Agile Methodology - Bringing Required Transformation and Improve the Overall Business Efficiency - Essay Example

The fundamental for project management planning is planning, monitoring and controlling the different functions so that the organizations is able to gain maximum efficiency and will thereby help to achieve the overall objectives of the business. Monitoring and controlling functions aims at measuring the manner in which the organization is performing and developing steps through which better control can be exercised and steps can be taken to ensure that deviations are minimized (Cockburn and Williams, 2000). This paper will focus on the planning aspect as it is the primary step which a manager or an executive takes and can look at taking steps based on the organizational requirements. The paper discuses the manner in which agile methodology helps business to improve their style of working and is different from traditional methods. This will also help to understand the manner in which agile and methodology will be beneficial for the business and will help to understand the manner in which business is able to develop better strategies and achieve the different objectives in the most effective manner. Traditionally, the project management plan with deciding what has to be done? How it is to be done? Who will do the required work? How much will it cost to complete the desired work? The focus is thereby on understanding some of the basic fundamentals and requirements through which it will be easy to decide whether the business will be as per the desired objectives or not. The traditional method of project planning aimed at scoping down the work into smaller parts and structure so that it can be better monitored and controlled. This looked at first portioning the entire work through the breakdown structure which is shown below (Boehm and Turner, 2004) The above chart clearly highlights that the project planning process in traditional method involves breaking the entire work into smaller denominations for better monitoring and control. Agile method also looks at breaking down the project planning process into smaller denominations but fewer details are provided in the early stage of the project but at the same time care has to be taken to ensure that the work is properly structured and covers all the details and is not over constrained. Some methods also don’t look at scoping the complete work early in the project but is later provided subsequently in details. This thereby ensures that agile methodology is different and looks at carrying out the project planning task differently from the methods which were used previously. The traditional and previously used methods also aimed at using systems engineering, software engineering, integration and test, configuration management, and quality assurance (see Figure 1 above). The entire functions were carried under the supervision of a functional manager and all the reporting and orders were passed on from the functional manager. This is a time taking process as evaluating and following the required process consumes some vital time and at times has an impact on the overall style of working and at times has an impact on the overall performance of an organization with regard to the different project planning methods which have been used. In addition to it the traditional method also aims at using different integrated product teams which act as cross functional team and work in collaboration with the stakeholders and other team members so that better control and efficiency can be developed. This is shown below (Boehm and Turner, 2004) Each integrated product teams have people from all functions and discipline thereby maximizing the importance of developing process of carrying out business. Using this helps to ensure that in the phase of project planning specific concentration can be laid on higher level task and project specific task thereby ensuring that a wide range of functions are carried out and helps to maximize the overall effectiveness of the system. The agile methodology is developed on the same framework as the traditional method works but there exist differences with regard to personnel, their interactions and reception of the different task. The degree of difference between the different interactions will depend on the present process which is being used by the organization. It is further examined that agile teams are smaller in size and has usually less than 10 members and more often they perform as cross functional teams like integrated product teams which was seen in the traditional methods. One method where the process of agile methodology has been used is as shown below (Boehm and Turner, 2004) The above chart highlights that agile methodology works on the similar model as the traditional method but the difference exist from the fact that agile method is an extension of the traditional method and has different integrated product teams which leads towards having cross functional team with people from different disciplines and fields working together so that maximum effectiveness can be achieved. An important thing to note here is that not all organizations have integrated product teams and decides on the different levels and framework based on the business. Further, the process of using agile methodology also ensures that the focus is on smaller groups with fewer members which thereby helps in decision making and helps to bring the required turnaround in carrying out the different activities. This also provides another team formation which is visible in case of agile method and is as (Boehm and Turner, 2004) The above chart is clearly different from the one that was present in the traditional methods as the process of team formation ensures that cross functional teams with people from different fields are brought together. At the same time care is taken to ensure that the team size is small and provides the required effectiveness in decision making. Apart from it the agile method allows the different team to communicate with each other which was not present in case of traditional