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Agile Project Management for Construction: Adapting to the Inevitable
Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, PMP, PMI-ACP, LEED AP
(Dr. Sharma is a seasoned construction project manager with over 15 years of experience, holding a PhD in Civil Engineering and certifications in Project Management Professional (PMP), Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP), and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP). Her expertise lies in implementing and optimizing agile methodologies in the construction sector.)
Publisher: McGraw Hill Construction – (A leading publisher of construction-related books and resources, providing credibility and relevance to the subject matter.)
Editor: Mark Johnson, MBA, PMP (Mark Johnson has 20 years of experience in editing technical and business publications, specializing in project management. His MBA and PMP certification ensure the accuracy and clarity of the content.)
Introduction:
The construction industry, traditionally known for its rigid, waterfall-based project management approaches, is undergoing a significant transformation. The adoption of agile project management for construction is no longer a niche practice but a necessity for surviving and thriving in today’s dynamic market. This narrative explores the benefits, challenges, and practical implementation of agile principles within the context of building projects, drawing upon personal experiences and real-world case studies.
H1: The Limitations of Traditional Construction Project Management
For years, construction projects relied heavily on sequential, plan-driven methodologies. These methods, while offering a sense of control, often proved inflexible and struggled to adapt to unforeseen circumstances – common occurrences in construction. Changes in design, material delays, and unexpected site conditions frequently caused project delays and cost overruns. I remember one project early in my career where a seemingly minor change to the foundation design resulted in a six-week delay and a significant budget overspend because the rigid plan didn't allow for easy adjustments. This is a classic example of why agile project management for construction is gaining traction.
H2: Embracing Agile: Iterative Progress and Continuous Feedback
Agile, with its emphasis on iterative development, frequent feedback loops, and collaborative teamwork, offers a refreshing alternative. Instead of a detailed, upfront plan, agile projects are broken down into smaller, manageable iterations (sprints) typically lasting 2-4 weeks. Each sprint delivers a tangible increment of progress, allowing for continuous monitoring, adaptation, and risk mitigation. This allows for flexibility, especially beneficial in handling the ever-changing aspects of a construction site.
H3: Case Study 1: The Green Building Project
During a recent project involving the construction of a LEED-certified office building, we implemented agile project management for construction. The initial design phase incorporated several sustainable features, but during the first sprint, we discovered a conflict between the chosen solar panel system and the building's structural integrity. Using an agile approach, we quickly convened a team meeting – architects, engineers, and subcontractors – to brainstorm alternative solutions. We ultimately incorporated a different, more cost-effective solar panel array without significant project delays. This showcases the power of rapid adaptation inherent in agile project management for construction.
H4: Case Study 2: The Highway Overpass Construction
Another successful implementation of agile project management for construction involved the construction of a highway overpass. Unexpectedly harsh weather conditions during the initial stages threatened the project timeline. By using daily stand-up meetings and actively monitoring progress, we were able to identify and address potential problems early on. Through collaborative problem-solving, we adjusted the work schedule, reallocating resources to mitigate the impact of the weather delays. The project was ultimately completed on time and within budget, proving the effectiveness of agile project management for construction in dealing with unforeseen challenges.
H5: Challenges of Implementing Agile in Construction
While the benefits are clear, implementing agile project management for construction is not without its challenges. Traditional construction culture often prioritizes fixed plans and established hierarchies, making the shift to a more collaborative and flexible environment difficult. Furthermore, the need for specialized skills and training can initially pose a hurdle. Overcoming resistance to change within the team and effectively integrating agile tools and techniques requires careful planning and strong leadership.
H6: Overcoming the Challenges: Tools and Techniques
Successful implementation of agile project management for construction relies on utilizing appropriate tools and techniques. Kanban boards for visualizing workflow, scrum meetings for regular progress updates and problem-solving, and robust communication platforms are essential. Moreover, investing in training programs for project teams is crucial to ensure effective adoption of agile principles.
H7: The Future of Agile in Construction
The construction industry is slowly but surely embracing the transformative power of agile project management for construction. As technology advances, we can expect even more sophisticated tools and techniques to further enhance agile practices. The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with agile methodologies holds immense potential for optimizing collaboration and improving project outcomes.
Conclusion:
Agile project management for construction is not just a trend; it's a paradigm shift that is revolutionizing how construction projects are planned, executed, and managed. By embracing flexibility, collaboration, and iterative progress, construction firms can significantly enhance project efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. While challenges exist, the benefits of implementing agile project management for construction far outweigh the initial hurdles. The future of construction lies in adapting to change and embracing agile principles for greater success.
FAQs:
1. What is the difference between Agile and traditional project management in construction? Agile emphasizes iterative development, flexibility, and continuous feedback, while traditional methods rely on detailed upfront planning and sequential execution.
2. What are the key benefits of using Agile in construction? Improved flexibility, reduced costs, increased collaboration, better risk management, and faster project completion.
3. What are some common challenges in implementing Agile in construction? Resistance to change, lack of skilled personnel, and the need for adapting agile principles to the specific needs of construction projects.
4. What tools and techniques are commonly used in Agile construction projects? Kanban boards, Scrum meetings, daily stand-ups, and collaborative communication platforms.
5. How can I measure the success of Agile implementation in a construction project? Track key performance indicators such as project completion time, budget adherence, and customer satisfaction.
6. Is Agile suitable for all types of construction projects? While adaptable to various projects, its effectiveness might vary based on project size and complexity.
7. How can I build an Agile team in a construction environment? Invest in training, foster a collaborative culture, and empower team members to take ownership.
8. What role does technology play in Agile construction? Technology like BIM and collaborative platforms enhance communication and information sharing.
