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Succeeding with Agile in the Federal Government: A Coach’s PerspectiveEd Seidewitz07 November 2013

The Agile Manifesto

Individuals and interactions over processes and toolsWorking software over comprehensive documentation

Customer collaboration over contract negotiationResponding to change over following a plan

While there is value in the items onthe right, we value the items on the left more.

http://www.agilemanifesto.org

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

Yay, no one is telling us to use their stupid

process anymore!

Developer

So what is our process now?

DeveloperOK, let’s talk about practices instead of

process

Coach

Individuals and interactions over processes and tools

DOUnderstand the impact on your current process standards.Think about what are the most important agile practices to adopt.Give the team the flexibility to learn.Give the team the tools they need.Use a coach to help.

DON’TJust try to make your current process a “little more agile”.Confuse tooling with practice.

Can we get QA involved right up

front?

Let’s get Jenkins installed!

Working software over comprehensive documentation

Coach

What is your minimum viable

product?

Developer

Yeah, we really can deliver in a

month…

So, when will the design doc get

signed off so you can start coding?

Project Manager

Working software over comprehensive documentation

DODeliver incremental value on every iteration.“Go deep, not broad.”Use documentation for communication.Generate documentation from the software.

DON’TIterate without delivering value.Demonstrate value via documentation.Expect all documentation to go away.

Let’s get all we can while we can!

What, we need a Security Plan??

Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

Customer

How can I be on the team? I already

have a job.

Contracting Officer

How do I know the contractor is delivering?

I still have to meet my contract…

Contractor

Customer collaboration over contract negotiation

DOContract for collaboration.Build agility on the client side.Have a product owner – or a proxy, if necessary.Take all stakeholders into account.

DON’TMake it difficult to ask questions.Just ask the contractor to be agile.

Once we are done all the requirements, then

you can be agile.

As product owner, I can make requirements

decisions.

Responding to change over following a plan

We need to stick to the plan.

Project ManagerChange happens,

with or without a plan.

Coach

Everything keeps changing, we can’t

keep up.

Developer

Responding to change over following a plan

DOEmbrace change – software is malleable!Control risk through rapid feedback, not planning.Plan for results.Have a project manager.

DON’TTreat the coach as a project manager.Plan tasks.Believe the “planning myth.”

“One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting

different results.”

Handling budgeting, EVM, reporting, etc., is a

supporting function.

Learning by doing over listening to someone else

Thank You!