encourage adoption of Agile software development practices
Successful technologies companies have mostly transitioned to Agile methods over the course of the last decade. It's time for government-sponsored technology projects to do the same.
Agile software development refers to a group of software development methodologies that are based on similar principles. Agile methodologies generally promote: A project management process that encourages frequent inspection and adaptation; a leadership philosophy that encourages team work, self-organization and accountability; a set of engineering best practices that allow for rapid delivery of high-quality software; and a business approach that aligns development with customer needs and company goals. (Description from Wikipedia)
obie
shared this idea
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paul.boos
commented
Some barriers to remove in order to have Agile development practices more readily adopted -
1 - other means of measuring progress other than EVM
2 - removal of using the PMI/PMBOK viewpoint as the ONLY acceptable framework
3 - emphasis on managing requirements and risk through small incremental builds -
jcrigler
commented
JohnStanton makes a good point that many "suits" toss around the Agile buzzword, I doesn't make the process any less important. If Obama wants to get anything done, in ANY of the areas listed here, He needs a CTO that can fix the way the Feds do IT. However added this topic is exactly right.
We are in a vicious circle and Agile is one way out!
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JohnStanton
commented
So far, agile software is a nice-nice, mythological word the suits like to toss around, those who seem to have little grasp of even the basic, fundamental software engineering infrastructures needed to baseline the enterprise, much less be "Agile." Agile still requires infrastructures the Magic Bullet Speaksters don't seem to often grasp - the political crowd - SUITS!
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joelmartinez commented
Goverment would be able to do more with what they have if the projects they implement were more successfully run. this is a great idea :-)
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aremsan commented
Agile values can be used in more than just Software Development. A system which exhibits emergent behavior survives best when it can adapt to the situation. Use the Agile premises to enable and encourage these patterns in any system. There are other disciplines which fit within this family.
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jps
commented
This is properly the domain of the market. Imposing a good strategy now may impede the development of great alternatives or modifications to it.
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ScalewagJim
commented
This sounds more like a human resource strategy than anything else. I presume top talent and experience with agile software development does not find this work attractive.
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patja
commented
We don't need the government to tell us how to build great software. Success breeds adoption on its own merits.
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revosteevo
commented
This shift is beginning to take place in DoD software already as every level of the command hierarchy is expected to do more with less. Multi-year billion-plus contracts to huge defense contracts have unacceptable levels of failure. Place sensible guidelines on new contract ceilings, make it easier to create funding vehicles, and give preference to fixed cost / IDIQ over Time & Materials.
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mattmcknight
commented
This is the way to lower costs. You need to write smaller, more focused contracts that get the job done.
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THEYC
commented
I would suggest CMMI + Agile Hybrid approach. CMMI is more documented (highly traceable) and Agile is more, well, agile.
Combine them both to have optimum traceability with successful project output.