Introduction to AgileEstimating and planning

2013 – J un

By: Mohamed Saad

Agenda The Problem and the Goal Why Planning Fails An Agile Approach References.

The Problem and the Goal

“Planning is everything. Plans are nothing.” Why Do Planning

› Reducing risk› Reducing uncertainty› Supporting better decision making› Establishing trust› Conveying information

The Problem and the Goal

What Makes a Good Plan?› Making tradeoff decisions› Build Set of features with resources in specific Time

What Makes Planning Agile?› Is focused more on the planning than on the plan› Encourages change› Results in plans that are easily changed› Is spread throughout the project

Why Planning Fails

“No plan survives contact with the enemy.”

Planning Is by Activity Rather Than Feature› Activities don’t finish early.› Lateness is passed down the schedule.› Activities are not independent.

Why Planning Fails

Multitasking Causes Further Delays

Why Planning Fails

Features Are Not Developed by Priority

We Ignore Uncertainty (need iterative planning)

Estimates Become Commitments› Est imates are probabi l i t ies› Commitments are dates with (prob.

< 1)

An Agile ApproachAgile Manifesto reminder“A good plan violently executed now is better

than a perfect plan executed next week.” Individuals and interactions over processes and

tools Working software over comprehensive

documentation Customer collaboration over contract negotiation Responding to change over following a plan

An Agile Approach

An Agile Approach to Projects› Work as one team (common goal)› Work in short iterations (timeboxed)› Deliver something each iteration› Focus on business priorities (user

stories)› Inspect and adapt (change each

iteration)

An Agile Approach An Agile Approach to Planning

› Multiple Levels of Planning Release Iteration Day Product Portfolio Strategic

An Agile Approach An Agile Approach to Planning

› Conditions of Satisfaction Release level

Scope Schedule Budget quality

Iteration Level

References Agile Estimating and Planning by Mike

Cohn.