Dear colleagues,
I am preparing for the PMI-ACP test, I am surprised that in many preparation tests indicate that the correct answer when they ask about the best tools for information radiator choose low-tech high-touch tools, which is equivalent to use paper. (stick notes, printed reports on a wall, etc.) versus digital tools. I cannot believe that such approaches in an era of digitalization (2021), where automated reports have been demonstrated that are more SIMPLES, fast to share, timely and accurate than a printed paper. Besides, every day the paper needs to be replaced (to reflect the changes at the last moment), with the risk in case of failure, of creating misunderstanding about the actual progress. The automated tools will give in real time the last situation of the projects.
And from points of view of visualization, it is demonstrated that is easier for reviewing, helping to enhance collaboration and share ideas with all stakeholders, sponsor, vendors and team, even though the main team is collocated, so it is almost impossible considers in middle and large projects to be all group sit in the same room. Also remember it is quite common to interact with vendors, so digital tools for project status information (as an information radiator) are going to facilitate the integration than a low-tech tool using paper.
Then, why to insist on the use of paper, implementing a low-tech tool? Many answers are related to simplicity, but I could understand this when the agile manifesto was developed in 2001 when the software was not designed using a simplicity user approach, on the contrary, that it is today. Please could you help to understand this point of view?
While automated tools can certainly remove some of the manual effort involved in communicating, think of:
1. The one time and ongoing costs of acquisition and maintenance
2. Implementation effort and time
3. Getting folks to use the tools appropriately so you don't get garbage in, garbage out
For virtual teams or where some team members are remote, there's no choice, but for small projects with a co-located team, "old school" approaches such as whiteboards, sticky notes and paper-based information radiators are low cost, easy to teach and use and can be quickly refactored.
You'd be surprised how many experienced agile coaches and leads prefer to start new teams out with non-technology-based methods of capturing and sharing information...
Thanks very much, Kiron for your answer, but I had a case where the company had an electronic tool, the team was using the tool but for the reason of budget reduction the licenses were reduced to just for the use of the team. Then, due to the stakeholder cannot use the electronic tool, the correct answer was the team also have to release the electronic tool to be aligned with the stakeholders. I never understood this answer, please could you help ??
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jan 24, 2021 8:59 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Elena -
I'm not clear on the answer you provided. Is this from an ACP practice exam?
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Elena
Kiron made some very good points. As to your question, usually, information radiators are very important in any project for the team and for stakeholders to be up to date so if electronic tool was available for the team but not for stakeholders, then there might be a communication gap which will create issues so it is best to align use of tool.
RK Saving Changes...
TUSEEF AHMED KHANProject Engineer(Power Distribution)| Saudi Electricity Company Saudi arabiaKarachi, Pakistan
In my opinion, Electronic tools can be helpful as much as when you have connected through the system ,sticky notes is just like you have an eye on every time around you to be more focused as well as every body can access it easily Saving Changes...
Thanks very much, Kiron for your answer, but I had a case where the company had an electronic tool, the team was using the tool but for the reason of budget reduction the licenses were reduced to just for the use of the team. Then, due to the stakeholder cannot use the electronic tool, the correct answer was the team also have to release the electronic tool to be aligned with the stakeholders. I never understood this answer, please could you help ??
Elena -
I'm not clear on the answer you provided. Is this from an ACP practice exam?
Hi Kiron, yes, I performed a test simulator for PMI-ACP, where the explanation for the response indicated that even though a company utilized an electronic tool, but caused by a budget reduction the licenses were limited just to the team, then the team should stop using the electronic tool and switch to a low-tech tool.
For me, it was surprised because this is very common this type of situation and usually team continues with the electronic tool to help them to update the progress easier, and perform digitalized reports to the rest of the stakeholders, wall radiator, etc. I never see a team stops using an automated tool to switch to a low-tech tool. On contrary yes, a lot.
Thanks for your feedback
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1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jan 25, 2021 7:15 AM
Kiron Bondale
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Elena -
If there is a sufficient budget constraint and the software pricing model is subscription-based, then the company's leadership might choose to discontinue use of the software in which case a non-technology-based alternative would be needed.
This is absolutely feasible in the real world - with budget constraints, anything viewed as discretionary is subject to reduction.
Hi Kiron, yes, I performed a test simulator for PMI-ACP, where the explanation for the response indicated that even though a company utilized an electronic tool, but caused by a budget reduction the licenses were limited just to the team, then the team should stop using the electronic tool and switch to a low-tech tool.
For me, it was surprised because this is very common this type of situation and usually team continues with the electronic tool to help them to update the progress easier, and perform digitalized reports to the rest of the stakeholders, wall radiator, etc. I never see a team stops using an automated tool to switch to a low-tech tool. On contrary yes, a lot.
Thanks for your feedback
Elena -
If there is a sufficient budget constraint and the software pricing model is subscription-based, then the company's leadership might choose to discontinue use of the software in which case a non-technology-based alternative would be needed.
This is absolutely feasible in the real world - with budget constraints, anything viewed as discretionary is subject to reduction.
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