Mark RitceySr. IT Project Manager| Nextera Energy Inc.Deerfield Beach, Fl, United States
As we know, there are huge benefits of using Agile for developing custom web applications. This can avoid the customer saying in the end "you built according to the requirements, but this isn't what I really NEED!" - through following traditional waterfall methodology.
However, what about using Agile for a hardware installation project? In other words, the requirements are clear - we need these servers replaced, O/S upgraded, etc. etc. There is no customer "vision" of an application that needs to be delivered in the end.
Can Agile be applied for these types of projects? Are there additional benefits of using agile vs waterfall for infrastructure projects? Any advice on how best to apply Agile for these projects? Saving Changes...
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Rob KurtzSenior Project Manager| World Wide TechnologyO Fallon, Il, United States
Hi Mark,
Most of my career has been in infrastructure. I don't see how agile would be the best approach for replacing servers. Reason being...it would be hard to timebox "purchasing hardware" as there is a delay between getting quotes, gaining purchase approval through finance, having a purchase order issued, order fulfillment from the vendor (at least two weeks). It would be hard to consider a server working that is only racked, cabled, and powered, but no operating system installed.
However, I have found that using agile/scrum has helped with other support (business as usual) work. I worked with our Enterprise Monitoring team to reduce the number of false alerts showing up at our Operations Center. I worked with the core team, created a "task" backlog, used story point estimating, populated tasks into two-week sprints, held daily 15 minute stand ups, and created a burn down chart to track progress. After 3 sprints, we reduced the number of false alerts from over 200 to just 2 per week. Ops Center was very appreciative. :-)
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Rob Saving Changes...
Mark RitceySr. IT Project Manager| Nextera Energy Inc.Deerfield Beach, Fl, United States
Wow, that really helps, Rob. Thanks. I'd love to read an article on that process if you wanted to write one! Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The problem is that most of the people have a misunderstanding about what agile is. Inside the company where I working right now we use agile approach for infrastructure projects. You have to understand that agile is not a method or methodology, agile is not the "agile manifesto for software development". You can use agile with "traditional" approach as waterfall life cycle. Most of the agile software development methods have become to agile solution delivery methods so you can deliver a solution using them. But to select an approach (agile or whatever) you have to evaluate your organizational architecture (culture, process, skills, style, structure, etc) and the type of product/service/result you will create to see if the approach fits for the initiative you will take. Saving Changes...
