Guide: Early Improvement in Crystal Methods (PMI-ACP)

What is Early Improvement?
Early Improvement is a principle in the Crystal Methods agile methodology, which asserts that improvements, change or enhancements should be implemented as early as possible in the process. It is based on the belief that early alterations lead to better outcomes and more efficient product development.

Why is it important?
Early improvement is crucial because it allows for quick rectification of issues that might surface during a project, saving time, resources and potential consequences of late changes. Inter-departmental communication and lessons learned are applied very early and therefore reduce rework.

How it works?
For Early Improvement to work, teams have to identify opportunities for improvement at an early stage and act on it. This could be through reflection on team processes, brainstorming potential areas of improvement, and quickly implementing feedback from clients.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Early Improvement
In the exam, you may be asked theoretical or application questions about Early Improvement. For theoretical questions, demonstrate understanding by defining the concept and its benefits. For application questions, practical knowledge of how to implement early improvements in a project scenario is essential. Remember to point out that the idea is to catch and implement changes early on to prevent issues down the line.

Key Takeaway: Early Improvement is about proactivity - identifying and implementing improvements at the earliest opportunity to elevate efficiency and minimize waste.