Inverting the Triangle

Let's talk about an important concept that you need to understand to develop an agile mindset.

Traditional Project Management

• Objective: Complete the scope within time and budget.
• Main goal: Finish the predefined scope.
• Flexible time and cost: Deadlines and budgets often exceed.
• Mindset: Finish all planned work, even if it takes extra time and money.

Agile Project Management

• Objective: Keep time and budget fixed while adjusting the scope.
• Main goal: Deliver as much value as possible within constraints.
• Fixed schedule and budget: Work is completed within the defined limits.
• Mindset: Prioritize high-value tasks first, stop when budget or time runs out.

Example

Imagine you are building a mobile app with a $40,000 budget and a six-month timeline.

• In a traditional approach, you aim to complete all planned features, even if it takes longer or costs more.
• In an agile approach, you focus on delivering the most important features first.
• After six months and $40,000, you stop, regardless of how many features are left.
• The delivered product contains the most valuable components, ensuring maximum return on investment.

Key Takeaways

• Traditional projects prioritize scope; Agile projects prioritize time and budget.
• Agile ensures early delivery of high-value features.
• Longer projects result in diminishing returns.
• Stop development when additional work no longer justifies cost or time investment.