Information comes at us so fast and furious these days that looking at new
books on Amazon.com is actually a good practice for learning about new, hot
topics such as Agile PM. The single best book, arguably, to come out to date on
how PMBOK-schooled adn practiced PM’s can best make the transition to Agile PM
and/or learn some new tricks from Agile PM is The Software Project
Manager’s Bridge to Agility. Click on the link below to see the Amazon.com page
o this book:
Note: This book is amoong the required readings for
candidates studying for the PMI-ACP certification from PMI. The PMI-ACP is the
leading industry certification in Agile PM, along with the ScrumMaster
certification.
To complete this conference, you need to do two things:
1) Read over the information at the above link and “look
inside” the book’s table of contents by clicking on the book image,
and tell me why or why not this books appeals to you. Then find the single piece
of information on this page that potentially helps you most in preparing for
doing Scenario 2, in which you read two short articles and write an email of
your analysis relative to which projects are best completed using PMBOK and
which projects are best with Agile PM techniques. Describe in this first
response, after you discuss the book’s appeal to you, which information may be
of most value to you in successfully executing Scenario 2.
2) Search the web for this book and its authors
(Sliger/Broderick). Write a literature review entry consisting of the source
you referenced and 50+ words summarizing what the source is saying about this
book. Then describe in 50+ words what this tells you about how PMBOK and Agile
PM techniques compare with each other OR what was said about one of the these
two PM techniques.
Scenario 2 for your reference:
Scenario #2 (Analysis Email – individual)
Scenario 2: Article and Project Fit Analysis for
the PMO Director
IFSM 441
Introduction
Before you begin this
assignment, be sure you have read the “XYZ Corporation Case”.
Purpose of the Assignment
This assignment gives
students the opportunity to apply IFSM 441 course concepts and specifically
addresses the following course outcomes :
1.
Evaluate the values, principles, strategies and practice of Agile
tools in order to mitigate uncertainty and risk with project delivery.
2.
Compare Agile versus traditional project methodologies in order to
provide best fit for the organization.
3.
Apply Agile framework to meet the specific operational
needs.
Your
Job Title, Role, and Background at XYZ Corporation
You are a Senior Project
Analyst. You report to the PMO Director. Your main role is as an analyst and
advisor to the PMO Director. Your background includes a BS in IFSM from
and PMP and PMI-ACP certifications. You have 4 years work experience at XYZ
since joining the company after graduation. In your short career, you have
shown an ability to perform good analysis and to assist management and senior
management in decision support. Your job responsibilities routinely call for
you to write analyses of published information and project governance decision
papers at the request of the PMO Director.
Overview
of Scenario #1 Task Assignment
The PMO Director has two
related task requests for you that she wants you to address in one email:
1) Send her your brief reactions in email to two articles that she has
requested that you read and comment on; 2) Send her your
recommendations/justifications in an email for which project methodology
projects should use. You should create only one email deliverable for these two
requests. The two web-available articles to read are authored by notable Agile
visionary Michele Sliger:
1. Relating PMBOK Practices
to Agile Practices – Part 1 of4 (Sliger)
http://www.stickyminds.com/sitewide.asp?ObjectId=10365&Function=DETAILBROWSE&ObjectType=COL&sqry=%2AZ%28SM%29%2AJ%28MIXED%29%2AR%28relevance%29%2AK%28simplesite%29%2AF%28sliger%29%2A&sidx=2&sopp=10&sitewide.asp?sid=1&sqry=%2AZ%28SM%29%2AJ%28MIXED%29%2AR%28relevance%29%2AK%28simplesite%29%2AF%28sliger%29%2A&sidx=2&sopp=10
2.
Relating PMBOK Practices to Agile Practices – Part 2 of 4 (Sliger)
http://www.stickyminds.com/sitewide.asp?ObjectId=10631&Function=DETAILBROWSE&ObjectType=COL&sqry=%2AZ%28SM%29%2AJ%28MIXED%29%2AR%28relevance%29%2AK%28simplesite%29%2AF%28sliger%29%2A&sidx=1&sopp=10&sitewide.asp?sid=1&sqry=%2AZ%28SM%29%2AJ%28MIXED%29%2AR%28relevance%29%2AK%28simplesite%29%2AF%28sliger%29%2A&sidx=1&sopp=10
The PMO Director has
assigned the following 3 projects to briefly review to help him prep for his
upcoming PMO Project Review Meeting. For each of these 3 projects you are to
advise the PMO Director which XYZ Project Management Methodology is most
suitable for use with each proposed project, along with a 6-8 sentence analysis
of your main justifications. The list of projects and related key information
follows:
1.
Internal/External: Internal project for the Administration Division. Project
Title:XYZ Headquarters Construction Review Project. Brief
Description: XYZ has contracted with ABC Construction for the building
of a new $40M corporate headquarters building in Rockville, MD and a XYZ
project team is needed to oversee the construction process and ensure all
requirements are met per building plans and architectural drawings.
2.
Other Key Information: The project team will serve as the main
interface with the ABC Construction company and will be responsible for
providing all needed internal support for the building project. The
Administration Division has not requested any project management methodology.
Past construction monitoring projects have used the PMBOK Methodology. The
timeline of the project is 1.5 years.
3.
Internal/External: External project for the Health Crisis Prevention and
Response Management Service/Product Delivery Division. Project
Title:Health Crisis Response Portal Project. Brief
Description: XYZ has just won a contract with the federal government
to put in place a state-of-the art health crisis response portal for
collaboration between key governmental and private sector entities and health
information exchange. While governmental requirements in the RFP were not
detailed, XYZ’s proposal emphasized an iterative approach to defining
requirements ahead of a crisis and the ability to adapt quickly to refine
requirements based on the type and extent of crisis. Other Key
Information: The project team will be responsible for refining the
specifications proposed in the RFP response by XYZ according to the approvals
of the client. The government’s RFP indicated that Agile methodology approaches
involving Scrum and XL were welcomed, and XYZ went with that option in its
proposal. The Health Crisis Prevention and Response Management Service/Product
Delivery Division has requested the Agile Methodology. The timeline of the
project is 1.5 years but some initial portal capabilities are due within 4
months of contract begin with add-on refinements as needed to be regularly
added until completion.
4.
Internal/External: External project for the Emergency Management Service/Product
Delivery Division. Project Title: Hurricane Emergency
Management Control Center. Brief Description: XYZ has
contracted with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide
expedited delivery of emergency management control services to south Florida in
the immediate aftermath of the widespread destruction of Miami during Hurricane
Beth in September 2012. Services include putting in place a web portal,
intranets, information exchange, and facilitation of collaboration among key
stakeholders. Other Key Information: While initial plans call
for an immediate project start and expedited service delivery, project plans
call for an extended planning phase starting after three months, followed by
further requirements elicitation and scope increases according to the results
of initial deployment and the follow-on planning phase of 6 months. The
Emergency Management Service/Product Delivery Division has requested that the
PMO determine the best suited project management methodology.
