The following exercise introduces you to the need for operations management and collaboration within the context of the Agile product development process.

Complete the collaboration warm-up exercise, Agile Product Development.

Collaboration Warm-Up Exercise: Agile Product Development TRANSCRIPT

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Title:Collaboration Warm-Up Exercise: Agile Product Development

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Title: Exercise Objectives

Explain the objectives and need for operations management.

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Title: Challenge

In this warm-up, you will explain the objectives and need for operations management within the context of the Agile product development process.

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Title: Core Values of Agile

Agile is a method to manage and develop new or improved products and processes. It is increasingly popular in business because of its focus on collaboration, rapid prototyping, quick launch, and continuous improvement.

Download: The Agile Manifesto Handout

Download Link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/14pCrvCKWiULcIMmLjRY7m3Iqq_03xVvY/view?usp=sharing

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Title: Agile Product Development Process

Let's take a look at the Agile process used for product development.

In the first stage of Agile, team members envisionthe desired product or outcomes and develop the scope of the project.

Next, the team will speculateclient needs and develop the specifications of the project or process.

The team will releasethe plan and develop a method for receiving feedback from stakeholders as the project progresses.

The team will then exploredeliverables and develop the sequence and timeline for completion of each stage of the project. These stages generally last 2-4 weeks and are called Sprints.

As deliverables are completed during a Sprint, the project moves to the Adaptphase, in which stakeholders provide feedback. Modifications are made as needed to improve processes and/or products in future production.

Once the product or processes are in an Optimalphase, the project enters the Close phase, and the team develops a report, outlining lessons learned and other findings.

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Title: Benefits of Agile Methodology

The perceived benefits of Agile flow from its transparent and iterative process.

These benefits include:

• Reduced costs and time for development, launch, and modification
• Reduced risk due to adaptive development and emphasis on quality
• Greater customer satisfaction due to greater levels of input at each stage of the project and customer-focus
• Application of performance metrics to evaluate the utilization of resources and keep the project on time and on budget
• Fewer roadblocks and more timely performance through collaboration and transparency
• A mindset that promotes continuous improvement

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Title: Applications of Agile

Although Agile is most often associated with software development projects, it can be used in other applications as well. Describe a non-IT business scenario in which you believe it would be appropriate to apply Agile methodology.

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Title: Applications of Agile

Feedback

Examples of business scenarios that have used Agile include:

• Products that require customization or variable styles
• Products that can be delivered as individual components
• Development and iteration of Integrated marketing campaigns
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Enterprise projects, such as client relationship management, financial processes, training, or performance evaluation systems.
• Workforce reorganization
• Virtual work teams
• Development of any product or service
• Process improvement
• Change management

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Title: Adopting Agile Processes

Now that you understand the basic concepts underlying Agile, let's examine how an organization can integrate Agile into its operations. Read "From Zero to Product Owner: Setting the conditions to succeed with Agility" (external link: https://medium.com/crowdbotics/from-zero-to-product-owner-or-how-we-set-the-conditions-to-succeed-with-agility-d0e825b591bf).

Question 1:

How did the use of design thinking at the outset of Agile implementation impact the project?

[Student Entry]

Question 2:

How can leaders facilitate an Agile operations environment?

[Student Entry]

Question 3:

Assume that you have been assigned to an Agile team to develop an updated website for a fashion retailer. What steps should the team take to launch a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)?

[Student Entry]

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Title: Adopting Agile Processes

Feedback

1. Design thinking helped the team to empathize and analyze a variety of stakeholders' needs and identify the most important problems to solve. Design thinking also promoted collaborative brainstorming on possible solutions and integration of varied perspectives
2. Involve a representative cross-section of stakeholders in design thinking and Agile planning; Encourage debate and critical thinking throughout the process; Involve naysayers in the process to improve buy-in and reduce risks
3. The development of an MVP would include:
   1. Identification of desired functions and features of the site from the perspective of each type of stakeholder, including customers
   2. Research on the functions and appearance of competitors' sites
   3. Evaluate budget and timeline constraints
   4. Development of prototypes
   5. Collection and analysis of customer and stakeholder feedback after using the prototype
   6. Deployment of the MVP
   7. Evaluation of the function and performance of the MVP
   8. Report findings of MVP evaluation
   9. Recommend modifications
   10. Implement modifications

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Title: Final Submission

Response addressing the following questions:

• Have you had any experience working on Agile teams?
• If you have worked on Agile teams, what were the benefits and difficulties of the Agile approach?
• If you have not worked on Agile teams, using this exercise, what benefits and challenges do you foresee applying an Agile approach in your current or future workplace?
• How can the challenges of Agile be mitigated or overcome?