methods. This helps to improve the overall effectiveness as it ensures that the team are able to deal with the differences in a better way and develop a process which will help to ensure better communication which is effective among the team members. This also brings forward to an important factor that the organization using agile technology focuses on the hub model which was highlighted above in figure 4. This helps to deviate from the normal traditional method which followed a series of hierarchy as it allows improved communication at all levels and helps to arrive at a discussion quickly. This will facilitate the process of decision making and will provide the required impetus and push through which the organization will be able to make the required changes in carrying out their activities (Qumer and Henderson-Sellers, 2008). The model being adopted for project planning within the organization is largely dependent on the culture which is prevalent in the organization as it will determine the style of working and will thereby help to develop different relationship between the different factors. Agile methodology is thereby facilitating the business process instead of hampering the business developments which helps to understand the fact that the process of overall decision will improve drastically. This increases the complication when using the agile method as organizations find it difficult to switch from the traditional methods to agile methods especially if their culture doesn’t goes the required transformation. Organizations which are able to bring the required change in the cultural requirements are able to garner maximum benefit from the new methodology and are able to develop a business model which helps to increase the efficiency in project management and helps to multiply the overall effectiveness through which the goals of the business is best achieved. The presence of agile team is witnessed in all type of organizations even those using the traditional methods. For example organizations which use a hierarchy form of communication find that informal chains are developed within the organization where people from different discipline come together and talk with each other. This is a form of an agile structure the only difference being that the process is not monitored in a formal manner but has its presence informally. Further, this type of process also functions as cross functional chain as people from other departments and fields come in contact with each other and discusses the different topics. This thereby helps to develop the required fundamentals of an agile style working and if developed will help to bring the required change through which the overall efficiency in the process of working will improve. Further, it is also ensured that organizations which are very strict and aim at using the traditional method of communication and establishing relationship still find some degree of agile method being used in their communication process. This is because of the fact that people look at dscussing the different issues with other department and people so that better conclusive evidence and areas can be identified. This thereby helps to provide the required dimensions through which agile practices have to be developed so that the overall process of conducting business improves and the organization is able to ensure that the use of the resources improves. Using agile methodology helps organization to ensure better visibility of work status and increase predictability. This will help to take decisions collaborate after looking at different factors and options so that the overall effectiveness is witnessed in decisions. This might also give rise to negatives like being behind schedule and instability within the organization but being able to control and monitor the same and ensure that the decisions are taken after considering different factors will help to improve the overall effectiveness and will ensure that the business is able to gain maximum benefit from it. Using the process of agile technology will also help to reduce the level of bureacracy which is present in the organization and will help to take quick decisions which will ensure being better responsive to the customer needs and requirements. This will bring overall effectiveness and will ensure that the resources of the organization are used in the best possible manner. Using the agile methodology also present some challenges before the management as they will have to ensure that the smaller teams within the organization work effectively and together so that the different decisions which are taken will help to maximize productivity (Paulk, 2001). This will also require improved collaboration at the lower levels and will require more dependence and authority to come together and work as a force which will be able to achieve the desired objectives. It is also seen that traditional method focused on dividing the entire function into smaller task with design, code, test and other factors so that detailed schedule and requirements can be provided to each person. This will act as a framework based on which the person has to perform and will determine the manner in which the performance will be monitored. Agile method has been developed based on the traditional method but is more detailed and looks at the minor aspects which will help to improve the entire process of decision making. The agile methodology on the fore front looks at high level planning for the long term sustainability of the project. This helps to find out the high level requirements which are then broken down into smaller parts and increments. This method is thereby mode detailed and focuses on the very smaller issues and areas through which better effectiveness is achieved and the overall importance of decisions improves. The process also entails and looks towards increased customer collaboration by developing the required interface which will help to understand their requirements better and develop strategies based on it. This will have its role and importance in project scheduling as it will determine the different