9. How can I start implementing Agile in my construction company? Begin with a pilot project, focus on training, and gradually scale up your implementation.
Related Articles:
1. "Agile Estimating Techniques for Construction Projects": This article explores different estimation methods suitable for agile projects, considering uncertainties and iterative nature.
2. "Risk Management in Agile Construction Projects": This article delves into strategies for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in agile construction environments.
3. "The Role of BIM in Agile Construction": This article explores the synergistic relationship between BIM and agile methodologies, emphasizing data-driven decision-making.
4. "Agile Project Management Software for Construction": This article reviews various software solutions tailored to support agile practices in construction.
5. "Agile Contract Management for Construction": This article discusses adapting contract structures to the iterative nature of agile projects.
6. "Scaling Agile for Large Construction Projects": This article addresses the challenges and strategies for implementing agile in complex, large-scale construction projects.
7. "Lean Construction and Agile: A Synergistic Approach": This article explores the complementary aspects of lean and agile principles in construction.
8. "Agile for Renovation and Refurbishment Projects": This article focuses on the specific applications and challenges of agile methodologies in renovation work.
9. "Measuring Success with Agile Metrics in Construction": This article provides a detailed guide to selecting and tracking relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) for agile projects.
| agile project management for construction: Agile Construction Perry Daneshgari, 2015-03-27 * Updated version! Now with full color photos, graphs and charts throughout the book. Agile Construction(r) for the Electrical Contractor provides the tools and guidance needed to transform a traditional, reactive project management style to a new, proactive, profitable, and productive business management model - one that can quickly respond to changing industry needs and remain a profitable enterprise, even during the toughest of times. In this groundbreaking new book, Dr. Daneshgari applies proven managerial techniques from other industries to electrical construction through the introduction of Agile construction - a new scientifically-based tracking system based on jobsite dynamics and the bottom-line impact of the three sources of cost drivers: money, materials, and manpower. This practical and accessible guide to improving operating systems and efficiencies is a must-have for construction company owners, CEOs, project managers, and supervisors with its clear set of practical tools, processes and tips for improving productivity. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile for Project Managers Denise Canty, 2015-02-24 Agile project management is a proven approach for designing and delivering software with improved value to customers. Agility is all about self-directed teams, feedback, light documentation, and working software with shorter development cycles.The role of the project manager with agile differs significantly from traditional project management in th |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management with Scrum Ken Schwaber, 2004-02-11 The rules and practices for Scrum—a simple process for managing complex projects—are few, straightforward, and easy to learn. But Scrum’s simplicity itself—its lack of prescription—can be disarming, and new practitioners often find themselves reverting to old project management habits and tools and yielding lesser results. In this illuminating series of case studies, Scrum co-creator and evangelist Ken Schwaber identifies the real-world lessons—the successes and failures—culled from his years of experience coaching companies in agile project management. Through them, you’ll understand how to use Scrum to solve complex problems and drive better results—delivering more valuable software faster. Gain the foundation in Scrum theory—and practice—you need to: Rein in even the most complex, unwieldy projects Effectively manage unknown or changing product requirements Simplify the chain of command with self-managing development teams Receive clearer specifications—and feedback—from customers Greatly reduce project planning time and required tools Build—and release—products in 30-day cycles so clients get deliverables earlier Avoid missteps by regularly inspecting, reporting on, and fine-tuning projects Support multiple teams working on a large-scale project from many geographic locations Maximize return on investment! |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management Jim Highsmith, 2009-07-10 Best practices for managing projects in agile environments—now updated with new techniques for larger projects Today, the pace of project management moves faster. Project management needs to become more flexible and far more responsive to customers. Using Agile Project Management (APM), project managers can achieve all these goals without compromising value, quality, or business discipline. In Agile Project Management, Second Edition, renowned agile pioneer Jim Highsmith thoroughly updates his classic guide to APM, extending and refining it to support even the largest projects and organizations. Writing for project leaders, managers, and executives at all levels, Highsmith integrates the best project management, product management, and software development practices into an overall framework designed to support unprecedented speed and mobility. The many topics added in this new edition include incorporating agile values, scaling agile projects, release planning, portfolio governance, and enhancing organizational agility. Project and business leaders will especially appreciate Highsmith’s new coverage of promoting agility through performance measurements based on value, quality, and constraints. This edition’s coverage includes: Understanding the agile revolution’s impact on product development Recognizing when agile methods will work in project management, and when they won’t Setting realistic business objectives for Agile Project Management Promoting agile values and principles across the organization Utilizing a proven Agile Enterprise Framework that encompasses governance, project and iteration management, and technical practices Optimizing all five stages of the agile project: Envision, Speculate, Explore, Adapt, and Close Organizational and product-related processes for scaling agile to the largest projects and teams Agile project governance solutions for executives and management The “Agile Triangle”: measuring performance in ways that encourage agility instead of discouraging it The changing role of the agile project leader |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Practice Guide , 2017-09-06 Agile Practice Guide – First Edition has been developed as a resource to understand, evaluate, and use agile and hybrid agile approaches. This practice guide provides guidance on when, where, and how to apply agile approaches and provides practical tools for practitioners and organizations wanting to increase agility. This practice guide is aligned with other PMI standards, including A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Sixth Edition, and was developed as the result of collaboration between the Project Management Institute and the Agile Alliance. |
