Program Management + Agile

  Agile   ProjectsAtWork  

The Agile mindset can be applied to activities beyond IT and product development, but it will require important critical changes to program management methods. The biggest transition is not in reengineering processes but in a management approach that involves different expectations, working relationships, incentives, metrics and reviews.

For more than a decade, Agile methods such as Scrum, XP, and Kanban have proven very effective for software development projects. In spite of their immense popularity and applicability, however, many organizations — particularly those with traditional management structures — still have difficulty implementing Agile. As is true for many difficult implementations or complex projects, program management is the best way to systematically and successfully achieve desired outcomes. Program management for Agile projects — including non-IT projects — combines two powerful approaches for optimum results.

At first, program management might seem antithetical to Agile. In fact, the framework of program management, or PgM — with some nuanced modifications — ultimately will ensure a more successful Agile implementation in your organization. The fundamental challenges to using Agile on larger-scale efforts mirror those of any large program and include contracting, staffing, reporting, and organizational readiness.

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