Reference no: EM132997717

MIS608 Agile Project Management - Research Report on Agile

Learning Outcome 1: Undertake research to demonstrate an understanding of Agile concepts, tools and techniques

Task Summary
"The Philosopher's product is his life" - Friedrich Nietzsche

Manifestos communicate beliefs, aims, intentions and views - they are a philosophy rather than a method. The Agile Manifesto is the philosophy from which Agile methods and frameworks have emerged.

This assessment is about ensuring that we understand the thinking or the ‘what' of Agile in preparation for learning the methods, practices, tools, and techniques associated with the ‘how' of Agile.

You will be required to prepare a report covering the following concepts and areas of knowledge:
1. VUCA
2. The Agile Manifesto
3. The Case for Agile
4. Agile vs. Waterfall
5. A Comparison of Scrum and Kanban
6. The influence of Lean on the Agile philosophy and practices

Context
Because careers in the world of Information Systems require being able to ‘do', we focus on techniques which engender capability building. Agile is a complex and multi-facetted discipline. Because we are preparing you for professional practice in your future workplace - the assessment pathway takes a laddered approach to your learning to embed theoretical knowledge through active practice:
1. Assessment 1 - Prepare - Understand theoretical foundations of Agile.
2. Assessment 2 - Reflect - Develop your Agile Mindset and capability to work in an Agile team.
3. Assessment 3 - Perform - An authentic assessment where you will apply the knowledge and skills you progressively develop in the subject to a business problem using Agile Project Management.

Task Instructions

Your report will require 6 boxes, each one devoted to covering a specific knowledge area:

1. Box 1 - VUCA.
Consider the acronym VUCA :
a. Briefly describe an example of a current commonly known challenge that you believe aligns with one of the dimensions of VUCA. Ensure that you include a reference for your reader to a source that describes the challenge.
b. Select one dimension - either volatility, uncertainty, complexity or ambiguity - that you believe best explains this current challenge and characteristics that make this the case?
c. Looking at the recommended approach for this condition, how do you think Agile will help to achieve that approach?

2. Box 2 - Authors of the Agile Manifesto.
Select one of the following authors of the Agile Manifesto and do some desktop research using current quality resources so that you can answer the questions below:

Kent Beck | Ken Schwaber | Jeff Sutherland | Jim Highsmith | Alistair Cockburn

a. Add a picture of the author of your choice ensuring that you both caption and reference the image with the correct technique.
b. With which Agile framework are they aligned?
c. Briefly describe the framework in 2-3 sentences.
d. What do you believe the framework to which they are aligned is best suited?

3. Box 3 - Agile vs Waterfall.
What, in your opinion is the biggest difference between Agile and Waterfall? Include evidence from two sources to back your claim.

4. Box 4 - The Case for Agile.
Consider the ‘triple constraint' of Project Management, also known as the ‘Iron
Triangle'. Several cases and examples have been included in the essential resources for this subject which illustrate how Agile can be beneficial for projects. Select one of these cases - or source a case of your own selection- and discuss the impact of an Agile approach on one of the triple constraints and on quality. Ensure that you clearly identify the case to which you are referring in your response with appropriate referencing techniques.
5. Box 5 - A comparison of Scrum and Kanban.
a. Kanban and Scrum are compatible Agile techniques which have both similarities and differences. Identify what you believe to be the most important similarity and most important difference between the two techniques and explain why you think that this is the case. Ensure that you back your position with evidence from quality sources.
b. Explain which of these techniques - Scrum or Kanban - is better suited as a technique for project managing your group assessment project. Give three reasons for why you believe this and back your reasoning with evidence.

6. Box 6 - The Influence of Lean on Agile philosophy and practice.
It is recognised that Lean philosophy has influenced both Agile philosophy and practices. Select two lean philosophies and draw a two-sided mind map to illustrate the concept of how Lean philosophies have given rise to principles in the Agile Manifesto and how these have in turn influenced the emergence of certain Agile practices. Use the mind map to show the relationships from point of origin to practices in use.

Visual Appeal and Format
1. Your report will need to be designed and completed in Word format - alternative package solutions (e.g. Canva) may not be used as they do not meet the university's submission criteria.
2. A cover page will be required which must include the following information:
a. Subject Code
b. Subject name
c. Assessment number
d. Assessment title
e. Class CRN
f. Learning Facilitator's name
g. Student name
h. Student number (‘A' number)
3. The report must use font Arial or Calibri 11 point and be line spaced at 1.15 for ease of reading.
4. You may use a tables or text boxes to create your six boxes based on what best meets your needs. You must pay careful attention to layout and how items fit on the pages.
5. When diagrams or tables are used, due attention should be given to placement.
6. Diagrams or tables must carry the appropriate captioning.

Referencing
There are requirements for referencing this report using APA referencing style. It is expected that you reference any appropriate resources that were used in class and that you include five additional resources in the relevant subject areas based on readings and further research.

Attachment:- Assessment Brief.rar