areas through which proper schedule will be developed (MacCormack, 2001). The schedule will further ensure that it provides the required information about the customers and will thereby help to develop the correct parameters based on which better information can be developed and proper planning will ensure that the project gets completed on time and as per the desired schedule. The process of using agile technology ensures that the business is able to concentrate on making decisions through information which has been properly gathered and will thereby reduce the time to rework on the same thing. This will have a positive impact as it will help to save on cost at the same time ensure that the decision is taken after considering the different factors which will thereby help to increase the relevance and functioning of the entire system. Organizations by making changes can also reduce the time to take decisions through the use of agile methodology. Organizations instead of scoping the work later in parts can aim at scoping the entire work early on by dividing the entire work into smaller parts so that schedule for the entire project is determined in the beginning. This will help to provide the particular time frame based on which the project will be executed and will help to multiply the importance and manner in which decisions will be taken (Conboy and Fitzgerald, 2010). The fact that agile methodology provides multiple usage and provides an opportunity through which the entire work is further divided into smaller units and denomination which will help to ensure better effectiveness has resulted in an increase use of such methods and will help to multiply the productivity in the best possible manner. It has also been witnessed that projects are often seen to be behind schedule and is primarily due to the fact that the scheduling of the entire project is done very early. Even the manager or the executive who does the scheduling don’t have any information about the ground realities and makes the schedule based on the proposed style of working. There could be situation where the actual planning might not be the same with the actual result as the ground realities might be different. This will require proper understanding of the ground realities and understanding the actual situation so that scheduling is done based on it (Cockburn, 2002). Agile method provides an opportunity to develop the required fundamentals which will ensure that project scheduling is as per the desired requirements. Since, the process of agile methodology ensures that scheduling is done later and constant changes and adjustments are made to ensure that the project is completed on time it thereby increases the importance and increases the chances of being accurate in forcasting the status and the completion date of the report. To ensure that the process of agile methodology provides maximum benefit and advantage leaders will have to carry out the additional roles and will help to ensure that member within the smaller team understand their role. The members have to understand that they need to report within the team and will help to carry out the different activities which will multiply their importance and contribution towards the group. This will thereby serve as a standard and platform where the different methods which are used by the organization will help to provide maximum advantage and will help to deal with the different issues in the best manner. Agile methodology will thereby help to improve the entire process of carrying out business and will contribute positively towards the long term sustainability of the business. The process of agile methodology has helped to understand the fact that teams need less details in high level schedule because of the fact that smaller team provide greater visibility which will help to improve the task status. It will ensure that the entire process looks at developing the required process through which help to bring the required change through which the commitment level for the senior level managers will increase and less details for the same will be require (Sircar, Nerur and Mahapatra, 2001). This will thereby help to develop the required framework through which better decisions are taken and will help to multiply the overall effectiveness. The traditional method also aimed at planning for shorter period and goals and when the current objectives were achieved than planning for the next is started. This means that the entire project is broken into smaller aspect and then based on it they aimed at planning the different aspect through which better effectiveness is achieved. The manner in which developments and changes have taken place it has increased the pressure and has resulted in increased planning which has thereby impacted the overall development in carrying out the different activities through which the business will be able to perform in a better manner. Agile methodology aims at looking at the different details and helps to determine the different concepts and reasons through which managers seek to control the business. This will help to improve the effectiveness as it will help to plan as per the required standards and will help to design a method through which the downside is considered. This will thereby help to develop the required framework and will provide the required space and room through which effective decisions will be taken. Traditional methods on the other hand gives more emphasis on methodology and tools which helps to establish the required plan through which better efficiency can be maintained and goals can be achieved. Agile methodology on the other hand has a certain shift as the method aims at developing personal interactions involving real projects so that the overall impact of the project can be identified and will thereby help to develop better process and manner in which the objectives will be achieved (Boehm, 2002). This thereby increases the level of focus on different directions and brings the required transformation through which the business is able to gain overall effectiveness. The process of using