Advance the discussion by sharing your perspective and explaining why you agree or disagree with your classmates' logic.

Respond to the statements below separately using the information above.

First statement:

The scenario that I choose for my final project was the Valpak scenario. Valpak is one of the leading direct marketing companies in North America and has one of the largest collections of digital coupons on the internet. Valpak's IT department is an integral part of the business transformation and growth of the company. They build and supports technology for a wide variety of stakeholders, customers, and audiences including franchisees, merchants, and corporate offices.

As Melissa mentioned, Valpak's approach is based on a Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). SAFe is a set of organizational and workflow patterns that promotes alignment, collaboration, and delivery formed around three primary bodies of knowledge: agile software development, lean product development, and systems thinking. There are three layers associated with SAFe; a portfolio layer, program layer and team layer. At the team level, Valpak started with six scrum teams and three Kanban teams and currently has 10 scrum teams. In addition, Valpak implemented road-mapping and release management in their program layer. Further, they implemented Kanban at the portfolio layer (Piikkila, n.d.; Cobb, 2015).

Regarding integrating methods, the SAFe approach already integrates agile/scrum, kanban, and lean as Valpack recognized the need adapt multiple approaches to satisfy different business needs. Scrum is used for developmental activity, kanban is used for routine business activity, while traditional methods (waterfall) is used for large infrastructure projects. In general, projects are represented by epics managed through kanban processes and further broken down into user stories as appropriate. In a SAFe approach, portfolio kanban is a recommended practice to provide a way to plan, prioritize, and manage a portfolio of epics to fully optimize business outcomes. I would however introduce the PMI standard for managing infrastructure projects using the five process groups initiation, planning, execution, controlling and monitoring, and closing as it is not specifically linear (Cobb, 2015).

Overall, I agree with the current practices in place as utilized by Valpak. SAFe promotes alignment, collaboration, and delivery. An advantage of SAFe is that it helps maintain centralized decision making at an enterprise level. In addition, SAFe is optimal for managing large scale and complex projects while maintaining alignment with business goals (Tricentis, 2018).

Piikkila, J (n.d.) What is SAFe. Atlassian Last retrieved on 8/3/23 from What is SAFe

Tricentis (2018) The pros and cons of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). Tricentis https://www.tricentis.com/blog/pros-cons-scaled-agile-framework-safe

Cobb, C. G. (2015).The Project Manager's Guide to Mastering Agile: Principles and Practices for an Adaptive Approach. Wiley Professional Development (P&T).https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781118991763

Second statement:

Valpack is one of the leading direct marketing companies in the North America. They were founded in 1968 and have been successful in transitioning business methods to stay relative to the current consumer market (XXXX). Part of their success can be contributed to a Scrum / Kanban agile process within the IT department. The two-week spring delivery cycle they adopted allowed them to embrace change quickly (XX). Because the methodology switch was so successful, Valpack wanted to introduce a similar process to other departments within the organization.

Valpack used a Scaled Agile Framework that consisted of three primary layers; portfolio, program, and team layer. They were so successful because they were able to take these methodologies and tailor them to their needs. For example, they used the Kanban process to run the business side of things and the Scrum methodology for exploratory development.

This combined methodology allowed Valpark to produce a more effective order entry software within the IT department, and because of the relaxed and flexible efforts of this style of management, it would also be beneficial for the other departments.

There are a few key benefits of the agile scrum methodology that Valpack would need - such as lower costs, higher productivity, greater ability to incorporate changes as they occur, and being able to complete complex projects that otherwise could not be done. This methodology does not require work to be done sequentially and not all questions need answers before work can begin, which allows them to jump right into it and see what works. A development team is very important, and employees are encouraged to work as a team and put all efforts into the most prioritized work.

With the Kanban agile methodology, it gives a bit more structure than the scrum methodology, without overdoing it like a traditional waterfall method. Taks are clearly defined on a kanban board so the team knows the progress on projects and details about the project - the board allows someone to see a status update and determine where projects stand without having to pry (Cohen, n.d.).

I think the Scrum / Kanban agile process was the right one for Valpack. With a traditional waterfall method there is a lot of fixed information and information required up front needed for a successful project that Valpack did not have. They also did not have a clear end goal in mind and rather needed to adapt to a process that allowed more trial and error efforts until the best practices were met.

References

Cohen, E. (n.d.). Pros & Cons Of The Kanban Method In Project Management. Www.workamajig.com. https://www.workamajig.com/blog/kanban-methodology-guide/pros-cons-kanban-method

Why Does Scrum Work? 6 Reasons Why & Key Benefits of Scrum | Agilest. (2015). Agilest. https://www.agilest.org/scrum/why-does-scrum-work/