Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products, Second Edition

Chapter 10. The Adapt and Close Phases

If plans are speculations or hypotheses about the future, then teams need to test those hypotheses with frequent and effective feedback. Agile projects are exploration projects, and as such, success depends upon reality-based feedback. Adaptation depends upon understanding a wide range of information, including an assessment of the project’s progress, technical risks, the requirements evolution, and ongoing competitive market analysis. APM has the potential to save money through the early termination of projects, but only if the team and executives are willing to face reality early. Iterative projects are also prone to oscillation—going back and forth without making progress. Two things counteract this ...