Agile projects are currently the trend
in project management practices, transitioning from being used primarily
in small projects with undefined scopes and low budgets, mostly in
software development, to being used as an alternative method to
traditional waterfall projects with defined scopes and requirements.
The
definitions of agile projects and waterfall projects are determined by
the phases (lifecycle) that a project goes through from start to
completion. These phases can be either "Predictive" or "Adaptive" in
nature. The predictive (waterfall) lifecycle is a plan-driven approach
that allows for upfront planning of a well-defined scope and
requirements, aiming to deliver a big final outcome at the project's
end. The adaptive (agile) lifecycle is a change-driven approach that
permits modifications to the scope and putting clients' feedback in
consideration at each phase of the project, aiming to deliver a
cumulative and incremental outcome throughout the project lifecycle.
So
why are projects nowadays preferable to be agile in nature compared to
the old traditional waterfall approach? The answer to this question in
one word is "Adaptation," to cope with unpredictable and rapidly
changing nature of the modern business environment, from the economical,
technological, and political perspectives, as we actually live in a
VUCA world.
VUCA stands for Volatility (rapid and unpredictable
changes), Uncertainty (events and outcomes are difficult to predict with
confidence), Complexity (interconnected factors influence situations,
making cause-and-effect relationships unclear), and Ambiguity (multiple
interpretations of information or situations, leading to confusion). In a
VUCA world, organizations and project management face challenges such
as sudden market shifts, technological advancements, geopolitical
instability, and ambiguous or unclear situations. Then VUCA concept
highlights the need for organizations and project managements to be
agile, adaptive, and resilient in order to thrive in such dynamic
conditions.
Strategists argue that creating long-term plans for
three to five years is difficult nowadays, even sticking to a plan for
even one year is nearly impossible. Therefore, upfront planning in
projects may not be effective and will likely need to be reviewed,
adapted, and updated continuously, due to the VUCA concept. This
necessitates an agile approach; focusing on launching and iterating
rather than on strict adherence to a fixed scope, time, and cost.
Article by Amr H. Abayazeed - May 10, 2024.
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