10 Essential Facts About Scrum

Scrum is fast becoming the hottest thing in project management.

It’s the most prominent of a number of Agile techniques which fix “Time” and “Cost” – rather than “Features”.  That’s not to say that the goal of delivering a defined outcome and associated benefits is in any way diminished.

These techniques were first developed for software development projects – but in today’s climate they will resonate with those working in many other sectors.

Scrum is not the answer for every project but it includes very effective techniques which can be applied where appropriate – possibly to subsets of larger projects and programmes being run in more conventional ways.

The following notes will not make you a “Scrum Master” – but they may whet your appetite and encourage you to explore the books, websites and courses suggested below.

1. The name “Scrum” emerged as a rugby analogy where a self organising team moves  down the field - together
2. Many projects involve learning, innovation and surprises, so a major recurring theme of Scrum is to “inspect and adapt”
3. “Sprints” of intense activity are launched with a planning meeting and close with a Sprint Retrospective. This review questions “what we should start, stop and continue doing”
4. “Stand-up” meetings are held daily during Sprints when each member briefly states what’s completed, what they will do next, and what’s in their way
5. The “Product Owner” identifies product features in the form of a prioritised list and is responsible for ROI
6. The “Team” is typically a dedicated group of 5-10 people with the different skill sets needed to deliver the product
7. The “Scrum Master” is a facilitator rather than a manager – guiding the Team, resolving issues and interfacing with the Product Owner
8. The “Product Backlog” is a definitive and prioritised list of remaining features and tasks – so becomes the product road map
9. The “Sprint Burndown” tracks estimated hours work outstanding against the “time-boxed” Sprint hours available
10. Scrum is not just about processes – it’s a different style of working which is energetic, collaborative, and flexible.

>> Buy Ken Schwaber’s “Agile Project Management with Scrum”
>> Find other Scrum books and resources
>> Explore Scrum training courses
>> Upcoming Scrum Master Certification courses
>> Download the “Scrum Primer” from the Scrum Alliance website
>> Using Agile in a legal practice – Larry Port
>> What’s Different about Agile

Blogalot - July 2010

What’s Different about Agile?

Agile is advancing rapidly up project management and systems development agendas worldwide.  Specific approaches such as Scrum are becoming mainstream.  It’s not new. DSDM has origins in the 1990s.  The Agile Manifesto was written by advocates of iterative and incremental development methods in 2001.

The table below is derived from the 2005 book “Challenges of Migrating to Agile Methodologies” by Sridhar P Nerur (et al).

The vital issue for those attracted to the concept of Agile is, for any given situation, to balance the benefits of a responsive and flexible approach with one that imposes more rigour and discipline.

>> Agile Training Courses
>> ScrumMaster Courses
>> DSDM Atern Courses
>> The Agile Manifesto

Blogalot - June 2010

A PRINCE2, DSDM Atern and ITIL Roadmap

One of the more thought provoking presentaions at the recent Project Challenge Show in Birmingham was by Dot Tudor of TCC.  She firmly believes that there is too often a disconnect between IT project managers and IT service managers. 

The following diagram emphasises the degree of overlap and inter-relationship between PRINCE2, DSDM and ITIL. Her presentation (follow link below) works towards an integrated roadmap.

By the way, this subject matter is being picked up by OGC so keep an eye open for the official book in due course!

>> View Dot Tudor’s presentation
>> Find ITIL training courses
>> Find PRINCE2 courses 

>> Find DSDM Atern courses

Blogalot - May 2010

Change Management Tips and Training

There are not many organisations this year which will not be looking hard at organisation, processes and systems in order to respond to changing market conditions. Change Management has as much to do with leadership and interpersonal skills as it does with project management or systems development.

Whilst techniques for Project Management, Business Analysis, and Benefits Management play an important role, when it comes to delivering change then it is the personal and behavioural aspects which are also crucial to success.

We hope you find these tips useful – and inspire you to delve deeper into the specialist literature, or explore the excellent Change Management training courses accredited by the APMG.

1. Vision & Strategy
People find change deeply disturbing and threatening.  During implementation there may be confusion and chaos.  It is vital that the destination and logic is clear and stable throughout.
2. Communication
You will only start to overcome personal resistance if you can convey the reasons for the change and the reasons why specific actions need to be taken. This needs to be maintained throughout.
3. Involvement
Take those affected through the change drivers and objectives.  There is often much more agreement than you would expect once the facts and hard realities are being openly discussed.
4. Sense of Urgency
To overcome resistance to change you need to build a head of steam. There is no room for complacency.
5. Realistic, Achievable and Measurable objectives
At both personal and organisational levels it is vital that objectives are crisply defined and success can be recognised.
6. Culture
Build a leadership team which is not only empowered to drive the necessary actions – but which also conveys through actions and words the organisational style that you seek.
7. Overcome Road Blocks
Change can be obstructed by dogma, systems, or prominent individuals. You must remove these obstacles or navigate routes around them.
8. Short Term Wins
You are a missionary.  You need stories and parables to tell.  Early wins can help paint a tangible picture of what you are looking to achieve.
9. Create Goodwill
Be respectful and helpful at all times – this will be repaid.
10.  Celebrate and reward
There will be winners and losers.  It is vital that sacrifices are respected and the future team understands when goals have been achieved.

