Achieving Success in Projects 9 Effective Methodologies (Part 1)

So, we've started diving into the topic of business process automation. Today we will start talking about ...

Automation

5 min read

So, we have started diving into the topic of business process automation. Today we will start talking about its methodologies (I will warn you right away, there is a lot of information, so we will divide it into several parts).

An approach to software development based on continuous communication, flexibility and agility.

It provides more efficient development and project management, which is why more and more companies are adopting Agile.

Agile

The Agile Manifesto is a statement created by a group of software development experts in 2001, which articulates the core principles and values on which the Agile approach should be based.

It encompasses four core values:

People and interaction are more important than processes and tools
A working product is more important than comprehensive documentation
Cooperation with the customer is more important than negotiating contract terms
Willingness to change is more important than following a plan

In addition, the manifesto describes 12 principles that provide guidance for working in Agile:

Customer satisfaction, Through early and continuous delivery of valuable software, our top priority .
Changes to requirements are welcome, even if they appear late in the project. Agile processes allow you to leverage change as a competitive advantage for the customer.
A working product is the main indicator of progress. Agile teams should strive to regularly deliver complete products throughout the project.
Agile team work in close collaboration with the customer and stakeholders, to ensure a better understanding of requirements and expectations.
Trust, respect and support between team members, and between the team and the customer are key factors for a successful project.
Agile teams should use simple and efficient ways of working, avoiding unnecessary complexity and bureaucracy.
Constant attention to software quality and technical excellence is a key factor in achieving success.
Agile teams should strive to maximize speed and efficiency of work, Using an iterative and incremental development approach.
Agile teams must maintain a continuous focus on the project improvement process and development methods, to ensure a more efficient operation.
Agile teams should provide frequent iterations and feedback, to quickly adapt to change and correct mistakes.
Agile teams should use self-organization and multi-competence to achieve high performance.
Agile teams should strive to achieve maximum value for the customer and maximize team satisfaction.

Agile is not a methodology, but a philosophy of project management.

Scrum

Scrum is an agile project management methodology based on the following principles:

Transparency - all project participants should have access to up-to-date information on the process and progress of the project.
Inspection - Regularly updating and evaluating the project to make decisions based on up-to-date information.
Adaptation - Adapting quickly to change to achieve results in unpredictable environments.
Self-organization - the team makes its own decisions on how to achieve the project goals.
Collective responsibility - the team is responsible for the outcome of the work, not just the individual participants.
Focus on the goal - the team should be focused on achieving the project goals.
Iterativity - The project is broken down into iterations, each with a final goal and outcome.
Time-boxing - tasks and iterations are time-limited, which helps speed up the process and deliver results on time.

LeSS is used for large projects. Large Scale Scrum (LeSS) translates to "Scalable Scrum".

Scalable Scrum (LeSS) - is a framework based on Scrum principles that is designed for managing large projects involving multiple teams and more complex systems. It helps you manage multiple teams by combining them into one large team while maintaining the core principles and values of Scrum.

Here are some tools that can help lead Scrum projects:

Jira - A popular project management platform that includes Scrum capabilities.
Trello - a convenient tool for visualizing tasks to which Scrum methodology can be applied.
Asana - Another popular project management tool that supports Scrum work.
Scrumwise - A specialized tool for running Scrum projects.
Agilefant - A free project management tool designed for Agile and Scrum methodologies.
Targetprocess - Another project management tool that can be used in the context of Scrum.
SprintGround - A cloud-based tool that helps teams work on Scrum.

These are just some of the possible tools that can help lead Scrum projects, and the choice of a particular tool depends on the specific needs and requirements of the project.

Kanban

Kanban principles include:

Process visualization - is a principle that involves displaying the entire work process on a whiteboard or other tool so that participants can see what is happening at each stage.
Workflow limitation - is to limit the number of tasks that can be in operation at the same time to avoid overload.
Flow control - is a principle that involves managing the flow of tasks in a way that avoids delays and interruptions.
Procedural transparency - is a principle that implies openness and transparency in the process of work.
Communication and cooperation - is a principle that implies communication and cooperation between all participants in the process.
Improvement by iterations - is a principle that involves continuous improvement of the work process through an iterative approach.
Engaging leaders - is a principle that implies leadership and active participation of management in the work process.

Trello - is a free online task management tool that utilizes a Kanban board.
Asana - is a popular project management tool that can be used for Kanban methodology.
Kanban Tool - is a specialized online tool for managing tasks and projects using the Kanban methodology.
LeanKit - is an online tool that provides the ability to create Kanban boards, manage tasks, and analyze data.
Jira - is a project management platform that can be used for Kanban methodology.
Kanbanize - is an online tool that provides the ability to create Kanban boards, manage tasks and processes, and analyze data.
Taiga - is a free online project management tool that supports the Kanban methodology.
MeisterTask - is a task management tool that utilizes the Kanban methodology.

A key feature of Kanban is the visualization of the workflow. It allows you to see the entire workflow in one place and understand what tasks are being performed, who is working on them and at what stage they are. This helps the team to work more efficiently, speed up the product delivery process and improve the quality of work.

Other important features of Kanban include workflow constraints, flow control, procedural transparency, communication and collaboration, iteration improvement, and leader engagement. Each of these features helps improve team productivity and the efficiency of the product development process.

Waterfall

Waterfall is a sequential project life cycle model that consists of several phases. Here are some of the principles that underlie the Waterfall methodology:

Phases: Waterfall is broken down into several phases, each of which must be completed before the next phase begins.
Tight scheduling: The project plan is developed at the very beginning of the project and the entire project should be executed according to this plan.
Tight deadlines: all work within the phase must be completed before the phase completion date.
Tight change management: all changes to the project requirements must be made at the beginning of the project. Thereafter, there should be no additional changes that may affect the project's turnaround time.
Limited Communication: communication with the customer is carried out at the beginning and at the end of the project.
Result: the result of the work must be fully completed and checked before handing over to the customer.

These principles help to manage and monitor the project within the defined timeframe and customer requirements. However, because the Waterfall methodology does not allow for flexibility and the ability to change requirements, it may be less suitable for projects where customer requirements may change during the course of the work.

A key feature of the Waterfall model is its sequential and linear approach to project execution, where each phase is completed before the next phase begins.

Waterfall methodology project management tools include Gantt charts, Program Evaluation Review Technique (PERT) diagrams, network diagrams, Gantt-Chart diagrams, progress reports, and other project management tools.

There are various online services that can be used to manage a project using the Waterfall methodology. Some of the most popular ones include Microsoft Project, GanttPRO, Smartsheet, Wrike, Trello, Asana, Monday.com, and others. These services provide a wide range of tools for planning, resource management, deadline and productivity control, and provide transparency in the project for all team members.

Additional online services for project management using the Waterfall methodology include: