First, as a point of reference, the agile manifesto is simply a set of four principles.
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
- Responding to change over following a plan
Scrum, LEAN, BDSM and XP are methodologies that are designed to help organizations become “Agile”. Each methodology consists of organizational practices and tools.
It’s rather hard to put a concrete number on the Scrum ROI without executing two simultaneous projects with one using an agile methodology and the other using a traditional methodology.
It is also important to note that ROI is not the only benefit of agile methodologies. Besides ROI, Risk Management/Mitigation is probably the most important advantage of agile methodologies.
With that being said, here are some case studies and other fun facts about Agile and specifically Scrum.
Case Studies:
- The BBC http://www.infoq.com/presentations/Scrum-bbc-newmedia
- Netflix http://www.uie.com/articles/fast_iterations/
Fun Facts:
- It would be wrong to implement Agile across the board without having our own case study.
- Agile is not Cowboy Coding
- There is as much, if not more, process around Agile/Scrum.
- Ken Schwaber’s, co-creator of Scrum, website is called: Control Chaos
- Microsoft and Agile
- The P&P team from Microsoft, the customer support team that is designed to guild companies developing products using Microsoft software and technology, recommends Agile/Scrum
- Visual Studio Team System – the next version UP from Visual Studio Professional – has built in support for agile project management.
- Microsoft Press has released many books on agile project management with Scrum.
- List of companies using Scrum: http://tinyurl.com/ccaae9
- Agile development in an ITIL/CMMI based IT organization is not impossible. Here is a paper about CMMI and Scrum. http://tinyurl.com/da99m4
- Great video – Scrum in under 10min. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5k7a9YEoUI
