agile problem, commercial solution
DESCRIPTION
How to use agile methods to deliver successful, large-scale web projects in a commercial setting. Why do big projects fail? What benefits does agile bring? How can we make agile work for clients and agencies alike? This talk was given by Cubeworks Founder & MD, Alex Cowell, at Internet World on 12 May 2011. www.cubeworks.co.ukTRANSCRIPT
Agile problem, commercial solution
Alex Cowell MD, Cubeworks
@alexcowell
Successful web projectsin an uncertain world
Problem projects – a pattern is emerging
“We’re not getting the expected results from our new website”
“Our project was delivered really late”
“We’re still finding problems long after launch”
An uncertain world –how web projects have evolved
Today
Com
plex
ity
Static site
1990s
McDonald’s website 1996
An uncertain world –how web projects have evolved
Today
Com
plex
ity
Static siteBasic CMS
CMS & integrations
Full CMS
Uncerta
inty
1990s
“66% software project failure rate“
Forrester Research
“Inflation up. Growth down. Uncertainty everywhere.“
BBC Economics Editor, 11 May 2011
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
Projectmanagementtriangle
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
Straightforwardweb projects
ü
üü
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
Complex webprojects
UNCERTAINTY
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
What if the businessneeds to changeend product?
LATE
üSCOPE üQUALITY
BUDGET
The project manager
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
What if agencybears changes?
üLATE
üSCOPE QUALITYDEADLINE
“It is a bad planthat admits of no modification“
Publilius Syrus, 1st Century BC
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
What if we needfixed cost &deadline?
ü?SCOPE
üüQUALITY
Anticipating change with agile development
Agile development process
Initial requirements & architecture
Release 1
Release 2
Release 3
End product
Get working software early
Review & incorporate lessons learned
Same again
Result = solution responded to users & business
Support for agile development
"The evidence... is clear cut – organisations that pursue agile
development are unequivocal on the positive effect it has had on the
business...“
Institute for Government report, March 2011
So is agile a realistic cure for failed commercial projects?
"You can have an ICT project with a watertight contract... with a fixed price and appropriate remedies if you don't get what you want. Or you can have an
Agile project. You can't have both.“
Alistair Maughan, Computer Weekly, 26 April 2011
1. No fixed budget2. No guaranteed outcome3. Insufficient remedy
üüü
Three problems lawyers have with agile projects
Agile problem,commercial solution
JISC Collections
www.jisc-collections.ac.uk
Reducing uncertainty faster & betterTi
me
on p
roje
ct
Traditional project JISC Collections project
DOING
PLAN-NING
PLAN-NING
LESS TIME& BUDGET
“25% - 40% of all spending on projects is wasted as a result of re-
work“
Carnegie Mellon
CATALOGUE
CORE/CMS
SUBS
EC
OM
-M
ER
CE
JISC Collections “must haves”were broken down into9 modules
Start with most Important module
Scope & Quality
Time Cost
What if we need fixedcost & deadline& high quality?
ü?SCOPE
üüQUALITY
MUST HAVEREQS
CHANGE & ENHANCE-MENT
How Cubeworks broke downthe JISC Collections requirements
Guaranteeddelivery
50 DAYS
100 DAYS
Warranty onall work
Flexible approach requiresflexible technology
EPiServer is flexible integration platform
Custom modules added & plugged in
Needed flexibility for unknown content & layouts
CATALOGUE
Where was the changetime used?
More time spent on most critical module
1. Guaranteed delivery of “must have” features
2. Solution met business & user needs because it responded to change
3. 10 month project delivered on time
What were the benefits toJISC Collections?
“Cubeworks’ flexible approach has delivered just what our business &
customers need on time & on budget.“
Brian Mitchell, JISC Collections
1. See change as a benefit2. Risk sharing makes happy teams3. Keep module size manageable4. Prioritise5. Test on real users
My five ingredients of successful agile web projects
“Project management triangle”, Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management_triangle
Agile manifestohttp://agilemanifesto.org/
“System Error: Fixing the flaws in Government IT”, Institute for Government report, 1 March 2011http://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publications/23/system-error
“Agile with fail GovIT says corporate lawyer”, 26 April 2011http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/public-sector/2011/04/agile-will-fail-govit-says-cor.html
“The blending of Traditional & Agile Project Management”, Kathleen Hass, May 2007http://www.pmforum.org/library/tips/2007/PDFs/Haas-5-07.PDF
JISC Collections selects EPiServer to create efficient e-resource procurement websitehttp://www.episerver.com/en/News/Press/JISC-Collections-selects-EPiServer-/
Further reading
1, 30, 34, 35, 38. Lego - woodleywonderworks - http://www.flickr.com/photos/73645804@N00/2473052504/2. iStockPhoto #15742269 - blackboard series3 & 4. Green walls of BART - Darwin Bell - http://www.flickr.com/photos/darwinbell/293643274/in/photostream/5, 7, 27. Antique clock - stockerre - http://www.flickr.com/photos/stockerre/4770904192/in/photostream/10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 17, 29, 31. Project Plan - iStockPhoto #309377314. Depressed - Sander van der Wel - http://www.flickr.com/photos/40803964@N08/4649749639/18. Cameleon Madagascar - Jean-Louis Vandevivère - http://www.flickr.com/photos/49932238@N00/312853406/20. Paint the Town Red - Scott Ableman - http://www.flickr.com/photos/95819651@N00/195144214/22. Cell Culture - kaibara87 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/34745138@N00/3075268200/25. Hybrid - M 93 - http://www.flickr.com/photos/55391407@N03/5172482581/32. Flexible drinking straws sorted by colour - Horia Varlan - http://www.flickr.com/photos/10361931@N06/4273102419/40. Last slide - Thank You - RobeRt VEga - http://www.flickr.com/photos/14158132@N08/3944132320/
Image credits
Responding to changeover following a plan
Individuals and interactionsover processes and tools
Working softwareover comprehensive documentation
Customer collaborationover contract negotiation
agilemanifesto.org