Time-boxing In Scrum Projects

Instinctively, when we hear time-boxing or hear that a Project or activity is “Time-Boxed”, we consider rigidity. One of the most important factors in any Project has been Fixed. We have no freedom to request for an extra day, week or month to finish. We have less room to manoeuvre. If the Project is following…

Risk Management in an Agile Project

In a Conventional Project, Risk Management is the Responsibility of the Project Manager. Scope is typically limited to whether the Project comes in on Time and within Budget. There are other Risk Factors, such as Resource and Quality Management. An Agile Project does not have a Project Manager. This does not mean that there are…

Sprint Planning In Scrum Projects

The Planning Meeting is held at the start of a Sprint. A Sprint is an Iteration of Work to be accomplished during the Agile Project. Unlike other Ceremonies, like the 15 minute Daily Stand-up Meeting, the Sprint Planning Meeting is much longer. The Sprint Planning Meeting requires the Scrum Team to explore the prioritised Work…

Process Change In Scrum Projects

As with all Processes and Process Changes, to Manage them effectively, there needs to be a Process Owner. The Process Owner understands the Processes. Their Role is to ensure everyone adheres to the Processes and the processes are followed. The question emerges why, if all the Processes are described, why would the Require Change? To…

Risk Assessment in Scrum Projects

While Agile and Scrum are particularly targeted at Risk Assessment and the Minimizing of Risk. This does not mean that Risk to any Agile Project can be ignored. The Scrum Risk Management Process has much in common with most other Risk Management Frameworks. If your Company has embraced a specific Framework, it is recommended that…

Team Dynamics in Scrum Projects

How Teams Dynamics Evolve and Mature There are many Theories on Team Dynamics. Some Theories may be familiar, such as Belbin and Myers-Briggs, but the most frequently used Theory in Scrum is Tuckman’s. Bruce Tuckman Developed a Theory on how all Teams go through 4 stages of team development. The final stage being a High-Performing…

Agile Planning – Is that a Thing?

What is Agile Planning? First lets look at what planning is. Planning is an essential part of being human. We Plan for something that we either desire or anticipate to occur in the future. There are lots of forms of Plans. Budgeting is a Plan where we Estimate how much cash we are going to…

User Story Requirements & Agile

There is an art to writing Requirements into User Stories. Much of the literature on User Story requirements discusses the Product Owner as the crafter of Epics, and often User Stories. The Product Owner has typically Worked for the Company for a number of years and understands the Stakeholders. In turn, the Stakeholders understand him.…

Regression Testing in Agile Scrum Projects

Regression Testing is a form of Testing that ensures that this does not happen: ” Debugging – The Fine Art Of Fixing One Software Bug And Replacing It With Another”. After Testing a new Function, it is suggested to run a Test that covers both the new and existing Functionality. This ensures that the previously…

Acceptance Criteria & Testing User Stories

How does Acceptance Criteria help with the testing of User Stories? One of the main reasons for the growing popularity of Agile Project Management is the ability to meet Customer expectations. This is done firstly by stripping the proposed Product down to its essentials, leaving only what is known as the Minimum Viable Product. The…