achieved?
The less important features will be dropped because time and costs are fixed.
What approach does DSDM have?
Incremental and iterative
What is the worst case scenario in DSDM?
Delivery of a Minimum Usable Subset of requirement.
What is the expectation in DSDM?
To deliver more than the bare minimum
When does the development part of the less important requirements start?
Once the important requirements are built and achieved to the agreed level of quality.
What are the 8 principles of DSDM?
- Focus on Business Need
- Deliver on Time
- Collaborate
- Never Compromise Quality
- Build Incrementally from Firm Foundations
- Develop Iteratively
- Communicate Continuously and Clearly
- Demonstrate Control
Explain what is meant by focusing on business need.
Every decision needs to be reviewed from the perspective of the overarching project goal.
What is the overarching project goal?
To deliver the maximum benefit to the business in the shortest time possible.
How is time seen in DSDM?
As a non-negotiable.
What is the most important success factor?
Time
When is the level of quality that needs to be delivered agreed?
At the beginning
What does a ‘good enough’ solution mean?
When the business agrees the features in the Minimum Usable Subset meet the agreed acceptance criteria.
What is does Enough Design Up Front mean?
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.
What is the traditional approach to design?
Big Design Up Front
What is the Agile approach to design?
No Design Up Front
What does incremental delivery mean?
Real business benefits being delivered as early as possible.
What does DSDM rely on?
Iteration and embracing change?
What does demonstrating control ensure?
Transparency
What are the 6 instrumental success factors?
- Embracing the DSDM Approach
- Effective Solution Delivery Team
- Business Engagement - Active and Ongoing
- Iterative Development, Integrated Testing and Incremental Delivery
- Transparency
- The Project Approach Questionnaire
What is building an effective Solution Delivery Team based on?
Empowerment, Stability, Skills, Size
What does ensuring engagement rely on?
- Commitment of time and involvement throughout
- Day to day collaboration within business roles in the solution.
- Supportive commercial relationship
Why do timeboxes need to be structured?
So that each timebox delivers a potentially deployable increment of the solution.
When do you give demos?
At the end of each timebox which gives proof of progress.
What is the PAQ?
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.
When is the PAQ used?
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.
