Question: Firm's First Agile Project

You were hired into a new company that was impressed with your two years of experience as a scrum master on a variety of information systems projects. Your new firm has a large in-house information system development staff that is trained and experienced in the use of the waterfall software development process. You have been assigned responsibility as a scrum master for a key project that will be the firm's first agile project. You have also been asked to train the project manager, team, and newly appointed product owner in the agile process and their associated roles and responsibilities.

Review Questions

1. As part of the team's initial project kickoff meeting, you have been asked to briefly summarize the differences between the waterfall and agile software development process. What would you say?

2. Following your discussion, one of the team members asks, "so why are we changing to a new software development process? We are all comfortable with the way we do things now." What do you say?

Critical Thinking Questions

1. There is likely to be some confusion over the role of project manager, scrum master, and product owner. What can you do to avoid this potential problem?

2. What other potential problems can you anticipate as the team moves forward with its first agile project? What can be done to avoid these potential issues?