When it comes to organization, you can’t trump Project Managers, right? In the world of Project Management, there is always room for learning and implementing new and better solutions, and frankly, bothering everyone else with them. Jokes aside, when it comes to how we run our team, and what our clients can accept when we lead their digital projects, it’s highly organized, transparent, and agile.
That’s why our Project Manager crafted this Ultimate Guide to implementing agile at your company or team.
Agile – the sweetest sound for any CEO, sales and PM.
Considering Agile was formally launched in 2001, it is definitely not a new concept. However, many successful companies have not yet implemented it, despite its popularity and widespread use in project management. While some businesses function best with waterfall or other methodologies, Agile offers a flexible and iterative approach that focuses on collaboration, customer satisfaction, and adaptability.
This is not surprising, given that Agile offers numerous advantages, including a flexible and iterative approach that prioritizes collaboration, customer satisfaction, and adaptability.
Embracing the Agile Mindset
Agile is rooted in four core values (and twelve principles) stated in the Agile Manifesto:
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
These core values show us what mindset we should embrace as implementing Agile requires a shift in mindset and culture. Quite often that’s the most difficult thing-to change the mindset and habits of fellow colleagues so it is important to effectively communicate why we’re making a switch and explain all the benefits to the team. Don’t get discouraged if the team pushes back at first- that’s normal, just give your team some time to adjust and be transparent with your reasoning behind every decision. As Agile teaches us- responding to a change is crucial.
Forming a Cross-Functional Agile Team
Start by forming a Cross-Functional Agile team. Key to any successful company and/or project is always people. Your team is the vital, most important part of your organization so make sure you have an open minded team who is willing to learn and are open to change.
Agile emphasizes collaboration between team members with different skill sets and areas of expertise. It is important to form cross-functional teams that can collectively handle all aspects of the project. Each individual is unique and owns a special set of skills that gives value to the team. These teams should be self-organizing and accountable for delivering results.
Selecting the Right Agile Framework
Once you have your team, you need to select the right Agile framework.
There are various Agile frameworks available, including Scrum, Kanban, XP (Extreme Programming), and Lean Agile, among others. Choose the one that aligns best with your project requirements and team dynamics. Scrum, for instance, works well for projects with frequent iterations and fixed-length sprints, while Kanban suits projects with a continuous flow of work items.
Here in Lumen Spei, we use Scrum-but with a twist. We think every project is unique and therefore we approach each project differently. We adapt methodology to the projects and not the other way around, taking the best features from scrum (or to phrase it better-those that suits our projects best) and making it work for each project individually. Sometimes that means not having the strict process procedure followed but that’s ok. We are a small company and at this point, an individual approach to each client works best for us. That way each client can rest assured they are getting a tailor made approach that fits their needs with a highest level of support and customer care.
Developing a Project Backlog for Agile Implementation
In Agile, the project backlog is a prioritized list of features, tasks, and user stories that need to be completed. This is something a Product Owner will do together with clients and determine priorities based on many factors like: technology used, business requirements and logic, timeline, budget etc.
When doing that it is very important to collaborate with stakeholders and the entire team to create a comprehensive project backlog and put focus on prioritization. Having a clear set of prioritized features is extremely important. That’s how the team knows what to take on first (second, third…), what’s most important to deliver first and what can be pushed for the next phase. Prioritized product backlog is crucial when defining a Sprint Goal so make sure to regularly review and refine the backlog as you move along with the project.
Sprint Planning and Execution
Agile projects are divided into fixed-length iterations or Sprints, typically lasting 2 weeks in Lumen Spei. During each iteration, the team works on a set of items from the backlog that were discussed and planned for at a Sprint planning session. This is where we determine the above mentioned Spring Goal and make plans for the upcoming sprint.
When doing this we make sure to plan iterations meticulously, set realistic goals, and of course monitor progress closely.
The Role of Stand-up Meetings
Most controversial event or (Scrum ceremony) is often a set of Stand-up Meetings. Usually people either hate them or adore them, no inbetween. Whether you like it or not, it is an extremely important event that must be implemented for any version of Agile approach.
Daily stand-up meetings, or daily scrums, are a fundamental practice in Agile. These short meetings allow team members to synchronize their work, discuss any challenges, issues and blockers and plan their activities for the day. They are not here solely for PMs to waste your time, we promise! 🙂
In order for these meetings to be effective and not wasteful, make sure these meetings are timeboxed (5 to max 15 minutes) and focused on addressing obstacles, without going into other topics. Any issue that lasts more than 15 minutes should be addressed in a separate meeting with only those team members who are included in the topic and not the whole team. Effective communication and collaboration are essential for successful Agile implementation. Encourage regular interactions between team members, stakeholders, and customers.
Empowering Agile Implementation with Collaborative Agile Tools
One of the key aspects of successful Agile implementation lies in utilizing the right set of collaborative Agile tools. These tools play a vital role in enhancing team collaboration, streamlining project tracking, and fostering effective communication within the team.
By recommending and integrating Agile project management tools, teams can experience improved productivity and efficiency throughout the project lifecycle. Let’s explore the top tools and understand how they can empower teams to deliver exceptional results in an Agile environment:
Edworking
Edworking is an emerging unified platform for remote teams, offering seamless coordination, communication, and task management. With everything in one place, including tasks, files, images, video calls, chats, meeting rooms, file sharing, and stories all in one, Edworking simplifies work processes with a single subscription.
Jira
Jira is a widely used Agile project management tool that offers robust features for planning, tracking, and releasing software. With customizable workflows and real-time visibility into project progress, Jira enables teams to stay focused and organized throughout each sprint.
Trello
Trello is a user-friendly Agile collaboration tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize and prioritize tasks. It promotes visual project management, making it easy for teams to manage their work and collaborate seamlessly.
Asana
Asana is an all-in-one Agile project management and collaboration platform that allows teams to plan, track, and manage their work in one place. Its intuitive interface and task dependencies help teams stay on top of their projects and meet their deadlines.
Monday.com
Monday is a versatile Agile tool that provides a visual and collaborative workspace for teams to plan, track, and manage projects effectively. With customizable workflows and automation, teams can streamline their Agile processes and work more efficiently.
Slack
Slack is a popular communication tool that facilitates real-time team communication. With dedicated channels for different projects, teams can collaborate, share updates, and address issues promptly.
Miro
Miro is a digital whiteboard and collaboration platform that enables Agile teams to brainstorm, plan, and visualize their ideas and workflows. It promotes remote collaboration and enhances creative problem-solving.
Recommended ➜ Read about digital transformation tools in 2023
Embracing Agile Principles for Success
Agile project management has proven to be a game-changer in the dynamic and ever-evolving world of project execution. By fostering collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement, Agile empowers teams to deliver exceptional results in the face of complexity and uncertainty.
To implement Agile successfully, organizations must invest in creating a collaborative and supportive environment. Remember that Agile is not a one-size-fits-all approach, so be open to tailoring the methodology to suit your project’s unique needs.
Agile project management is not just a methodology, it is a mindset that embraces adaptability, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
By embracing Agile principles and continuously refining their practices, organizations can thrive in the face of uncertainty and deliver value that exceeds expectations.
Embrace Agile and empower your teams to reach new heights in project management. Feel free to give us a shout if you need help! 🙂