| agile project management for construction: Construction Extension to the PMBOK® Guide Project Management Institute, 2016-10-01 A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK� Guide) provides generalized project management guidance applicable to most projects most of the time. In order to apply this generalized guidance to construction projects, the Project Management Institute has developed the Construction Extension to the PMBOK� Guide. This Construction Extension provides construction-specific guidance for the project management practitioner for each of the PMBOK� Guide Knowledge Areas, as well as guidance in these additional areas not found in the PMBOK� Guide: * All project resources, rather than just human resources * Project health, safety, security, and environmental management * Project financial management, in addition to cost * Management of claims in construction This edition of the Construction Extension also follows a new structure, discussing the principles in each of the Knowledge Areas rather than discussing the individual processes. This approach broadens the applicability of the Construction Extension by increasing the focus on the what” and why” of construction project management. This Construction Extension also includes discussion of emerging trends and developments in the construction industry that affect the application of project management to construction projects. |
| agile project management for construction: Location-Based Management for Construction Russell Kenley, Olli Seppänen, 2006-09-27 With extensive case studies for illustration, this is a practitioner's guide to an entirely new production system for construction management using flowline scheduling. Covering the entire process of presenting a comprehensive management system – from design, through measurement, scheduling, and visualization and control – its emphasis is on reducing cost and increasing quality. Drawing its components together into a management system, the authors not only include theory and explanations of how and why it works, but also examine and present a suite of methods for successful project implementation. Perfect as a how-to guide for researchers and advanced construction students to discover the simple application of the new techniques, and invaluable for acquiring the practical tools for planning and controlling projects. |
| agile project management for construction: Project Management, Planning and Control Albert Lester, 2007 This fifth edition provides a comprehensive resource for project managers. It describes the latest project management systems that use critical path methods. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management for Government Brian Wernham, 2012 Governments on both sides of the Atlantic have committed to introducing agile change management for faster results with cheaper implementation at lower risk. The first hands-on guide is designed to help public sector leaders reap the rewards of agile methods, based on the latest national and international research. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management James Turner, 2020-04-19 Do you work on projects that require an Agile approach? Would your project benefit from increased control and better customer satisfaction? This book will help you achieve it! When delivering a project the overall values of trust and flexibility, along with empowerment and collaboration are essential. Agile Project Management helps you achieve this with its unique approach, helping you to deliver the project's requirements incrementally throughout the project life cycle. In this book, Agile Project Management: 3 Books in 1 - The Ultimate Beginner's, Intermediate & Advanced Guide to Learn Agile Project Management Step by Step, you will build on any previous knowledge of the system you have, with chapters on: • The basic principles of agile project management and how to apply them • How agile can be adopted to any industry successfully • Tracking and reporting projects to ensure they are on time and according to specification • How to ensure that estimation and planning runs smoothly • Valuable resources that will be invaluable for all agile professionals • How Agile will improve your ability to deliver • The values and principles that Agile extols • How you can plan your project • The advantages that time-boxing will give you • How you can adapt Agile to your business • Introducing Kanban and the benefits it can bring • The key to successful teams • And more... When you have a project that is vitally important to the success of your business it makes complete sense to be at the top of your game with what you are doing. Agile Project Management is the perfect tool that will help you to satisfy all your customers' needs at every stage. Get a copy and see how it will improve your ability to deliver! |
| agile project management for construction: Lean Design Management Stephen Emmitt, 2015-02 This volume brings together authors from four continents to argue that lean thinking should be integral to design management in the fields of architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). It was published as a special issue of Architectural Engineering and Design Management. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management For Dummies Mark C. Layton, Steven J. Ostermiller, 2017-09-05 Flex your project management muscle Agile project management is a fast and flexible approach to managing all projects, not just software development. By learning the principles and techniques in this book, you'll be able to create a product roadmap, schedule projects, and prepare for product launches with the ease of Agile software developers. You'll discover how to manage scope, time, and cost, as well as team dynamics, quality, and risk of every project. As mobile and web technologies continue to evolve rapidly, there is added pressure to develop and implement software projects in weeks instead of months—and Agile Project Management For Dummies can help you do just that. Providing a simple, step-by-step guide to Agile project management approaches, tools, and techniques, it shows product and project managers how to complete and implement projects more quickly than ever. Complete projects in weeks instead of months Reduce risk and leverage core benefits for projects Turn Agile theory into practice for all industries Effectively create an Agile environment Get ready to grasp and apply Agile principles for faster, more accurate development. |
| agile project management for construction: Making Sense of Agile Project Management Charles G. Cobb, 2011-02-08 Making Sense of Agile Project Management Business & Economics/Project Management The essential primer to successfully implementing agile project management into an overall business strategy For a project to be truly successful, its management strategy must be flexible enough to adapt to dynamic and rapidly evolving business needs. Making Sense of Agile Project Management helps project managers think outside the box by presenting a deep exploration of agile principles, methodologies, and practices. Straying from traditional bureaucratic procedures that are rigidly defined, this book espouses a heavy reliance on the training and skill of collaborative, cross-functional teams to adapt the methodology to the problem that they are attempting to solve—rather than force-fitting a project to a particular methodology. Making Sense of Agile Project Management: Focuses on how agile project management fits with other more traditional project management models to provide a more effective strategy Includes many cases taken from real-world companies illustrating good and bad agile implementation Provides coverage that is balanced and objective with discussion of both agile and non-agile methodologies Making Sense of Agile Project Management employs a straightforward approach that enables project managers to grasp concepts quickly and develop adaptable management tools for creating a vibrant and fluid business environment. By utilizing the principles laid out in this book, business managers and leaders will strengthen their ability to meet the risks and complexities of any individual project—and better understand how to blend the appropriate balance of control and agility into an overall business strategy. