Managing Successful Programmes

Via Brad Appleton’s excellent post of links to Agile Programme Management resources, a paper on Combining Agile Methods with Stage-Gate Project Management.

Based on studies in three engineering companies, the conclusion is that are benefits from both the management and engineering perspective.

Good things:

• Agile method add microplanning and day-to-day control to the stage-gate methods
• Engineering teams felt more in control of their work
• Stage-gate approach improves ability of agile methods to interact with other engineering teams, other functions (such as marketing) and senior management.

Things to watch out for:

• Need to manage expectations
• Challenge on large projects of finding a “customer representative” as required by Agile methods