Sink or Swim? 

Changing methodology mid‐project from Waterfall to Agile; should you do it?should you do it?Tony Porfilio Director, Professional Services

Story Time

Story Time

Story Time

VS

Sink or Swim? 

Changing methodology mid‐project from Waterfall to Agile; p ojec o a e a o g e;should you do it?

The Story Board

• Synopsis

• The ChallengeThe Challenge

• The Set Up

• The Result

• Did we succeed?

• Key Learnings

• Special Thanks

• Questions & Answers

Synopsis

A case study

• Decision: change methodology from traditional Waterfall toDecision: change methodology from traditional Waterfall to Agile in the final year of a multi‐year project.  

• The Motivation: create a sense of urgency; increase velocity; provide value more often.

• The Outcome: it’s possible, but not easy.

• Lessons learned: educate; influence; make it fun.

The Challenge

• 4‐year program (now in 3rd and final year)• Finished 3rd year with a go‐live in Januaryy g y• Kicked‐off 4th and final year February, to be completed by December

Yr 3 Yr 4Yr 3Jan Feb Mar . . . . . . Nov Dec

Start End

Yr 4

The Challenge

• 4‐year program (now in 3rd and final year)• Finished 3rd year with a go‐live in Januaryy g y• Kicked‐off 4th and final year February, to be completed by December

• Team: 45 FTETeam:  45 FTE • Client & Consultants from various companies

Yr 3 Yr 4Yr 3Jan Feb Mar . . . . . . Nov Dec

Start End

Yr 4

The Challenge

• 4‐year program (now in 3rd and final year)• Finished 3rd year with a go‐live in Januaryy g y• Kicked‐off 4th and final year February, to be completed by December

• Team: 45 FTETeam:  45 FTE • Client & Consultants from various companies

• Adjust corporate culture – from slow & ponderous to quick & i bl& nimble 

• Agile very new to the client and team

Yr 3 Yr 4Yr 3Jan Feb Mar . . . . . . Nov Dec

Start End

Yr 4

The Set up

• Enrolled 2 certified Scrum Masters as part of team

• Provided everyone with links to videos on AgileProvided everyone with links to videos on Agile methodology 

• presentation by each team at the end of the iteration

The Set up

• Enrolled 2 certified Scrum Masters as part of team

• Provided everyone with links to videos on AgileProvided everyone with links to videos on Agile methodology 

• Converted requirements into User Stories• Prioritized the User Stories

• Created concurrent streams of teams of no more than 7 resourcesresources

The Set up

• Enrolled 2 certified Scrum Masters as part of team

• Provided everyone with links to videos on AgileProvided everyone with links to videos on Agile methodology 

• Converted requirements into User Stories• Prioritized the User Stories

• Created concurrent streams of teams of no more than 7 resourcesresources

• Defined 3‐week iteration sprints with formalized presentation by each team at the end of the iteration

Start End3‐week Sprint

What do you think happened?

• Thoughts!?

What do you think happened?

The Result

• Mixed!

• Some team members embraced it – others did notSome team members embraced it  others did not

The Result

• Mixed!

• Some team members embraced it – others did notSome team members embraced it  others did not

• Confused on the methodology & their role

• Anxiety; Stress; DefianceAnxiety; Stress; Defiance

The Result

• Mixed!

• Some team members embraced it – others did notSome team members embraced it  others did not

• Confused on the methodology & their role

• Anxiety; Stress; DefianceAnxiety; Stress; Defiance

• “heat loss”, short‐term‐focus, scope creep

Did we succeed?

• Yes but it was not an easy ride

• Momentum was slow in the initial iterationsMomentum was slow in the initial iterations

• Perseverance by the management team to continually re‐enforce & educate

Did we succeed?

• Yes but it was not an easy ride

• Momentum was slow in the initial iterationsMomentum was slow in the initial iterations

• Perseverance by the management team to continually re‐enforce & educate

• Did create a sense of urgency; empowerment; collaboration

Did we succeed?

• Yes but it was not an easy ride

• Momentum was slow in the initial iterationsMomentum was slow in the initial iterations

• Perseverance by the management team to continually re‐enforce & educate

• Did create a sense of urgency; empowerment; collaboration

• Had several releases to production thru‐out the year

• Completed the final year of the program on time in December

Key Lessons Learned

• Educate & confirm understanding

• Communicate:Communicate:• The value of the methodology• What’s in it for them• What’s expected of them• What’s expected of them 

Key Lessons Learned

• Educate & confirm understanding

• Communicate:Communicate:• The value of the methodology• What’s in it for them• What’s expected of them• What’s expected of them 

• Watch out for the tendency of doing many, mini, waterfalls

• Have “change agents” to help coach / mentor / influenceHave  change agents  to help coach / mentor / influence

Key Lessons Learned

• Educate & confirm understanding

• Communicate:Communicate:• The value of the methodology• What’s in it for them• What’s expected of them• What’s expected of them 

• Watch out for the tendency of doing many, mini, waterfalls

• Have “change agents” to help coach / mentor / influenceHave  change agents  to help coach / mentor / influence

• A decision not to be made lightly – use tools such as a Suitability Scorecard

• Don’t lose sight of the overall program plan

• Make it fun

Special Thanks

• The Sponsor:• For their trust

• The Management Team:• For their leadership in influencing and mentoring the team

• The Project Team:• For their dedication, commitment, perseverance, and willingness to adapt and learn

Questions & Answers

Contact Info

Tony Porfilio

Director Professional ServicesDirector, Professional Services

Diabsolut Inc.

tporfilio@diabsolut.comtporfilio@diabsolut.com

1‐877‐341‐3227 x132 

or via Linked‐in

Tony Porfilio ‐ BIO

• Tony Porfilio has over 18 years’ experience as a project manager, program manager and engagement manager in various industries, primarily implementing enterprise software solutions (WFM, CRM, CMS, etc) and managing large multi‐disciplinary project teams. Tony has worked at g p y p j yseveral system integration companies, software companies and as an independent consultant. He has also launched several businesses and dabbled in the film industry. Tony y ystudied computer programming, small business management and executive management at Seneca Applied Arts & Technology, University of Toronto and Babson in gy, yCambridge‐Mass respectively. Currently holds the role of Director Professional Services at Diabsolut Inc.