Apply appropriate delivery methodology

What does it mean to apply appropriate delivery methodology?

To select the most suitable approach to deliver the intended transformation.  Typically, this means working within either an Agile, or a Waterfall way, and applying related supporting methodologies appropriately.

By Agile, we mean working iteratively and collaboratively to manage projects in a way that welcomes changes over the project lifecycle. Examples of Agile project management methods include Kanban and Scrum.

Agile delivery is the opposite of Waterfall project management that is more linear and rigid and relies on requirements being fixed at the start. 

In local government it is typical for transformation initiatives to adopt the most relevant elements of each methodology and use them in combination to achieve outcomes.

Essential for:

• All types of transformation.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of the differences between Agile and Waterfall delivery to enable the right delivery framework to be used depending on context and intended outcomes.
• Understanding of the core principles of Agile / the Agile manifesto and the different Agile delivery frameworks (e.g. Scrum, Kanban, XP) and how best to apply them.
• Understanding of Waterfall delivery and the basics of approaches such as MSP and Prince2.
• Knowledge of the tools that support both Waterfall and Agile delivery including collaboration and backlog management tools.
• Knowledge of the local government governance framework including relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
• Technical awareness.

Skills

Able to:

• Manage projects and programmes, applying the appropriate methods: To ensure appropriate control and co-ordination as relevant to the task considering complexity, dependencies, risk, timescales, and any other constraints.
• Consider options: Ensuring the pros and cons of each delivery method are considered and the optimal approach selected.
• Involve stakeholders: To enable joint decision making and the engagement of stakeholders throughout the duration of the transformation.
• Manage risks:  Associated with the selected methodology / methodologies.
• Collaborate and communicate: Continuously with stakeholders as part of multi-disciplinary teams to convey ideas, share insights, prioritise work, manage issues, elicit feedback, and maintain transparency.
• Think critically: To evaluate options, understand and manage risks and ensure evidence led decisions.
• Estimate and manage time: Including working to timescales and gates, or in time boxed sprints.
• Prioritise: Tasks based on importance, dependencies and the most valuable or challenging deliverables first.
• Resolve conflicts: Working with stakeholders to resolve conflicting ideas and priorities and to reach agreement and work productively.
• Use the relevant tools: To support project management and collaboration, backlog management and project oversight.
• Consider resource needs: Including planning relevant roles and defining and implementing the processes for Waterfall delivery, and for Agile including user story capture and validation, backlog refinement, sprint planning, stand ups and retrospectives, managing flow etc.
• Apply metrics: Such as velocity, lead time and cycle time to measure team performance and improve the pace and quality of delivery over time.

Behaviours

• Collaborative
• Adaptable and pragmatic
• Customer / user centric
• Analytical
• Empowering
• Transparent
• Respectful
• Positive
• Open to feedback
• Solution focused.
• Resilient
• Logical
• Comfortable with ambiguity
• Committed to continual learning