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management QuickStart Guide Clydebank Business, 2015-09-02 Get Projects Done Quickly & Add Value Immediately Through Agile Project Management! Agile Project Management is simply shifting the world of project management at its core and theres a reason why. With an approach to projects that is quite different from the traditional waterfall methodology, Agile Project Management focuses on added value fast while staying on track to achieve a defined business goal. Completing projects in small chunks, piece by piece, allows project stakeholders to implement deliverables much faster than waiting for all phases of the project to be completed as well as allowing for modifications to project items based on changing needs. Often overlooked as a project management style that is only for IT related projects, Agile methodology can be be utilized to complete projects across any industry including company reorganization, improving upon or redefining business processes and simply any project that does has short production and implementation times. |
| agile project management for construction: Construction Project Management Eddy M. Rojas, 2009-06-15 Construction Project Management offers some of the best project management studies commissioned by ELECTRI International: The Foundation for Electrical Construction that were selected, coordinated, and monitored by some of the most progressive contractors and performed by outstanding scholars from top U.S. universities. Topics include pre-construction planning, early warning signs of project distress, impact of change orders, project sequencing, ideal jobsite inventory levels, tool and material control systems, recommended safety practices, partnering, total quality management, quality assurance, performance evaluations, and contract risk management. All specialty and general contractors will find value in this practical book. The concepts presented will improve your understanding of the main issues affecting construction project management and will provide you with tools and strategies to enhance your company's productivity and profitability. |
| agile project management for construction: Project Management beyond Waterfall and Agile Mounir Ajam, 2018-01-02 This book goes beyond the paint by numbers approach, transcending the how of project management to the what and why, which is critical for leaders of change. — Dr. Joel B. Carboni, President and Founder, GPM Global and President, IPMA-USA Project Management beyond Waterfall and Agile presents a flexible, universal, and integrated three-dimensional model for managing projects, the Customizable and Adaptable Methodology for Managing ProjectsTM (CAMMPTM ). By tailoring and customizing the model to a specific industry or organization and by adapting it to a function or project classification, this model can be used to manage any project. CAMMPTM can also be used both in a traditional or an Agile environment. CAMMPTM integrates leading concepts on competence, processes, and sustainability. The model’s three dimensions are project lifecycle, project management processes, and, finally, competence, sustainability, and best practices. The book explains how to integrate these dimensions to manage a project across the three dimensions and the project stages. CAMMPTM is a stage-gate process, which is vital for project success. The current state of practice in project management is not sustainable. The root causes of this problem include a lack of standardized processes, missing methods or methodological approaches, and no real organizational system for managing projects. This book introduces a system to address these shortcomings. It focuses on the elements of this system, which is a practical and systematic methodological approach for managing and delivering all types of projects. CAMMPTM integrates the best learning from the various global associations in the field. The book distills the experience and knowledge of a practitioner working in different roles for more than three decades on various types of projects of all sizes and complexities. It is a practical book by a practitioner writing for practitioners. |
| agile project management for construction: Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Separation Technology Muhammad Abbas Ahmad Zaini, Mazura Jusoh, Norasikin Othman, 2021-05-24 This book contains papers presented in the 3rd International Conference on Separation Technology 2020 (ICoST 2020) held from 15 to 16th August 2020 at Johor, Malaysia. This proceeding contains papers presented by academics and industrial practitioners showcasing the latest advancements and findings in field of separation technology. The papers are categorized under the following tracks and topics of research: Environment Engineering Biotechnology Absorption and Adsorption Technology Wastewater Treatment ICoST 2020 covers multidisciplinary perspectives on separation research and aims to promote scientific information interchange between academics, researchers, graduates and industry professionals worldwide. This conference provides opportunities for the delegates to exchange new ideas and application experiences face to face, to establish business or research relations and to find global partners for future collaboration. |
| agile project management for construction: ICSECM 2019 Ranjith Dissanayake, Priyan Mendis, Kolita Weerasekera, Sudhira De Silva, Shiromal Fernando, 2020-09-18 This book highlights current research and developments in the area of Structural Engineering and Construction Management, which are important disciplines in Civil Engineering. It covers the following topics and categories of Structural Engineering. The main chapters/sections of the proceedings are Structural and Solid Mechanics, Construction Materials, Systems and Management, Loading Effects, Construction Safety, Architecture & Architectural Engineering, Coastal Engineering, Foundation engineering, Materials, Sustainability. The content of this book provides necessary knowledge for construction management practices, new tools and technologies on local and global levels in civil engineering which can mitigate the negative effects of built environment. |
