AgilePM
Discover how AgilePM can refine your project management approach, providing the skills and knowledge to lead your Agile projects with confidence and efficiency.
Introduction
AgilePM (Agile Project Management) offers a flexible and interactive approach to managing projects, allowing for swift adaptability to change while maintaining a structured and controlled project environment.
AgilePM, shaped by the Agile Business Consortium, provides the governance and rigour needed for agile project delivery. It is particularly effective in environments where requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organising, cross-functional teams.
The AgilePM framework is designed to be scalable and can be tailored for projects of any size and complexity, providing a perfect blend of control and agility.
AgilePM principles
The eight guiding principles of AgilePM are central to the framework, ensuring that each project abides by these core values:
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Focus on the business need
Every decision in the project is made with the business objectives in mind to ensure that the project delivers the required value.
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Deliver on time
The emphasis is on fixed timescales and iterative development, which provides discipline and enables frequent delivery of products.
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Collaborate
Stakeholders and the project team work closely together through shared project ownership to produce the best possible solution.
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Never compromise quality
Quality is not variable; the level of quality to be delivered is defined at the start and adhered to throughout the project lifecycle.
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Build incrementally from firm foundations
Understand the project’s scope and ensure that the foundation is solid before proceeding to build incrementally.
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Develop iteratively
Embrace the concept of iterative development to encourage creativity and to enable change based on feedback.
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Communicate continuously and clearly
Ensure continuous communication with stakeholders, providing clarity and visibility into the project’s progress.
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Demonstrate control
Use key controls, such as timeboxing and MoSCoW prioritisation, to stay on top of the project’s progress and direction.
AgilePM roles
AgilePM defines key roles with specific responsibilities to ensure project accountability and efficiency:
Project Manager
The individual who manages the project on a day-to-day basis and ensures the project delivers in line with the AgilePM framework.
Business Sponsor
Ultimately responsible for the project, ensuring the provision of resources and alignment with business interests.
Business Visionary
Sets the overall direction for the project, ensuring that the project’s objectives meet business requirements.
Technical Coordinator
Manages technical aspects, ensuring that the technical infrastructure and practices are appropriate for the project.
Team Leader
Facilitates the development team, working to enable them to be productive and collaborative.
Business Analyst
Bridges the gap between the business and technical worlds, ensuring that requirements are clearly understood and met.
Solution Developer/Tester
Works on creating and testing the product, following the project standards and practices.
AgilePM products
The products in AgilePM are specific artefacts that are created and maintained throughout the project lifecycle:
Prioritised Requirements List (PRL)
A living document detailing customer’s requirements, prioritised to guide the project’s focus.
Solution Architecture Definition/Design
Provides a high-level outline of the proposed solution, ensuring everyone’s understanding is aligned.
Development Approach Definition
Describes how the solution will be developed, including practices, processes and standards.
Management Approach Definition
Details how the project will be managed, including reporting, roles, responsibilities, and key processes.
AgilePM processes
The five key processes of AgilePM cater to different stages of the project lifecycle:
Feasibility
This initial phase involves examining the project’s viability, determining whether it should proceed to the next phase.
Foundations
In this critical phase, the project’s scope, infrastructure, and foundations are established before the development begins.
Evolutionary Development
Through iterative cycles, the product is developed, tested, and improved upon, utilising feedback to evolve the product.
Deployment
This phase focuses on delivering increments of the product to the customer, ensuring that each release adds value and is aligned with customer expectations.
Post-Project
After project delivery, this phase ensures that the benefits are realised and sustained, and the project is properly closed out.
Each process stage employs the principles, roles, and products to ensure structured progress, meticulous management, and delivery of tangible, valuable outputs that align with business needs.
Implementing AgilePM in your organisation
Adopting AgilePM within an organisation can revolutionise project delivery, enhancing adaptability and responsiveness. The key lies in an informed approach and the commitment to a clear implementation strategy.
Starting with AgilePM
Beginning the AgilePM journey involves gaining buy-in from stakeholders and aligning organisational processes with Agile values. AgilePM training and coaching can help embed the AgilePM ethos, while pilot projects can demonstrate its effectiveness and facilitate a smoother transition.
agileKRC is uniquely placed to help your organisation adopt AgilePM. agileKRC founder Keith Richards was the lead author of the AgilePM Handbook and AgilePM certification scheme. Our AgilePM consultants can perform a health check to assess how agile your organisation currently is and can propose a step by step improvement program consisting of tailored training and ongoing coaching and mentoring from our expert Agile consultants.
AgilePM certification
For individuals or organisations seeking AgilePM certification, then agileKRC has the expertise to help coach individuals and teams to the level to pass the examinations for AgilePM Foundation and AgilePM Practitioner levels.
Summary
The AgilePM framework is a robust yet flexible approach to Agile project management that facilitates rapid adaptation to change while ensuring a controlled and orderly progression of project activities.
Emphasising principles such as stakeholder collaboration, incremental delivery, and constant communication, AgilePM enables organisations to achieve efficiency and effectiveness in their project deliveries.
With its clearly defined roles, artefacts, and processes, AgilePM is suitable for a wide range of industries and project types, ensuring that the balance between governance and agility is maintained, ultimately leading to successful project outcomes.
Whether for small-scale endeavours or large complex initiatives, AgilePM offers a structured yet adaptive pathway to project success.