Why Agile Implementations Fail and What Can be Done to Enable Success
When it comes to project management methods, there are several approaches a company or project lead might use. Approach categories include Lean, Waterfall, Critical Path, and Agile, and within each of these there are several more nuanced methods. In this blog, we will take an in-depth look at the Agile project meaning and management method, the intricacies and challenges it presents, and the keys for enabling success.
Some Project management methods are straightforward, while others can be a little more complex—for example, Agile and its sub-methods offer tremendous upsides but are somewhat tricky to optimize without the right knowledge.
Now, it may seem obvious that picking the appropriate project management method is critical to the success of that project, but what might not be so apparent is the importance of the implementation of that method. What good is the perfect plan without execution?
What is Agile Project Management?
You may be wondering “What is meant by Agile project management?” That’s a good question. Agile project management is an iterative approach to delivering a project over its life cycle. That is to say, an Agile project takes incremental and adaptable steps towards completion, as opposed to following a linear approach where each step is sequential and relies on the previous step being completed. With Agile projects, revisions can be made with each iteration, instead of waiting until the end to make changes. For more clarity on this, let’s look at the agile project management steps section of this blog.
Agile Project Management Steps
While there are different methods within the Agile approach, such as Scrum and Kanban, all Agile implementations will follow the same basic steps.
Project Planning: The main objective of this step is to identify the end goal of the project, the value it will provide to the client or consumers, and how you think it will be achieved. It’s important to note that with the Agile methodology, the “how” is a best guess, since you will learn, adapt, and revise as you go.
Product Roadmapping: In this step, you will break down all the components that will go into the final product. This should include a list of all the features and deliverables that make up the final product, as this list will be used later.
Release planning: This step establishes preliminary release dates for completed features. Notice this is a stark contrast to a linear approach when a final product would be published after every feature is completed. Since Agile projects use shorter development cycles, called sprints, for each feature of a product, release dates can be adjusted as you go if certain features are ahead of or behind schedule.
Sprint Planning: In this recurring step you will look at each individual sprint before it begins and determine what each employee will accomplish. When you are planning, you will need to account for how work will get done and the overall workload. In addition, this step uses the list of features and deliverables mentioned in step two. Tasks for sprints will be pulled directly from this list to ensure everything that needs to be done is accounted for. Sprints typically span anywhere from one-two weeks, but can be customized as needed.
Daily Stand-ups: This is another recurring step that involves planning short daily meetings to check-in with everyone working on the sprint. Essentially these are progress reports and quick updates. Although these are not designed to be problem solving sessions, they can alert team members to issues that may require a separate meeting to discuss in more depth.
Sprint Review and Retrospective: This step consists of two meetings that occur at the end of each sprint. The first is the review, which is between employees and stakeholders to address the finished feature. This keeps communication and expectations transparent, and allows for feedback on one feature that may be relevant to future features, preventing redundant mistakes. The second meeting, or retrospective, is just with your employees to address the sprint and discuss what went well, what could be improved upon, and any other concerns in the process.
So...Why Do Agile Implementations Fail?
Now that we know a little more about the Agile methodology, we can discuss some of the common pitfalls. According to an article from the Project Management Institute, the top reasons Agile implementations fail are:
Lack of communication - since the Agile method depends on transparent communication across every step, with every stakeholder, a lack of communication can slow down the process.
Mismanagement of day-to-day operations - whether it’s disproportionate workloads, excessive meetings, or a lack of guidance, mismanaged daily operations can hamper an Agile approach.
Lack of buy-in from all stakeholders - because Agile only works when everyone is on the same page, a lack of buy-in from anyone involved can cause negative ripple effects down the whole chain.
Changing culture and mindset - for many companies, shifting to Agile includes completely overhauling the old way of doing things; so if a company is resistant to changing the way they do and think about projects, you can kiss Agile success goodbye.
Lack of experience - trying something new means making mistakes along the way and that’s no different here; just in this case the consequences can include failed projects and upset clients.
How to Enable Success with Moser Consulting
When it comes to your project, any one of these pitfalls could single handedly sink your Agile ship. Whether you are new to Agile project management or consider yourself a seasoned veteran, it’s imperative that everyone from company to customer, senior management to new hires, are all on the same page. That’s where we come in. At Moser Consulting, we have experienced project managers (PMs) to help in any situation. Our PMs are trained and well-versed in Agile methodology and sub-methods and can plug and play in any company to ensure a successful Agile project implementation.
If you are still asking things like:
What is an Agile project management example?
Are there Agile methodology example project plans?
then connect with us today. With consulting know-how, top talent solutions, and a passion for customer service, we can put your projects on the right path!
