Agile breakthrough: a winning combination for projects

Agile development methodologies have attracted a growing number of converts. The discipline is internal, reducing the need for costly external control. Work proceeds in small visible steps, making development responsive to changing user needs. And Agile is one of the better ways to retain “local” development.

But Agile isn’t right in all cases. There are limits on the size of the team that can be effectively controlled by self-imposed discipline. A core team should be between five and nine people. That can be pushed to a team of teams, or 50 people – that’s the current limit, at least for now.

There will be some development projects that are too large for Agile. But most organizations should limit internal development to what can be accomplished with a team of 50. The more serious problem is that Agile requires a breakthrough in how the organization undertakes development.

Organizations, and people, settle into ruts. Established routine and a thicket of unwritten rules limit our ability to respond. This certainly happens with system development. An Agile effort, led by a hero, can deliver wonderful results, and be ignored by the larger organization.

Back in 1988, Robert Schaffer in his book The Breakthrough Strategy noted that a special set of circumstances must be present for a project to be a real breakthrough – one, that is, leading to broad organizational change. His approach can be summarized in eight points.

1. Sell the breakthrough strategy to senior management. Their support is vital if success is to spread.

2. Base plans on what are recognized as the real drivers of change. This can’t be a “do-go” exercise.

3. Go for low-lying fruit with early breakthrough projects. The effort needs early, visible successes.

4. Recruit key stakeholders to be Agile breakthrough champions. Support needs to be widespread.

5. Select the first breakthrough project to deliver early results and play to recognized drivers of change.

6. Don’t get stuck at the analysis phase. Build in a strong bias to action.

7. Exploit as many opportunities for change as can be found. One project doesn’t make a breakthrough.

8. Shamelessly use senior management and champion support to spread the word about early successes.

Success is never guaranteed. It’s hard to change how an organization works. But the combination of an Agile development effort that is also part of a breakthrough stra-tegy builds in a strong bias towards success. It reduces the changes of falling into technological or organizational traps.

The technological trap can be very real with breakthrough computer initiatives. The code comes out in a torrent. Users are ecstatic that, at last, the computer people are being responsive. But the resulting systems are impossible to maintain.

Agile reduces that risk- it provides a solid technical foundation upon which to base real organizational change. The Agile breakthrough strategy is a winning combination. It’s the kind of combined soft/hard effort that can make a real difference – and it deserves serious consideration.

Fabian is a senior management and systems consultant in Toronto. He can be reached at [email protected].

Would you recommend this article?

Share

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what you think of this article!
We'd love to hear your opinion about this or any other story you read in our publication.


Jim Love, Chief Content Officer, IT World Canada

Featured Download

Featured Articles

Cybersecurity in 2024: Priorities and challenges for Canadian organizations 

By Derek Manky As predictions for 2024 point to the continued expansion...

Survey shows generative AI is a top priority for Canadian corporate leaders.

Leaders are devoting significant budget to generative AI for 2024 Canadian corporate...

Related Tech News

Tech Jobs

Our experienced team of journalists and bloggers bring you engaging in-depth interviews, videos and content targeted to IT professionals and line-of-business executives.

Tech Companies Hiring Right Now