Coursera Agile Software Development Week 3 Peer-Graded Assignment Answers

Project Title * Applying the Agile Mindset and Techniques

PROMPT
Blue Bank has always used the traditional waterfall method to deliver IT projects.
Harold Johnson and the company leadership have suggested that you also use
traditional methods to build the software. You have a different idea. You think
agile would be better for this situation.
In the space below, make a case to Harold as to why we should switch to agile
(explain why using agile is a better choice for this project/situation). Be sure to
support your argument by referring back to the case study text.
Ans.
An agile mindset is the set of attitudes supporting an agile working environment.
These include respect, collaboration, improvement and learning cycles, pride in
ownership, focus on delivering value, and the ability to adapt to change.
This mindset is necessary to cultivate high-performing teams, who in turn deliver
amazing value for their customers.
Though the solution are defined in advance, they can be modified at any time by
using agile methodology. Requirements Stories can be provided periodically implying
better chances for mutual understanding among developer and user.
The user gets an opportunity to evaluate solution modules to determine whether the
business need is being met thus ensuring quality outcomes.
This mindset is the environment within which agile teams flourish.
It isn�t a prerequisite for an agile adoption, nor is it required for a functional
agile team. But if this mindset is cultivated and nourished, whether before, during
or after agile adoption, the teams (and therefore the company) will experience
amazing results - happy employees delivering great value and making customers
elated with the results.

PROMPT
Assume Harold liked your argument and agreed to proceed with agile on this project.
In his reply, Harold asked for further guidance on how to move forward. Please
reply back with the following:
1. What things will have to change on how this team operates and how key
stakeholders interact or engage on this project. (Hint: as you have learned, for
agile to be successful there are certain prerequisites and it poses certain
challenges for leadership/business stakeholders as well)
2. The team is new to Agile and based on prerequisites for agile to be successful,
please specify if you and your team need any help or training etc. If none, please
state that.
Ans.
When working in agile, you must think in terms of: working on width instead of
working at depth. Your main priority should be to get the most important features
of the orders done, as well as the most important features needed for billing.
An Agile team needs everyone required to produce the end product or service.
Therefore, the team is typically cross-functional, and team roles will vary
depending on the needs of the project and the type of Agile framework that is
chosen.
For instance, when using a Scrum framework, an Agile team should have a Scrum
Master and a Product Owner, as well as any other required Team Members. The Scrum
Master (often the Project Manager) is responsible for overseeing the project,
facilitating collaboration, and organizing the daily meetings.
The Product Owner is responsible for ensuring the end product meets the
requirements of the customer. Subject matter experts and other stakeholders may
provide input into the project as needed, but they�re not typically considered part
of the Agile team.
PROMPT
Harold is pretty impressed by your response and has approved all of your
recommendations in previous two responses.
He then re-iterated the key criteria for success and asked you if he and his
management team should expect anything different from this project in terms for
tracking and status updates.
Are there any project constraints laid out in the case study that need to be
changed/managed since you will be using agile and, in agile, planning, estimation
and tracking happens differently?
Hint: The case study implies certain project constraints/expectations around cost,
timeline, other factors that need to managed/changed.
Ans.
The three primary constraints that Harold should be familiar with are time, scope
and cost. These are frequently known as the triple constraints or the project
management triangle.
Each constraint is connected to the other two; so, for example, increasing the
scope of the project will likely require more time and money, while speeding up the
timeline for the project may cut costs, but also diminish the scope.
Under traditional project management, scope is viewed as being fixed at the start
of a project, something that must be �locked down.�
Time and cost are then adjusted to come up with an acceptable plan. The problem is
that scope frequently changes during the life of a project, with impacts to both
time and cost.
The result is that all three constraints become variable as the project moves
forward. Very often, this results in cost overruns and late deliveries.
Eventually the requirements may be met, but stakeholders often feel unhappy with
higher costs and delays.
Agile takes a different approach by turning the triple constraints upside down.
Rather than viewing scope as fixed at the start, Agile sets time (iterations) and
cost (team members) as fixed; scope is then adjusted to focus on the highest
priorities.
Agile is built with the expectation that scope will evolve over time. The goal is
to deliver the client's most important requirements within the budgeted cost and
time. Agile allows for new requirements or re-prioritization as the project moves
forward.
By committing to a defined cost and schedule up front, executives can feel
confident approving the work. And in the end, clients, team members and interested
stakeholders often find the Agile approach to be more successful than traditional
methods.

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Coursera Agile Software Development Week 4 Peer-Graded Assignment Answers

Project Title * Story Mapping

PROMPT
The case study specifies some of the key functionality that the IT team needs to
build. You are responsible for the mobile app.
For the mobile app, create a story map to show the user experience and what you
need to build. Feel free to add fictitious functionality and features as you feel
appropriate. You will be graded on the quality, completeness, and correctness of
your story map.
Please make sure that your story map has all the functionality listed in mobile app
section (section 18) in the case study.
You may create the story map using any tool you wish (for example, LibreOffice
Writer/Draw or Microsoft Word/Visio). Once finished, you will upload the document
here.
Ans.
PDF Link to upload is given in Description please check!

TITLE Story Mapping

CAPTION Story Mapping

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