>> Change Management Training Courses
>> Article from Training & Development

Blogalot - April 2010

Improve your CV - APMP for Prince2 Practitioners

today’s difficult project management job market, many candidates already have the Prince2 qualification on their CV

Employers now want project managers who understand a methodology (Prince2) and also have sound project management knowledge

Many project managers are now looking to add the APMP certification from the Association for Project Management to their CV

The 5-day APMP course covers 37 knowledge areas from the APM Body of Knowledge which the APM describes as “fundamental to the professional management of projects”

Focus on Training offer 5-day APMP Courses in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Chester, Coventry, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester , Oxford and Reading

Time Management – Tips

At a time when we are all coming under huge pressure to improve efficiency then a very good place to start is in how we use our own 1,440 minutes each day.

If you’re leading a team you will also find that the way you allocate your time will have a direct bearing on how others around you behave.

1. Schedule your priorities
- very different from prioritising your schedule!
- don’t let the urgent tasks displace the important
2. Plan your time – both business and private
- don’t be driven by random events or the whims of others
- align the time you spend on a task to its importance
3. Moderate your standards
- sometimes you just have to spend however long it takes
- usually 90% will do, will take half the time - and will allow completion of other tasks
4. “Results” not “Activity”
- Work smarter, not harder
- Achieve the maximum possible with the minimum effort
5. Delegate
- remember this may be downwards, sideways or upward
- in a structured way – and avoid checking/duplicating activity
6. Be prepared to say “no”
- justify the basis on which you allocate your time
- propose alternative approaches or timescales where relevant
7. Stay focused
- think how you blast through your “to do” list when you’re on holiday tomorrow
- ignore petty distractions

Try these simple techniques to improve your time management performance.

1. Survey yourself
- for 2 weeks, in 15 min increments, track how you use your time
- compare this to your personal or business objectives
2. Draw a 2×2 grid for “urgent” and “important”
- position tasks in each quadrant
- plan how to avoid tasks becoming both urgent and important
3. Stay on top of e-mail using the Donaldson-Fielder approach
- Delete: half or more emails can go immediately
- Do: if the email is urgent or can be dealt with quickly
- Delegate: if it can be better dealt with by others
- Defer: set aside time at a later date for emails that need more time to action

And make certain you schedule non active time.  You need time to think and reflect.  This is when you are most likely to work out your true priorities.

Still think you or your team need help with Time Management?
>> Find out about Focus on-site Time Management training
>> Book a public scheduled time management course

Blogalot - March 2010

P3O Portfolio, Programme & Project Office - Benefits

A White Paper published by OGC and written by Sue Vowler concentrates on the business benefits of implementing a P30 project support model.

1. A more focused, balanced portfolio aligned to strategy
2. Visibility of progress
3. Predictability of delivery in terms of time and cost
4. Reduced start-up/mobilisation timescales
5. Consistency of approach and delivery
6. Clarity of decision making, escalation rules and routes
7. Clarity of delivery and improved resource utilisation
8. Integrated assurance
9. Consistent stakeholder engagement and information management
10. Financial balance

>> Read the full paper

Following a pilot programme last year the APM Group has launched its Practitioner qualification for P3O.

>> Find P3O training & certification courses in London and across the UK

Blogalot - March 2010

Presentation Skills Training

Management guru, Tom Peters, says “Presentation skills are worthy of extreme, obsessive study”. 

Well, we’ve only got time for 10 top tips but we do agree. Whether you’re presenting an idea, a service, a project, your company, or yourself you often only have one chance to make real impact with a given audience.

1. Know your message
- What are you trying to achieve?
- What messages do you need to convey?

2. Know your audience
- Who do you really need to reach?
- What will those people respond to? (positively or negatively)

3. Start strong
- It’s a cliché but the first 2-3 minutes are the most important
- Don’t leave your key messages to the end when attention has lapsed

4. Tell a story
- An internal logic to your material makes it easier to digest
- And a story is far more likely to be remembered

5. Deliver with passion
- Your audience won’t be enthusiastic if you aren’t
- Demonstrate your mastery of your content

6. Keep concise
- Do not include anything which is not essential for your story (it distracts)
- Keep it short if possible: don’t expect to retain attention beyond 20 mins

7. Bullet Points DO NOT work
- They do here because they substitute for a presenter
- If you are standing next to bullet points you are reduced to an “irritant”

8. Images MAY work
- Everyone knows images are more powerful than words
- Hopefully they are appropriate, give visual clues and encourage self discovery

9. Keep control
- Your message and your body language must not let the audience drift away
- Break the rythm, avoid physical barriers, use eye contact, modulate your voice

10. Say it once, say it again - then once more
- Analyse the next TV documentary you see
- Present your message repeatedly - using a different angle each time

>> Find Presentation Skills Training
>> Buy ” Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design and Delivery”
>> Explore the best source of advice for Powerpoint presentations

Blogalot - February 2010

Prince2 and ITIL Training Courses in Dublin

If you are looking to combine a professional qualification with a good music, good drink and friendly people, Focus can now offer regular Prince2 and ITIL training courses in the fine city of Dublin

We have teamed up with a local accredited training provider to provide courses in

• Prince2 Foundation Certificate
• Prince2 Practitioner Certificate
• ITIL V3 Foundation Certificate
• ITIL V2 Manager’s Courses

Contact Focus at enquiries@focus-on-training.co.uk, or visit our website www.focus-on-training.co.uk for more information

PRINCE2 in Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Vienna

Following our first Prince2 course in Amsterdam, you can now find Prince2 Foundation & Practitioner training courses in Bratislava, Budapest, Prague and Vienna on our website (www.focusprojects.co.uk)

More course locations in Germany and Sweden will be appearing soon !