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MIS608 Agile Project Management - Laureate International Universities

Assessment - 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. There is no requirement for an introduction of conclusion using this method - your word count can be better used in the boxes:

1. Box 1 - VUCA.
To answer this question, you will need this article: Bennett, N., & Lemoine, G. J. (2014).
What a difference a word makes: understanding threats to performance in a VUCA world. Business Horizons, 57(3), 311-311. Which can be accessed via the Torrens online library
a. According to this article which dimension is best addressed by ‘Agility' and with what techniques?
b. For companies who only use Traditional (waterfall) project management - what options do they have to address complexity within their operating model?
c. The term ‘Fail fast and fail cheap' is commonly heard in Design Thinking. Which dimension of VUCA does this align to - and how does this mitigate the risk of this dimension?
d. VUCA seems to capture many events that could be considered disaster or chaos - what counter position do the authors take and what are four strategies shared by the business leaders that Bennet & Lemoine interviewed?

None of these answers are ‘one word' answers - we expect to see an explanation and reasoning backed by evidence as to why you have made your specific selection.

2. Box 2 - Authors of the Agile Manifesto.
a. Select one of the following Agile methodologies:
i. Scrum
ii. XP
iii. Crystal
b. To which author of the Agile Manifesto is this methodology aligned?
c. Briefly describe the framework in 2-3 sentences.
d. Share a diagram which is a high-level representation of the selected framework.
e. 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 similarity between Agile and Waterfall? Include evidence from two sources to back your claim. Why do you believe this would be the case?

4. Box 4 - The Case for Agile.
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 - ensuring that you clearly identify the case to which you are referring in your response with
appropriate referencing techniques. Consider the ‘triple constraint' of Project Management, also known as the ‘Iron Triangle':

a. In the case that you have selected - which of the triple constraints showed the greatest benefit from the move to Agile? Indicate why you say this and back your position with evidence from the case.
b. What was the specific impact on quality? Include specific figures to back your position and explain why you believe this quality outcome was achieved.

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 differences are 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. Give three challenges that you could anticipate in using Kanban as a technique for managing your project for assessment 3, and what countermeasures you could put in place to mitigate these challenges.

6. Box 6 - The Influence of Lean on Agile philosophy and practice.
Kaizen is a very well-known Lean philosophy which originated in Lean manufacturing.
a. Define what Kaizen means
b. Review the 12 principles of the Agile Manifesto and identify 4 principles which demonstrate a close alignment to the principles of Kaizen.
c. Explain why you have selected these four principles and what it is about that principle that you believe reflects the alignment.

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.

Attachment:- Research Report on Agile.rar