| agile project management for construction: The New One-Page Project Manager Clark A. Campbell, Mick Campbell, 2012-11-30 How to manage any project on just one piece of paper The New One-Page Project Manager demonstrates how to efficiently and effectively communicate essential elements of a project's status. The hands of a pocket watch reveal the time of day without following every spring, cog, and movement behind the face. Similarly, an OPPM template reduces any project—no matter how large or complicated—to a simple one-page document, perfect for communicating to upper management and other project stakeholders. Now in its Second Edition, this practical guide, currently saving time and effort in thousands of organizations worldwide, has itself been simplified, then refined and extended to include the innovative AgileOPPMTM. This Second Edition will include new material and updates including an introduction of the ground-breaking AgileOPPMTM and an overview of MyOPPMTM template builder, available on-line Includes references throughout the book to the affiliated sections in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK®) Shows templates for the Project Management Office (PMO) This new and updated Second Edition will help you master the one-page approach to both traditional project management and Agile project management. (PMBOK is a registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.) |
| agile project management for construction: Project Management for Facility Constructions Alberto De Marco, 2011-03-23 This book describes concepts, methods and practical techniques for managing projects to develop constructed facilities in the fields of oil & gas, power, infrastructure, architecture and the commercial building industries. It is addressed to a broad range of professionals willing to improve their management skills and designed to help newcomers to the engineering and construction industry understand how to apply project management to field practice. Also, it makes project management disciplines accessible to experts in technical areas of engineering and construction. In education, this text is suitable for undergraduate and graduate classes in architecture, engineering and construction management, as well as for specialist and professional courses in project management. |
| agile project management for construction: Reinventing Project Management Aaron J. Shenhar, Dov Dvir, 2007-08-13 Projects are the engines that drive innovation from idea to commercialization. In fact, the number of projects in most organizations today is expanding while operations is shrinking. Yet, since many companies still focus on operational excellence and efficiency, most projects fail--largely because conventional project management concepts cannot adapt to a dynamic business environment. Moreover, top managers neglect their company's project activity, and line managers treat all their projects alike--as part of operations. Based on an unprecedented study of more than 600 projects in a variety of businesses and organizations around the globe, Reinventing Project Management provides a new and highly adaptive model for planning and managing projects to achieve superior business results. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Software Construction John Hunt, 2006-02-28 Introduces the core concepts, evaluates how successful they can be, as well as what problems may be encountered Dispels numerous myths surrounding agile development |
| agile project management for construction: Visible Knowledge for Flawless Design Allen C. Ward, Dantar P. Oosterwal, Durward K. Sobek II, 2018-04-17 Visible knowledge is a tool nearly lost in the West, but it has been used to great effect by Toyota in its 50-year march from noncompetitiveness to its current status as the second largest automobile company in the world. It is key for the 50% growth in market share Toyota plans for this decade despite worldwide overcapacity in the auto business. This book presents the reader with a systematic approach to create, capture, and display knowledge in a way that allows development teams to optimize the design of their products and production processes. Visible knowledge not only applies to knowledge management, but provides a means of collaboration to facilitate better decision-making in the development process. This book has evolved out of a manuscript that Allen Ward, the foremost U.S. expert on lean product development, was writing at the time of his untimely death. It is not intended to be a treatise of Lean product development methods. Quite the opposite—it is focused on one small piece, visible knowledge. It is, however, one technique that Dantar Oosterwal and Durward Sobek have found to be very effective at Harley-Davidson and other places, and a tool that can make a difference whether used by itself or as a starting point for a larger journey into Lean product development. In completing this work, Oosterwal and Sobek kept the aim true to Allen’s original intent. The preface and first three chapters are essentially Allen’s original intellectual contribution. They have made editorial changes to improve readability and clarity of explanation. Throughout, they have attempted to preserve Allen’s voice in the writing, even keeping the narrative in first person as it was originally written. They have also added a fourth chapter that highlights some practical ways to apply the ideas presented in earlier chapters, illustrated with case examples from their experience. |
| agile project management for construction: Practical Approaches to Agile Project Management Misra, Sanjay, Jadeja, Rajendrasinh, Mittal, Mohit, 2024-05-30 Amidst the relentless pace of the contemporary business landscape, information technology (IT) projects grapple with an escalating challenge the need to deliver solutions swiftly, adapt to evolving customer demands, and create value within the ever-shifting dynamics of the market. In this demanding environment, the traditional project management paradigms often fall short, necessitating a shift towards methodologies that embody flexibility, customer collaboration, and iterative development. Herein lies the crux of the issue faced by modern IT projects. Practical Approaches to Agile Project Management is a guide in the tumult of IT project complexities. This book provides a comprehensive solution to the complexities of contemporary project management by delving into topics such as alternative pricing models and the alignment of organizational cultures in IT partnerships, making it an indispensable resource for professionals, academics, and students navigating the domains of business, information technology, or project management. Primarily aimed at IT professionals involved in project management and service delivery, this book caters to a broad spectrum of individuals, including IT Project Managers, Consultants, Entrepreneurs, and Executives at IT Service Firms. Additionally, it extends its value to Business Leaders undertaking IT-enabled transformations and Academic Researchers delving into the intersection of agile methodologies and IT service delivery. From prioritization strategies for IT Project Managers to frameworks for consultants, entrepreneurs, and executives, this book addresses the diverse needs of its readership, offering practical, evidence-based insights to optimize IT service delivery across various organizational contexts. |
