In our 4-part article series, we explore the differences between traditional and agile organizations, their difficulties and advantages. First-hand experiences.
Exceeding deadline
Deadlines are the bedrock of every project, and there are very few cases where they are not exceeded. People are not good at estimating, tasks that are even a few hours long can slip, and in the case of deadlines that are several days/weeks/months long, there will definitely be something we didn't calculate in advance.
However, the agile structure can help in several ways:
- Short sprints help create a rapid feedback loop, so slippages can be identified in time,
- Burndown charts also provide a continuous overview of projects.
In agile methodologies, it is recommended to break down the backlog items into short tasks, lasting a few hours or 1-2 days. However, this is sometimes very difficult to maintain, and it is not always clear how much time some tasks actually take. In fact, it may not even be possible to divide them into smaller subtasks.
My suggestion in this case is that deadlines should be continuously discussed during the synchronization meetings mentioned at the planning point. In case of slippage, there are several tools available to product owners:
- There are often several technical solutions to choose from.
- There may be an opportunity to involve external software or services that require less development work but are paid.
- In many cases, it is possible to cut the scope while respecting business needs and creating value.
- In justified cases, an extension of the deadline can be negotiated with the appropriate decision-makers.
Closing thoughts
Agile methodologies can help in many ways, but it is worth being aware of their limitations, as not everything is always and not always formulated. The toolbox can and should be expanded!
About Training360's agile training
The development of our renewed agile training portfolio was preceded by a thorough preliminary survey, so we offer a comprehensive educational solution for an extremely wide range of needs.
- Agile management training courses are available for all levels, from beginner to advanced.
- In addition to traditional agile methodology training, we also cover gap-filling topics such as digital product management, app management, or UX/UI.
- Employees, middle managers, and senior managers can all find training courses that are relevant to them.
- Not only members of development teams, but also product managers, salespeople, or HR experts can get a good idea of agility.
- Many courses also prepare you for internationally recognized exams.