Many companies implement Agile project management without fully understanding the difference between the Agile project management methodology and traditional methodologies such as Waterfall. Leaders should see the transition to Agile as a process, not just a one-time event. You can achieve success in your agile transformation by avoiding these top 5 common agile mistakes to ensure a smooth transition.
No Leadership Support
The key to being fully agile is to empower employees to make decisions on their own. Leaders need to learn to let go and not micromanage their teams. You hired people for their expertise so you should trust them to make important decisions at the individual team level without your input. This is a common Agile mistake especially in small companies where the CEO is more hands on.
Lack of Training in Agile Processes
Project Managers should have full Agile training and they should be encouraged to get a certification in order to support the success of your Agile transformation. Companies should hire an Agile coach to help guide you through the process and ensure your success in implementing the Agile project management method. All employees must get Agile training, not just Project Managers. People working on project teams need to be aware of the process so that they can adapt and remain productive as they do not have to ask questions about what steps they need to take during a sprint.
Holding Daily Scrums Does Not Make You Agile
Many organizations implement a daily scrum or stand up meeting and call that Agile. While having a daily scrum is a good start, it alone will not make you fully Agile. Agile is a project management methodology and a different way of thinking than traditional project management methods such as Waterfall.
No Agile Project Management System Training
In order to succeed in your Agile transition, you need to train all employees in the Agile project management system used throughout your organization, such as Jira. Everyone must understand how the system works and how it compares to the overall Agile process. Leadership should make it clear what they expect of each and every person on the project team in terms of project and task tracking.
The Project Manager Doesn’t Have To Be The Scrum Master
The role of the Scrum Master is to be a champion for Scrum and support the team’s success. They manage meetings, facilitate communication, and run standups. This role is related to the traditional project manager role, but it is not the only role for a project manager during an Agile transformation. The Product Owner maximizes the value of the product created by the scrum team. This includes developing the project goal and acting as the key stakeholder for the project which is also related to the traditional project management role.
Avoiding The Top 5 Common Agile Errors – Project Management Courses on Pluralsight
You can learn more about avoiding the top 5 common agile mistakes in my Pluralsight course, Project Management Basics for Non-project Managers. This course includes animated scenario-based training and you will watch as an organization compares and contrasts the most popular project management methods including Agile, Waterfall, PMI/PMBOK, and more. By the end of this course, you will be able to choose the right project management methodology for your team and your types of projects. Click the button below to get started with a free trial today!