| agile project management for construction: Hybrid Project Management Mark Tolbert, Susan Parente, 2020-10-08 Compared to a few decades ago, companies today are faced with a much more challenging environment providing successful products and solutions for their customers. They are dealing with global competition, very rapid change in technologies, and tremendous volatility in economic conditions. As project managers, we are helping our companies survive in this difficult landscape. We are “agents of change” and “drivers of change.” The most important project management methodology today that will help us deal with this change and this volatility is Agile. However, no one process or project management methodology fits all situations! Agile is not a panacea for all projects. Many times, our projects are large enough and complex enough that some parts of the project are best suited to using a predictive planning approach, and other parts are more suited to using Agile. Therefore, a hybrid approach that mixes the traditional, waterfall approach with Agile is really required in many situations today. The agile community oftentimes has quite a negative view of hybrid approaches. Key writers on Agile often say that attempting to use hybrid will corrupt all attempts to use Agile, and will result in failure. In this book, the argument is made that integrating these methodologies can be done if approached the right way, and in fact, this is necessary today. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Project Management Project Management Journal, 2013-06-26 The development of the Agile Movement, whatever the area of application or discipline, comes from the famous “faster, cheaper, better maxim. As such, the agile manufacturing paradigm rests on four principles: response to change and uncertainty, supplying highly customized products, synthesis of diverse technologies, and intra-enterprise and inter-enterprise integration. For the reader interested in agile project management applications, response to changes, and transformations and its impact on managing projects, this book is a must-read. Various insights are covered, including: how to master complexity and changes in projects, economy, and society; how interaction between the project management team and project owners can influence risk management; how to move beyond the traditional mechanistic project management approach; how to include agile principles into an improved Logical Framework Analysis structure; what the impact is of agile principles on project management organizations what kind of innovative project management practice supports agile principles; and much more. |
| agile project management for construction: ADKAR Jeff Hiatt, 2006 In his first complete text on the ADKAR model, Jeff Hiatt explains the origin of the model and explores what drives each building block of ADKAR. Learn how to build awareness, create desire, develop knowledge, foster ability and reinforce changes in your organization. The ADKAR Model is changing how we think about managing the people side of change, and provides a powerful foundation to help you succeed at change. |
| agile project management for construction: Evolving Software Processes Arif Ali Khan, Dac-Nhuong Le, 2022-01-05 EVOLVING SOFTWARE PROCESSES The book provides basic building blocks of evolution in software processes, such as DevOps, scaling agile process in GSD, in order to lay a solid foundation for successful and sustainable future processes. One might argue that there are already many books that include descriptions of software processes. The answer is “yes, but.” Becoming acquainted with existing software processes is not enough. It is tremendously important to understand the evolution and advancement in software processes so that developers appropriately address the problems, applications, and environments to which they are applied. Providing basic knowledge for these important tasks is the main goal of this book. Industry is in search of software process management capabilities. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes the industry’s need for software-specific process management capabilities. Most of today’s products and services are based to a significant degree on software and are the results of largescale development programs. The success of such programs heavily depends on process management capabilities, because they typically require the coordination of hundreds or thousands of developers across different disciplines. Additionally, software and system development are usually distributed across geographical, cultural and temporal boundaries, which make the process management activities more challenging in the current pandemic situation. This book presents an extremely comprehensive overview of the evolution in software processes and provides a platform for practitioners, researchers and students to discuss the studies used for managing aspects of the software process, including managerial, organizational, economic and technical. It provides an opportunity to present empirical evidence, as well as proposes new techniques, tools, frameworks and approaches to maximize the significance of software process management. Audience The book will be used by practitioners, researchers, software engineers, and those in software process management, DevOps, agile and global software development. |
| agile project management for construction: Contemporary Challenges for Agile Project Management Naidoo, Vannie, Verma, Rahul, 2021-11-05 Given the pace at which projects must be completed in an era of global hypercompetition and turbulence, examining the project management profession within the contexts of international trade and globalization is essential to encourage the highest level of efficiency and agility. Agile project management provides a flexible approach to managing projects as it allows a team to break large projects down into more manageable tasks that can be tackled in short iterations or sprints, thus enabling a team to adapt to change quickly and deliver work fast. Contemporary Challenges for Agile Project Management highlights the modern struggles that face businesses and leaders as they work to implement agile project management within their processes and try to gain a competitive edge through cross-functional team collaboration. Covering many underrepresented topics related to areas such as critical success factors, data science, and project leadership, this book is an essential resource for project leaders, managers, supervisors, business leaders, consultants, researchers, academicians, and students and educators of higher education. |
| agile project management for construction: The Fourth Industrial Revolution Klaus Schwab, 2017-01-03 World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress. |
| agile project management for construction: The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile Charles G. Cobb, 2015-01-05 Streamline project workflow with expert agile implementation The Project Management Profession is beginning to go through rapid and profound transformation due to the widespread adoption of agile methodologies. Those changes are likely to dramatically change the role of project managers in many environments as we have known them and raise the bar for the entire project management profession; however, we are in the early stages of that transformation and there is a lot of confusion about the impact it has on project managers: There are many stereotypes and misconceptions that exist about both Agile and traditional plan-driven project management, Agile and traditional project management principles and practices are treated as separate and independent domains of knowledge with little or no integration between the two and sometimes seen as in conflict with each other Agile and Waterfall are thought of as two binary, mutually-exclusive choices and companies sometimes try to force-fit their business and projects to one of those extremes when the right solution is to fit the approach to the project It’s no wonder that many Project Managers might be confused by all of this! This book will help project managers unravel a lot of the confusion that exists; develop a totally new perspective to see Agile and traditional plan-driven project management principles and practices in a new light as complementary to each other rather than competitive; and learn to develop an adaptive approach to blend those principles and practices together in the right proportions to fit any situation. There are many books on Agile and many books on traditional project management but what’s very unique about this book is that it takes an objective approach to help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of both of those areas to see how they can work synergistically to improve project outcomes in any project. The book includes discussion topics, real world case studies, and sample enterprise-level agile frameworks that facilitate hands-on learning as well as an in-depth discussion of the principles behind both Agile and traditional plan-driven project management practices to provide a more thorough level of understanding. |
