Project Management

Please login or join to subscribe to this thread

Managing Time and Cost in Agile Projects

linkedin twitter facebook   Agile   Change Management   Estimating   Scrum  
avatar
Toni Collier Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Hi All,

In Agile, if Scope if variable how can I manage expectations around time and cost?

Cheers!
Sort By:
avatar
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Hi Toni, managing time and cost is possible through various means, but also through the variability in scope. We monitor the velocity of the team, their capacity, and scope and budget burndown to see if we are tracking on target. The fact that the scope is variable is precisely how ultimately we can manage expectations with the customer to finish by a certain date and within a certain budget. If, as we travel along the project, it becomes evident that things are not tracking well, then we need to set the expectation with the customer that we need to adjust the scope to match the schedule and budget constraint, or they may opt to keep the scope the same knowing that the schedule and budget may slip. Alternately, we can also look for ways to improve our productivity which may improve the schedule and/or budget while keeping the original scope in tact.
avatar
Toni Collier Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
Thanks Sante!

I have inherited a project where the backlog is incomplete. The client wants to know when the software development will be complete, and also what the total costs will be. I am finding it difficult to manage their expectations. They have not yet performed discovery in most areas and have not identified NFRs. Any suggestions?
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Apr 27, 2018 8:30 AM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
A good start will be to get onto that backlog and complete it as best you can. You're not going to be able to give decent estimates unless you have a handle on the amount of scope to deliver.
avatar
Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Toni -

One approach to delivering agile projects is to constrain time & cost upfront and let scope be truly variable.

If that is not palatable to your client, then you will need to baseline scope at a high-level (themes or even epics) but allow flexibility at the story level so long as the estimate for completing the work in the backlog can fit within the approved number of sprints.

Kiron
avatar
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD Senior Project Manager| Infosys Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Apr 27, 2018 7:34 AM
Replying to Toni Collier
...
Thanks Sante!

I have inherited a project where the backlog is incomplete. The client wants to know when the software development will be complete, and also what the total costs will be. I am finding it difficult to manage their expectations. They have not yet performed discovery in most areas and have not identified NFRs. Any suggestions?
A good start will be to get onto that backlog and complete it as best you can. You're not going to be able to give decent estimates unless you have a handle on the amount of scope to deliver.
avatar
Sergio Luis Conte Helping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based Organizations Buenos Aires, Argentina
If you use time boxing which is the usual into Agile environments time and cost are fixed and scope is adjusted to time and cost. So, scope is not variable, is adjusted to time and cost which is not the same.

Please login or join to reply

Content ID:
ADVERTISEMENTS

The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated.

- Mark Twain

ADVERTISEMENT

Sponsors







Vendor Events

See all Vendor Events

Newsletters

Jun 3: The Career Problem Facing New PMs
May 20: Your PM Career as a Project Life Cycle
May 13: The Big Lie After Layoffs

See all newsletters