AgilePM-Practitioner Questions and Answers

Based on the Agile Project Management roles and the responsibilities outlined for each individual in the XAN Insurance Company Web Project scenario, the following selections can be made:

Manager of Web & Digital Media - will oversee and report progress on the delivery of the overall system.Selection: H. Project ManagerExplanation: The Manager of Web & Digital Media's role of overseeing and reporting on the project's progress aligns with the responsibilities of a Project Manager in an Agile setting, who is responsible for ensuring that the project meets its objectives and is delivered on time.

Finance Director - has budgetary control and will release finance for the project subject to expected benefits.Selection: A. Business SponsorExplanation: The Finance Director's control over the budget and the decision to release funds based on the expected benefits align with the role of a Business Sponsor, who is typically responsible for the project's budget and ensuring that it delivers value to the business.

Sales Manager - will formulate design options for new business processes that do not adversely affect business as usual.Selection: B. Business AnalystExplanation: The Sales Manager's responsibility for formulating design options for new business processes mirrors the role of a Business Analyst in Agile Project Management, who works to understand the business needs, assess the impact of changes, and ensure the solution meets business requirements.

Operations Manager - oversees the design and integrity of the technical aspects of the solution.Selection: F. Technical CoordinatorExplanation: The Operations Manager's focus on the technical design and integrity of the solution corresponds to the role of a Technical Coordinator in Agile projects, who ensures that the technical aspects of the project align with the business needs and technical standards.

For the XAN Insurance Company Web Project, the Development Approach Definition document should outline the methodologies, tools, and techniques to be used during the development process of the project. It focuses on how the project will be executed in terms of technical and management practices.

Selected Statements for the Development Approach Definition:

C. An easy to use web development tool called 'WebMatrix' is to be used to develop and maintain the website extension.

E. Accessibility and performance of the new online quotation area is to be tested using a tool called Sitebeam.

C. This statement directly specifies a tool (WebMatrix) that will be used for web development and maintenance in the project. It is a clear choice regarding the technical approach and infrastructure, making it suitable for inclusion in the Development Approach Definition.

E. Mentioning Sitebeam as a tool for testing accessibility and performance outlines specific methods for ensuring quality and usability in the development process. It provides actionable information on how testing will be conducted, fitting the criteria for the Development Approach Definition.

Why Other Statements Are Excluded:

A. Introducing an awards or bonus scheme to create competition among sales assistants pertains more to internal sales team management and motivation strategies rather than the technical or methodological approach to developing the project.

B. Comparing traditional telephone sales with online sales is related to the project's performance measurement and post-implementation review, not the development approach or methodology used during the project.

D. The request from the Finance Director for a detailed cost report is related to project financial management and monitoring. While important, it does not detail the technical or methodological approach to developing the project's deliverables.

In the context of Agile Project Management, it is crucial to have clear commitments regarding team members' availability to ensure that project planning and execution can be as accurate and effective as possible. By securing a formal agreement on the hours the marketing assistants can dedicate to the project each week, the Project Manager can better plan tasks and allocate resources, thereby optimizing the team's capacity and ensuring that project timelines and deliverables are realistic and achievable.

References:

The Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) framework emphasizes the importance of clear communication, resource planning, and commitment from all team members to ensure project success. Having a formal agreement on availability helps in setting clear expectations and allows for more effective planning and utilization of resources within the constraints of the project, aligning with Agile principles of collaboration, adaptability, and iterative progress.

For each of the descriptions in Column 1, the maintainability objective from Column 2 that each would support is as follows:

Off-the-shelf software with ready-to-use templates that will need to be customised to fully meet Hoy Hall requirements, after deployment.

A. Maintainability is a required attribute of the initial delivered solution

Rationale: Customizing off-the-shelf software indicates a need for the solution to be maintainable from the onset to allow for these adjustments.

Developing a fully functioning in-house system, developed and hosted by Architecture Angels IT Operations team.

A. Maintainability is a required attribute of the initial delivered solution

Rationale: In-house developed systems need to be maintainable to facilitate future changes and enhancements by the team that created them.

All-in-one web-based reservation and accommodation management system built to Hoy Hall's specification.

A. Maintainability is a required attribute of the initial delivered solution

Rationale: A system built to specific requirements will require the ability to maintain and adjust the system as needs evolve, making maintainability a key initial attribute.

All bookings for Hoy Hall to be scheduled by one of the other two hotels within the group, until a suitable system can be implemented at the site.

C. Short-term, tactical solution

Rationale: This is clearly a temporary measure until a proper system is in place, indicative of a tactical solution to address immediate needs.

A spreadsheet is used to capture customer details manually. Data will then be exported into a fully functional system at a later date.

C. Short-term, tactical solution

Rationale: Using a spreadsheet is a stop-gap solution to manage information in the short term, emphasizing the tactical nature rather than long-term maintainability.

Option B is not selected for any of the descriptions as none of them imply an approach of delivering first with the intention to re-engineer later. They all suggest a need for immediate maintainability or a short-term fix, not a re-engineering approach.

In the context of Agile Project Management when developing the Prioritised Requirements List during Feasibility, the two statements that align with Agile principles are:

B. The re-laying of the driveway and a landscaping solution should be listed as Must Have requirements.

E. Regulatory obligations associated with the redevelopment of Hoy Hall should be recorded as Must Have requirements.

Here's the rationale:

•B: In Agile, requirements are often categorized by priority such as "Must Have", "Should Have", "Could Have", and "Won't Have for now" (the MoSCoW method). The re-laying of the driveway and a landscaping solution are essential for the project's success and thus should be classified as "Must Have".

•E: Regulatory requirements are non-negotiable constraints that the project must adhere to. These should always be prioritized in the requirements list to ensure compliance and to avoid legal issues, making them "Must Have" items as well.

Here are the DSDM Principles that would most help to reduce or mitigate the listed risks:

The ‘Hoy for Hoy Hall’ Action Group may cause delay to the project if they are not kept updated on how the finished rooms are going to look.

G. Communicate continuously and clearly

Timber Tigers will ensure that the front rooms are finished and approved by the end of Timebox A.

E. Build incrementally from firm foundations

The Architecture Angels IT support team may require more detail up front in order to approve the initial design for the new online reservation system.

A. Focus on the business need

The morale of the Solution Development Team may be adversely affected if the external web design specialist is not a team player.

C. Collaborate

Empowering the Solution Development Team to manage themselves on a day-to-day basis may result in the Project Manager losing sight of what activities are being carried out, by whom and when.

H. Demonstrate control