| agile project management for construction: Agile Estimating and Planning Mike Cohn, 2005-11-01 Agile Estimating and Planning is the definitive, practical guide to estimating and planning agile projects. In this book, Agile Alliance cofounder Mike Cohn discusses the philosophy of agile estimating and planning and shows you exactly how to get the job done, with real-world examples and case studies. Concepts are clearly illustrated and readers are guided, step by step, toward how to answer the following questions: What will we build? How big will it be? When must it be done? How much can I really complete by then? You will first learn what makes a good plan-and then what makes it agile. Using the techniques in Agile Estimating and Planning, you can stay agile from start to finish, saving time, conserving resources, and accomplishing more. Highlights include: Why conventional prescriptive planning fails and why agile planning works How to estimate feature size using story points and ideal days–and when to use each How and when to re-estimate How to prioritize features using both financial and nonfinancial approaches How to split large features into smaller, more manageable ones How to plan iterations and predict your team's initial rate of progress How to schedule projects that have unusually high uncertainty or schedule-related risk How to estimate projects that will be worked on by multiple teams Agile Estimating and Planning supports any agile, semiagile, or iterative process, including Scrum, XP, Feature-Driven Development, Crystal, Adaptive Software Development, DSDM, Unified Process, and many more. It will be an indispensable resource for every development manager, team leader, and team member. |
| agile project management for construction: Advances in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering Tarek Sobh, 2008-08-15 Advances in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering includes a set of rigorously reviewed world-class manuscripts addressing and detailing state-of-the-art research projects in the areas of Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, and Systems Engineering and Sciences. Advances in Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering includes selected papers from the conference proceedings of the International Conference on Systems, Computing Sciences and Software Engineering (SCSS 2007) which was part of the International Joint Conferences on Computer, Information and Systems Sciences and Engineering (CISSE 2007). |
| agile project management for construction: Brilliant Agile Project Management Rob Cole, Edward Scotcher, 2016-01-05 What is Agile Project Management and will it bring my project in on time and budget? If you need a solid understanding of how Agile Project Management works so your projects can fully benefit from using this innovative and powerful approach, this book is essential reading. Brilliant Agile Project Management does more than just talk you through the techniques and processes - focussing on real-life use of Agile in business environments, it provides practical advice and techniques on how to implement and work with Agile, so you always know exactly what to do and say to make your project a success. Assess whether your organisation or project is right for using APM Understand how to implement APM into any project Overcome common problems with APM The full text downloaded to your computer With eBooks you can: search for key concepts, words and phrases make highlights and notes as you study share your notes with friends eBooks are downloaded to your computer and accessible either offline through the Bookshelf (available as a free download), available online and also via the iPad and Android apps. Upon purchase, you'll gain instant access to this eBook. Time limit The eBooks products do not have an expiry date. You will continue to access your digital ebook products whilst you have your Bookshelf installed. |
| agile project management for construction: Software Project Management in a Changing World Günther Ruhe, Claes Wohlin, 2014-09-04 By bringing together various current directions, Software Project Management in a Changing World focuses on how people and organizations can make their processes more change-adaptive. The selected chapters closely correspond to the project management knowledge areas introduced by the Project Management Body of Knowledge, including its extension for managing software projects. The contributions are grouped into four parts, preceded by a general introduction. Part I “Fundamentals” provides in-depth insights into fundamental topics including resource allocation, cost estimation and risk management. Part II “Supporting Areas” presents recent experiences and results related to the management of quality systems, knowledge, product portfolios and global and virtual software teams. Part III “New Paradigms” details new and evolving software-development practices including agile, distributed and open and inner-source development. Finally, Part IV “Emerging Techniques” introduces search-based techniques, social media, software process simulation and the efficient use of empirical data and their effects on software-management practices. This book will attract readers from both academia and practice with its excellent balance between new findings and experience of their usage in new contexts. Whenever appropriate, the presentation is based on evidence from empirical evaluation of the proposed approaches. For researchers and graduate students, it presents some of the latest methods and techniques to accommodate new challenges facing the discipline. For professionals, it serves as a source of inspiration for refining their project-management skills in new areas. |
| agile project management for construction: Proceedings of SECON'19 Kaustubh Dasgupta, A. S. Sajith, G. Unni Kartha, Asha Joseph, P. E. Kavitha, K.I. Praseeda, 2019-12-17 This book gathers peer-reviewed contributions presented at the 3rd National Conference on Structural Engineering and Construction Management (SECON’19), held in Angamaly, Kerala, India, on 15-16 May 2019. The meeting served as a fertile platform for discussion, sharing sound knowledge and introducing novel ideas on issues related to sustainable construction and design for the future. The respective contributions address various aspects of numerical modeling and simulation in structural engineering, structural dynamics and earthquake engineering, advanced analysis and design of foundations, BIM, building energy management, and technical project management. Accordingly, the book offers a valuable, up-to-date tool and essential overview of the subject for scientists and practitioners alike, and will inspire further investigations and research. |
