No two projects are the same, and there are several factors that can influence the need for tailoring. In this article, we’ll explore some of the project factors that can influence tailoring and the options available to project managers to improve the fit of an agile approach.
Demand Pattern The demand pattern of a project can greatly impact how an agile approach is tailored. For example, a project with a steady demand pattern may benefit from a regular timebox to demo, retrospect, and take in new work. On the other hand, a project with a sporadic demand pattern may require more flexibility in the acceptance of new work. To get the best of both worlds, teams can use flow-based agile with a cadence.
Rate of Process Improvement Required The rate of process improvement required by the level of team experience is another important factor to consider. Retrospecting more often and selecting improvements can help teams improve their processes at a faster rate.
Flow of Work The flow of work can be interrupted by various delays or impediments. Making work visible using kanban boards and experimenting with limits for the various areas of the work process can help improve flow.
Quality of Product Increments If the quality of the product increments is poor, using various test-driven development practices can help. This mistake-proofing discipline makes it difficult for defects to remain undetected.
More Than One Team Needed When more than one team is needed to build a product, scaling from one to several agile teams can be challenging. It’s important to first learn about agile program management or formal scaling frameworks and then craft an approach that fits the project context.
Inexperienced Team Members Finally, if project team members are inexperienced in the use of agile approaches, starting with training in the fundamentals of the agile mindset and principles is a good first step. If the team decides to use a specific approach such as Scrum or Kanban, a workshop on that approach can help team members learn how to use it.
In conclusion, tailoring an agile approach to fit the unique demands of a project is crucial for success. Project factors such as demand pattern, rate of process improvement required, flow of work, quality of product increments, the need for more than one team, and inexperienced team members are just a few of the factors that can influence tailoring. Project managers should consider these factors when tailoring an approach and use the options available to improve the fit of an agile approach.