Agile Project Management Lecture Overview

Introduction

• Covered foundations of project management: initiation, planning, execution, closing
• Tools and techniques for managing and communicating plans
• Addressing challenges, risks, and issues

Agile Approach Overview

• Agile: Not a specific methodology, but an overarching approach/philosophy
• Focus on delivering value to customers
• Flexible and adaptive
• Course will provide history of Agile and introduce Scrum framework

Speaker Introduction

• Name: Sue, Senior Technical Program Manager at Google
• Experience since 2014 at Google, with background in software engineering
• Passion for program management with an emphasis on Agile

Comparison with Traditional Waterfall

• Waterfall: Sequential/linear phases, predictable but rigid
• Agile: Iterative and flexible, embraces change and user feedback
• Agile encourages moving and adapting quickly
• Agile projects work in iterations with continuous feedback

History of Agile

• Emerged in 1990s due to rapid software industry growth
• Agile Manifesto created in 2001 to focus on flexibility and user needs
• Agile values and principles applicable beyond software, e.g., manufacturing, education, healthcare

Agile vs Waterfall on Key Aspects

• Requirements: Waterfall has static, predefined, while Agile is dynamic and flexible
• Documentation: Extensive in Waterfall vs. minimal and just-in-time in Agile
• Deliverables: Major release at end in Waterfall vs. continuous small releases in Agile

Agile Manifesto

• Four Values:
  1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
  2. Working software over comprehensive documentation
  3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
  4. Responding to change over following a plan
• Emphasizes balance but prioritizes items on the left (values)

Agile Principles and Themes

• Themes: Value delivery, Business collaboration, Team culture, Retrospectives
• Principles grouped under these themes provide guidelines for Agile practice
• Emphasis on delivering value quickly, collaboration, team dynamics, and continuous improvement

VUCA Environment

• VUCA: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity
• VUCA environments suit Agile methods due to need for flexibility and quick adaptation

Office Green Case Study

• Office Green company adopting Agile to respond to market change towards home office setups
• Environment faces VUCA conditions, suitable for Agile approach with flexible project management

Agile Methodologies

• Scrum: Popular, structured Agile framework
  • Key concepts: Backlog, Sprint, Daily Scrum, Scrum Master, Product Owner, Development Team
• Kanban: Focuses on visualization and flow with WIP limits and efficiency optimization
• Extreme Programming (XP): Enhances product development best practices to extreme levels
  • Practices: Pair programming, continuous integration, simple design
• Lean: Focuses on eliminating waste and delivering customer value

Blending Agile and Waterfall

• Use blended methods when project requirements or team dynamics benefit from both approaches
• Examples: Scrum with Kanban boards, combining budget management with Agile flexibility

Conclusion

• Agile as both mindset and methodology
• Importance of blending methods where applicable
• Encouragement to apply Agile principles even in Waterfall contexts