| agile project management for construction: The Lean Builder: A Builder's Guide to Applying Lean Tools in the Field Joe Donarumo, Keyan Zandy, 2019-08-16 Sam Brooks, a young superintendent with ProCon Builders, has been given responsibility for the largest and most complicated project of his career. He struggles with all of the common difficulties in construction -- lack of communication, coordination issues, and other kinds of wasteful occurrences that rob his project of time and money, while leaving him and his team frustrated and overworked. Luckily, his friend, mentor, and co-worker, Alan Phillips, brings the benefit of his experience and his knowledge of Lean Construction tools and processes to help Sam learn valuable skills for improving the operation of his project. Together, Sam and Alan discuss the merits and explore the practical applications of: Daily Huddles Visual Communication The Eight Wastes Managing Constraints Pull Planning The Last Planner System(TM) Percent Plan Complete |
| agile project management for construction: Coaching Agile Teams Lyssa Adkins, 2010-05-18 The Provocative and Practical Guide to Coaching Agile Teams As an agile coach, you can help project teams become outstanding at agile, creating products that make them proud and helping organizations reap the powerful benefits of teams that deliver both innovation and excellence. More and more frequently, ScrumMasters and project managers are being asked to coach agile teams. But it’s a challenging role. It requires new skills—as well as a subtle understanding of when to step in and when to step back. Migrating from “command and control” to agile coaching requires a whole new mind-set. In Coaching Agile Teams, Lyssa Adkins gives agile coaches the insights they need to adopt this new mind-set and to guide teams to extraordinary performance in a re-energized work environment. You’ll gain a deep view into the role of the agile coach, discover what works and what doesn’t, and learn how to adapt powerful skills from many allied disciplines, including the fields of professional coaching and mentoring. Coverage includes Understanding what it takes to be a great agile coach Mastering all of the agile coach’s roles: teacher, mentor, problem solver, conflict navigator, and performance coach Creating an environment where self-organized, high-performance teams can emerge Coaching teams past cooperation and into full collaboration Evolving your leadership style as your team grows and changes Staying actively engaged without dominating your team and stunting its growth Recognizing failure, recovery, and success modes in your coaching Getting the most out of your own personal agile coaching journey Whether you’re an agile coach, leader, trainer, mentor, facilitator, ScrumMaster, project manager, product owner, or team member, this book will help you become skilled at helping others become truly great. What could possibly be more rewarding? |
| agile project management for construction: Applied Software Project Management Andrew Stellman, Jennifer Greene, 2005-11-18 If you're looking for solid, easy-to-follow advice on estimation, requirements gathering, managing change, and more, you can stop now: this is the book for you.--Scott Berkun, Author of The Art of Project Management What makes software projects succeed? It takes more than a good idea and a team of talented programmers. A project manager needs to know how to guide the team through the entire software project. There are common pitfalls that plague all software projects and rookie mistakes that are made repeatedly--sometimes by the same people! Avoiding these pitfalls is not hard, but it is not necessarily intuitive. Luckily, there are tried and true techniques that can help any project manager. In Applied Software Project Management, Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene provide you with tools, techniques, and practices that you can use on your own projects right away. This book supplies you with the information you need to diagnose your team's situation and presents practical advice to help you achieve your goal of building better software. Topics include: Planning a software project Helping a team estimate its workload Building a schedule Gathering software requirements and creating use cases Improving programming with refactoring, unit testing, and version control Managing an outsourced project Testing software Jennifer Greene and Andrew Stellman have been building software together since 1998. Andrew comes from a programming background and has managed teams of requirements analysts, designers, and developers. Jennifer has a testing background and has managed teams of architects, developers, and testers. She has led multiple large-scale outsourced projects. Between the two of them, they have managed every aspect of software development. They have worked in a wide range of industries, including finance, telecommunications, media, nonprofit, entertainment, natural-language processing, science, and academia. For more information about them and this book, visit stellman-greene.com |
| agile project management for construction: Creating a Roadmap Towards Circularity in the Built Environment Luís Bragança, Meri Cvetkovska, Rand Askar, Viorel Ungureanu, 2024-01-12 This open access book summarizes the research being pursued as part of the COST Action CA21103 titled Implementation of Circular Economy in the Built Environment (Circular B), which aims to define the methodology to develop a common circularity framework for inclusive application and assessment in new and existing buildings to support decision-making for all value chain stakeholders and appraise the implementation level of the European Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). The Action is increasingly gaining interest worldwide, bringing multidisciplinary young and experienced researchers together to share the latest studies and develop new knowledge. Consisting of 17 chapters corresponding to the conference themes, the book analyses and discusses topics such as Circular Economy (CE) best practices, design strategies for circular buildings, circular materials and products, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, recovery and reuse of salvaged materials and products, case studies of current applications and trends, barriers against CE implementation in buildings, efficient waste and circular resource management, circular lifecycle management and decision making, stakeholders relationships, CE supporting policies and barriers, circular business models, criteria, KPIs and assessment models for circular buildings, CE criteria in sustainability frameworks, digitalization and BIM for enhanced circularity of buildings and building materials, and standardization of CE definitions in buildings. |
什么是 Agile Software Development（敏捷软件开发）？ - 知乎
Apr 16, 2014 · 既然题主问的是“Agile Methodology”,那么便应该比限定在“软件开发”领域要更加宽泛。本回答从“敏捷开发”出发，尝试解读究竟什么才是“敏捷”。 一、从“敏捷开发”说起 “敏捷”概 …
什么是芯片领域的“敏捷设计（Agile Development - 知乎
什么是芯片领域的“敏捷设计（Agile Development）”？ 引用矽说公众号对DARPA资助项目的解说；也有提到RISCV，CHISEL等字眼。 敏捷设计与超高效计算芯片，DARPA为未来半导体发 …
请问路由器双频合一开了好还是不开好？ - 知乎
说实在的。。。这个问题要看具体场景，没什么确定性的答案。就我自己而言，一般都是开着的。除非是我自己这边设备很多，要做隔离优化网络的时候，否则不会手动去把双频分开来。 双 …
什么是 Agile Software Development（敏捷软件开发）？ - 知乎
Apr 16, 2014 · 既然题主问的是“Agile Methodology”,那么便应该比限定在“软件开发”领域要更加宽泛。本回答从“敏捷开发”出发，尝试解读究竟什么才是“敏捷”。 一、从“敏捷开发”说起 “敏捷” …
什么是芯片领域的“敏捷设计（Agile Development - 知乎
什么是芯片领域的“敏捷设计（Agile Development）”？ 引用矽说公众号对DARPA资助项目的解说；也有提到RISCV，CHISEL等字眼。 敏捷设计与超高效计算芯片，DARPA为未来半导体发 …
请问路由器双频合一开了好还是不开好？ - 知乎
说实在的。。。这个问题要看具体场景，没什么确定性的答案。就我自己而言，一般都是开着的。除非是我自己这边设备很多，要做隔离优化网络的时候，否则不会手动去把双频分开来。 双 …