agile methodology has an impact on the overall performance and brings the required change as it helps to motivate the employees to carry out the different functions in the most effective manner. The fact that agile methodology helps to provide better incentive and ensures that the process of carrying out business undergoes changes it thereby helps to provide the required directives through which the employee is better motivated to carry out the different functions of the organization. This helps to improve the overall contribution as it helps to improve the focus on different areas through which the business is able to bring the required effectiveness and will be able to bring the required changes and ensure better development of the employees and the organization. The use of agile methodology in the field has helped the business to use different charts and areas which focuses on identifying the core areas through which overall business can be improved. Organizations thereby look to develop burn down charts which are provided to all the people within the group and are aimed at improving the overall relevance of the study. This helps to ensure that not only the top management but also the executives at the lower level have the required schedule with them which will thereby help them to work according to the requirements and ensure that the overall objective is achieved in the best possible manner. The agile methodology provides the business with the opportunity to carry out business activities through a different process and aims at improving the mechanism through which the different resources are used within the business. This will facilitate the process of decision making and will provide the required impetus and push through which the organization will be able to make the required changes in carrying out their activities (Orr, 2002). Further, this type of process also functions as cross functional chain as people from other departments and fields come in contact with each other and discusses the different topics. This thereby helps to develop the required fundamentals of an agile style working and if developed will help to bring the required change through which the overall efficiency in the process of working will improve. This will thereby help to multiply the benefits for the organization and will help to bring the required transformation through which the business is able to gain and bring the required change in carrying out the different activities. In addition to it agile methodology helps to provide value addition to the business which thereby improves the overall efficiency as the business is thereby able to concentrate on certain areas which will maximize the opportunity to grow their business. Agile methodology aims at looking at the different details and helps to determine the different concepts and reasons through which managers seek to control the business (Barnett, 2006). This will help to improve the effectiveness as it will help to plan as per the required standards and will help to design a method through which the downside is considered. This will thereby help to bring the required transformation and help in the development of the business based on certain factors which will act as a differentiating factor and ensure that the business is able to work differently in comparison with the other players in the market. Agile methodology has also been developed based on the traditional methods which were followed but instead has been widened and the scope of organization as it tends to include a lot of different things and variables through which the overall effectiveness will improve and will help to maximize the decision making points. This will thereby help to ensure that the business focuses on different activities and is able to bring the required transformation through which the overall effectiveness will be improved and the business will be able to garner maximum benefit from it (Burns, Dishman, Verplank, Lassiter, 2001). It will ensure that the entire process looks at developing the required process through which help to bring the required change through which the commitment level for the senior level managers will increase and less details for the same will be require. This will thereby help to develop the required framework through which better decisions are taken and will help to multiply the overall effectiveness. Thus, the process of agile technology has looked to bring the required transformation through which business is able to get the required efficiency and bring the transformation so that business is able to improve the process of carrying out the different activities and is able to develop a process which helps in the better use of resources. Agile methodology thereby helps the business to bring the required transformation and helps to improve the overall business efficiency and contributes positively towards the development and growth of the organization. This will thereby help to develop the required framework and will provide the required space and room through which effective decisions will be taken. Agile method provides an opportunity to develop the required fundamentals which will ensure that project scheduling is as per the desired requirements. This will thereby ensure that the overall effectiveness of the business is maximized as it helps to provide the required impetus through which the business is able to bring the required transformation and is able to design the working fundamentals in such a manner that the business is able to gain overall efficiency. This will thereby contribute positively towards the goal of the organization and will help to develop the required fundamentals through which business is able to gain efficiency and ensure that the business is able to maximize the efficiency in carrying out the business. Thus agile methodology has helped the business to bring the required transformation and has helped to improve the business further which will help in different useful decisions for the organizations. References Barnett. L. 2006. 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