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How to introduce Agile in a Waterfall environment?

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Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal Irving, Tx, United States
If you are managing infrastructure projects such as Data migrations, Server upgrades and platform migrations. How do you introduce Agile?
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Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dec 26, 2018 4:50 PM
Replying to Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
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Sergio, that’s a good question. The Corp is deciding to go Agile. I’m trying to figure how that methodology fits into the type of projects we are currently managing. Thanks for the link, I will look into it.
That´s one of the point: Agile is not a methodology neither a method. Agile, by definition, is "a way of thinking and behave with focus on client, value and quality". Then, first of all, your company has to be defined client, then from client defined value then from the other defined quality. All these stuff can be defined by business where a company could have more than one business defined into it. In my actual work place we are using Agile principles for infraestructure projects and we create our own Agile based method to do that. A method is composed by a process model and a life cycle based on that process model, basically.
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Gaurav Vashisth Team Lead| Bombardier Gurugram, Haryana, India
I will suggest to first educate the team about Agile methodology , It will make easier to get the buy-in from everyone. Looking at the activities listed Kanban seems to be first choice. The most important part is , Team should feel a value addition by adapted to new process.
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Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal Irving, Tx, United States
Gaurav, great suggestion on educating the team! This would definitely have to happen in order for everyone to be on the same page.
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Mario Coquillat Project, Program and Portfolio consultant, mentor and trainer| CoquillatPM San Pedro Del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
I recommend you to review the Stacey complexity model to identify if you really need agile.

https://www.scrum-tips.com/2016/02/17/stacey-complexity-model/

Anyway you can use some agile practices as Kanban Board or daily meetings to introduce some agile approach to your waterfall projects. We use it for example to manage tasks in a daily basis at instalation phase of some aeronautic projects.
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1 reply by Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
Dec 27, 2018 9:56 AM
Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
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Mario, the Stacey Complexity model explanation was a nice read and suggestion.
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Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal Irving, Tx, United States
Dec 27, 2018 4:44 AM
Replying to Mario Coquillat
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I recommend you to review the Stacey complexity model to identify if you really need agile.

https://www.scrum-tips.com/2016/02/17/stacey-complexity-model/

Anyway you can use some agile practices as Kanban Board or daily meetings to introduce some agile approach to your waterfall projects. We use it for example to manage tasks in a daily basis at instalation phase of some aeronautic projects.
Mario, the Stacey Complexity model explanation was a nice read and suggestion.
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Deepesh Rammoorthy ICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood Service Tarneit, Vic, Australia
Dec 26, 2018 1:20 PM
Replying to PATANJALI SASTRY ORUGANTI
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I think it is difficult to incorporate any methodology that falls under the Agile umbrella (especially Scrum) for infrastructure projects.

Reason being the scope of an infrastructure project is well defined. Even if there is any change in the requirements, the same will be tracked as separate line items in the project plan.

However, a Kanban board can be prepared to track the progress of project activities.
Depends on what you define as Infrastructure?
Are you referring to Data Center Migration ? If yes, then I don't see how Data Center Migration cannot be done as an Agile Project where every sprint achieves clearly visible value .
Example :- You can move infrastructure associated with a set of applications in the one sprint.

And no, not all infrastructure projects need to have clearly defined requirements at the start.

I don't know much about construction/engineering projects but i have heard that even they can be done using Agile.
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Milind Patil Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Marilyn

Why do you want to introduce Agile? why do you feel Agile is needed?
Is whatever practice you are using currently not working in delivery?
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1 reply by Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
Jan 04, 2019 6:35 AM
Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
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Milind, it’s the company’s decision. I’m sure it will fit well according to their strategy since they see the bigger picture. I’m trying to see how I can introduce it into the type of projects I’m working.
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Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal Irving, Tx, United States
Jan 04, 2019 12:18 AM
Replying to Milind Patil
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Marilyn

Why do you want to introduce Agile? why do you feel Agile is needed?
Is whatever practice you are using currently not working in delivery?
Milind, it’s the company’s decision. I’m sure it will fit well according to their strategy since they see the bigger picture. I’m trying to see how I can introduce it into the type of projects I’m working.
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1 reply by Milind Patil
Jan 05, 2019 2:49 AM
Milind Patil
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One positive thing is its management decision. Hope they know what agile is and how it is beneficial org's business point of view and what kind of support team/s may needed in future.
With this you crossed major barrier. There are further barriers. This is the change you are introducing which is hard at team level. You have to cross that resistance. See for right skills team has to start. Other barrier is project complexity. You can consider small module and one team then scale.

My advice is you can start step by step with small with few features reducing agile events to Product backlog, Sprint planning and daily meeting. Then slowly start adding other events. You will start seeing change, issues, time box etc. No idea what team size is. If it is small, most of the events they can cover at there locations.
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Milind Patil Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Jan 04, 2019 6:35 AM
Replying to Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal
...
Milind, it’s the company’s decision. I’m sure it will fit well according to their strategy since they see the bigger picture. I’m trying to see how I can introduce it into the type of projects I’m working.
One positive thing is its management decision. Hope they know what agile is and how it is beneficial org's business point of view and what kind of support team/s may needed in future.
With this you crossed major barrier. There are further barriers. This is the change you are introducing which is hard at team level. You have to cross that resistance. See for right skills team has to start. Other barrier is project complexity. You can consider small module and one team then scale.

My advice is you can start step by step with small with few features reducing agile events to Product backlog, Sprint planning and daily meeting. Then slowly start adding other events. You will start seeing change, issues, time box etc. No idea what team size is. If it is small, most of the events they can cover at there locations.
avatar
Dr. Marilyn Muhammad-Lawal Irving, Tx, United States
Thanks everyone for all of this valuable information!!! Keep it coming....
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