Articles Tagged - Agile

September 17, 2013

PMO 2.0 - Positioning for Success in an Agile World

Questions every PMO should be asking.

The Program Management Office (PMO) function became common in the late 1990s as companies were launching projects to prepare for Y2K challenges.  These PMOs had the mission of coordinating and sometimes controlling these myriad Y2K initiatives.  These PMOs carried out their missions and moved on to additional challenges such as SOX, large-scale accounting, CRM, and ERP implementations.  They have established themselves as the “go-to” source for project management information and...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on September 17, 2013

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August 1, 2013

User Stories – Simple, But Not Easy

Define your needs so that Agile Software Developers will act.

User stories are used in agile software development to provide concise descriptions of desired system functionality.  They are written from the perspective of the person who will use the functionality and they utilize the following structure:   “As a (list the type of user), I want to (identify the desired outcome) so that (identify the user’s intent).”  An example would be “As an investor, I want to see the unit value of my mutual fund so that I can see if I am...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on August 1, 2013

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May 14, 2013

Scrum Master: A New Career Path For Agile Processes & Organizations

Things to consider before becoming a Scrum Master or adding one to your organization.

By Ron Montgomery, Management Consultant & Owner, OnPoint, LLC The role of Scrum Master is often misunderstood, and for good reason.  According to the Scrum Alliance, “The ScrumMaster is a facilitative team leader who ensures that the team adheres to its chosen process and removes blocking issues.”  In most organizations, particularly those just beginning their agile journey, there is no exemplar or precedent for such a role.  How common is it for a leader to ensure...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on May 14, 2013

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April 11, 2013

Agile Success Factors: The Product Owner Role

3 Success Factors for Product Owners Plus The Support Needed From Senior Management

By Ron Montgomery, Management Consultant & Owner, OnPoint, LLC Scrum, an agile software development process for managing software projects, specifies only three roles: 1) Product Owner; 2) Scrum Master; 3) Developers / Testers The role of Product Owner is critical however not always fully appreciated.  For years, those of us who develop software have decried the lack of user involvement in our projects.  The same can be said for any major development project no matter what the industry...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on April 11, 2013

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February 21, 2013

Testing Within The Agile Framework – Learn What’s Different

A New Approach to Programming Requires a Different Approach by Management

By Ron Montgomery, Management Consultant & Owner, OnPoint, LLC Agile is sometimes perceived as “cowboy programming,” devoid of discipline, and structure.  This perception is fueled by flawed rollouts that overlook the agile principles that espouse “working software.”  When properly implemented, agile is very disciplined and results in high quality, reliable software that is tested extensively.  Agile testing, however, requires a new approach.   Why is...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on February 21, 2013

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January 20, 2013

Agile Methodology: A Creative Approach to Project Management

Learn the values and let them drive your actions.

By Ron Montgomery, Management Consultant & Owner, OnPoint, LLC Agile Methodology was born as a lightweight framework for managing software development.  It emphasizes business-driven prioritization, responding to change, self-organizing teams, face-to-face communications and quick delivery cycles.  It de-emphasizes sequential processes and detailed project artifacts such as specification documents.  Since it’s inception the benefits of the concept have been spread to other...Continue reading

By Ron MontgomeryPosted in Project & Process Management on January 20, 2013

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