Questions and Topics We Can Help You To Answer:
Paper Instructions:

Instructions

Version One, a vendor of tools used to help manage projects which use agile methodologies, has published its State of Agile Report for eleven years. Among the questions included in the survey used to create the report is one that asks respondents to identify causes of failure for agile projects. In Version One’s 13th State of Agile Report, the leading cause (identified by 52% of respondents) is -company philosophy or culture at odds with core agile values.

In this exercise, students will leverage the knowledge gained from their experience in this class about the philosophy behind agile project management, its principles and best practices to consider the impact of organizational culture. Which aspects of organizational culture which might serve as “driving forces” aiding the adoption of agile approaches? Which might be “restraining forces” hindering it?

Students should obtain and read the case study Jharna Software: The Move to Agile Methods. [The case study is available through HBR or other online sources. Students should contact the instructor if they have any trouble obtaining it.] Consider organizational cultural factors which would they deem likely to help drive the adoption of agile approaches at Jharna Software or restrain it. These should be based on content included in the case study, but if students find relevant points to make based on their own experience, other readings included in the course or research they conduct, they may feel free to address it in the forum.

Students might consider creating a “force-field analysis” diagram as a means to organize the forces they identify. An example of this is included on the last page of this document. On the left side of the diagram, the driving forces identified will be listed. The restraining forces will be identified on the right side.

Each student will submit a two to four-page paper as an individual written assignment using the assignment template. [The assignment will be labeled as "Project 1 – Jharna Case Study Analysis" on the Assignments page.]

In their papers, students must:

Describe the driving and restraining cultural forces identified and explain why they are worth mentioning, based on the content included in the case study and other course materials. [It is not necessary to include a force field diagram in or with your paper. You can simply list and describe the forces you feel are relevant and noteworthy in the body of the text of your paper.
State clearly whether you recommend Jharna should implement agile methods or not and provide content adequately supporting your opinion. It is acceptable to offer a qualified response but students who do so must clearly state those qualifying factors and explain their relevance.
You are permitted select a relevant work situation of your own experience, or even a project described in a source you select from a trade journal, newspaper or magazine article, book or web-based source to support your arguments. If you do reference a third-party source, please be sure to list its name and provide a link to it if it is available on the Internet or in the Bobst Library’s digital archives.

Submit this assignment in the designated area in NYU Classes by 11:55 PM on February 20th.

Each written assignment for this course must be word processed, have a 12-point font size, be double spaced and submitted on the scheduled due date. Reports and/or papers that are submitted after the due date will be automatically reduced in score by 20% before they are read. All written reports must be submitted with a cover sheet, using the template provided for the course. Failure to include a cover sheet will result in an automatic reduction in points. The cover sheet must include student name, course name, course ID number, the assignment name given above and the date of submission.

The criteria the instructor will use to evaluate student performance with respect this assignment is listed below:

An exemplary score (95 to 100 points) will be given to summaries which:

Clearly list the driving and restraining forces selected by the student. A simple list of the words separated by commas will be sufficient.
Explain the meaning of three to five of the driving or restraining forces clearly and provides an example or examples which illustrate the chosen forces. It is permissible to choose a single example which illustrates multiple forces. Examples from one’s personal experience, articles, blog posts, papers, books or journals are permitted.
State the student’s opinion as to whether or not Jharna should implement an agile approach or approaches and justify it with sufficient arguments.
Examples taken from third party sources are cited, and a reference list is appended to the paper. If you decide to write about terms used in any of the course lessons, it is permissible to simply state that.
Provide a well-organized and well-written paper which relates to the theme of the assignment and the module. Students may, but do not have to, use section headings and bullets to organize their content.
An effective score (80 to 94 points) will be given to summaries which:

Provide an incomplete list of the driving or restraining forces described in the student’s paper.
Explain the meaning of no more than two forces, do not provide examples as described above to illustrate the chosen forces.
States the student’s opinion as to whether Jharna should adopt agile approaches but does not sufficiently justify it.
Provide citations for third-party sources.
Display some aspects of a well-organized, well-written summary, but contain minor defects in organization or use of language and are not completely persuasive.
An ineffective score (0 to 79 points) will be given to summaries which:

Do not provide a list of the driving or restraining forces favored by the student based on the forum.
Explain only one driving or restraining force or do not provide an example as described above to illustrate it, or do not properly cite content taken from third-party sources.
Does not state or support the student’s opinion as to whether Jharna should adopt agile approaches.
Display little or no aspects of a well-organized, well-written summary, do not use language effectively and are not at all persuasive.