PM FPX 4080 Assessment 2 Comparing Agile Methodologies

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Capella University

PM-FPX4080 Agile Project Management

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Date

Introduction

Over the past few decades, project management and its methodologies have undergone significant evolution. Historically, the waterfall methodology was the dominant approach used by many organizations to manage projects, regardless of their scope or size. In 2001, a group of 17 developers introduced the Agile Manifesto, an alternative to the then-existing software development processes, which they considered too complex, unresponsive, and overly focused on documentation requirements (Pratt & Torode, 2020). Agile allows for software to be developed incrementally in stages, providing insights into completed work during a sprint. For the CapraTek project, the introduction of Agile is new, but the process promises significant benefits for the team, organization, and the final product, Alfred.

How Scrum and XP (Extreme Programming) Represent the Agile Manifesto

The Agile Manifesto is built on four values and 12 principles, designed to foster a customer/client-focused environment that can quickly adapt to user needs and market changes. Its core objective is to prioritize results and people over processes and structures (McFadyen, 2021). Scrum and XP, two popular frameworks, align with these values and principles. Scrum includes a daily 15-minute team meeting, known as the daily scrum, to plan and review the work for the day. Another key feature is the sprint retrospective, where teams reflect on their recent work to identify areas for improvement. XP, developed by Kent Beck, one of the original authors of the Agile Manifesto, emphasizes teamwork, developer learning, and a healthy work environment. In XP, developers work in pairs, taking turns programming and observing, ensuring continuous feedback and improved quality (Digite, 2022).

Comparing Agile Methodologies

Both Scrum and XP share the Agile Manifesto’s core values, including prioritizing people over processes, focusing on working products over documentation, fostering collaboration, and being open to change. However, Scrum and XP differ in how they approach their workflows. Scrum operates in sprints, typically lasting two weeks to a month, and changes cannot be made to the sprint once it begins. In contrast, XP allows for changes within its iterations, provided work on the affected feature hasn’t started. Additionally, XP prioritizes features based on customer needs, while Scrum teams have more flexibility in determining the sequence of work. Unlike XP, Scrum does not emphasize engineering practices (Cohn, 2007). The CapraTek project, “Alfred,” is well-suited for an agile methodology due to the lack of clearly defined features. After reviewing Scrum and XP, the team chose Scrum for its flexibility and ease of adoption.

Essential Principles and Practices of Different Agile Methodologies

Each agile methodology embodies core principles, including a focus on customer satisfaction, embracing change, frequent releases, collaboration, team motivation, face-to-face interaction when possible, delivering working products as a measure of progress, technical excellence, and regular reflection on completed work (Siplilearn, 2022). Scrum, for example, complements existing organizational practices, making it easier to transition from a traditional waterfall approach. It emphasizes team collaboration and self-organization, with customer participation in prioritizing tasks and sprints. XP, on the other hand, is technically focused, with minimal documentation and a collaborative environment where development is done in pairs (CapraTek, n.d.).

How Personnel are Used in Different Agile Methodologies

Agile teams typically consist of employees, contractors, or freelancers dedicated to executing the project. Scrum teams are generally composed of five to 11 individuals who share responsibilities related to project delivery. Within the Scrum team, the Scrum Master ensures that the team adheres to Scrum practices, while the product owner maximizes the product’s value by understanding its business requirements. The development team works on creating the final product through sprints (Duggal, 2022). In XP, the customer collaborates closely with the project manager to make business decisions, while developers execute tasks assigned by the customer. Trackers monitor metrics to improve efficiency, and the coach supports the team by resolving methodological challenges (Chappell, 2020).

Conclusion

This analysis provides an overview of agile methodologies, their foundational principles, and the differences between Scrum and XP. While the CapraTek project selected Scrum for its flexibility, both methodologies have unique strengths. Agile continues to gain traction for its adaptability and iterative feedback processes, offering advantages over traditional methodologies like waterfall. However, each approach has its place in project management and can sometimes be used together for optimal results.

References

CapraTek: Comparing Agile Methodologies. (n.d.). In CapraTek. Retrieved from https://media.capella.edu/CourseMedia/pm-fpx4080element236973/wrapper.asp

Chappell, E. (2020, August 20). What is XP in Agile? (Roles, Processes, Tools). In ClickUp Blog. Retrieved from https://clickup.com/blog/what-is-xp-in-agile/

Cohn, M. (2007). Differences between scrum and extreme programming. Mountain Goat Software. https://www.mountaingoatsoftware.com/blog/differences-between-scrum-and-extreme-programming

Duggal, N. (2022, May 27). What is Scrum Team: Structure, Roles and Responsibilities. In Simplilearn. Retrieved from https://www.simplilearn.com/what-is-scrum-team-article

PM FPX 4080 Assessment 2 Comparing Agile Methodologies

McFadyen, J. (2021). Scrum and the Agile Manifesto. In Agile Centre. Retrieved from https://www.agilecentre.com/resources/article/scrum-and-the-agile-manifesto/

Pratt, M. K., & Torode, C. (2020, April). Agile Manifesto. In TechTarget. Retrieved from https://www.techtarget.com/searchcio/definition/Agile-Manifesto#:~:text=Four%20values%20of%20Agile&text=individuals%20and%20interactions%20over%20processes%20and%20tools

What Is Agile Methodology? – Overview Of Agile Software Development And Agile Models. (2022). In Digite. Retrieved from https://www.digite.com/agile/agile-methodology/