Have you ever heard a project manager talking about "using Agile as project management methodology"? Did you dare to ask him what was he talking about? Sometimes the answer gives you the creeps because it sounds like a methodology where the consultant gets a free of jail card to do what he wants.
But what is Agile? It is a project management methodology used when the project has adaptive goals like developing software or providing consultancy services.
E.g. Our project is a trip to find a treasure in a deserted island, there are no maps, no roads, no GPS. We only have and old parchment with some indications. How do you manage a project like that? The team discuss the objectives, agrees with a strategy and start walking in the direction they believe is the right one. When they find a cliff, a lake or a mountain that was not on the parchment, instead of carry on walking on that direction they stop and rethink the strategy. The goal has not changed only the path to follow.
Sometimes a company wants a new website but they do not have a clear idea of what to include. They contact a web developer and agree in a design, number of pages, features, etc. If the designer uses "Waterfall" (or traditional) project management methodology he will go back to his office, build the website and, once is finished, gave it to the client. It sounds great but 99 out of 100 times the client will want to add something else he forgot, or change a feature, colours, etc.
In a traditional scenario you will need to start a new project to apply the new changes. On the other hand, in an agile scenario, the developer will build a little, show it to you, get your agreement and build some more. The danger is when the project manager is the same person that is building the website, there could be a potential conflict of interests here and your project could last forever, blowing up your budget.
So, what are we found about Agile:
- It is a methodology used when the project has adaptive goals.
- Build a little, show it, agree and build more.
- Is easy to overspend if the developer is also the project manager.
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