Learn Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) (Agile Project Management) with Interactive Flashcards

Master key concepts in Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) through our interactive flashcard system. Click on each card to reveal detailed explanations and enhance your understanding.

MoSCoW Prioritization

MoSCoW Prioritization is a technique used in DSDM to prioritize requirements based on their importance to the project's objectives. MoSCoW stands for Must Have, Should Have, Could Have and Won't Have. Must Have requirements are critical for the project's success, and should not be compromised. Should Have requirements are important but not as crucial; the project may still succeed if some of these are left out. Could Have requirements are desirable, but not necessary, and can be postponed if needed. Lastly, Won't Have requirements are not essential for the current project iteration, and are typically deferred or dropped. By categorizing requirements using MoSCoW prioritization, project teams can make clear decisions on what functionality to include or exclude, and focus on delivering the highest value features first.

Timeboxing

Timeboxing is a key component of DSDM where time is set aside for specific tasks or project activities, dividing the project into distinct periods called 'timeboxes'. Each timebox has a specific start and end date, and may include one or more tasks or iterations. Timeboxing encourages focused, incremental progress, with a clear scope and measurable outcomes for each timebox. This helps to enforce deadlines and manage scope, as new features or changes are not added to the current timebox after it has started. As a result, the project remains on schedule and can better adapt to changing needs and priorities by addressing them in future timeboxes.

Collaborative Teamwork

Collaborative Teamwork is a fundamental DSDM concept that emphasizes the importance of an open, communicative, and cooperative work environment for all team members and stakeholders. In DSDM, projects rely on the collective skills, knowledge, and experiences of the entire team to make decisions, solve problems, and create innovative solutions. Collaboration is typically encouraged through regular meetings, shared objectives, and a clear project vision that is understood and supported by all team members. By fostering collaborative teamwork, DSDM promotes creativity, innovation, accountability, and overall project success, while improving team morale and reducing chances of miscommunication or misunderstandings.

Empowerment

Empowerment is a key DSDM principle that grants team members the authority and responsibility to make decisions within their areas of expertise. This enables the team to react faster to changing requirements or new information. Empowerment includes providing team members with the necessary resources and support, as well as fostering a culture of trust and accountability. Through empowerment, DSDM encourages self-management, engagement, and a greater sense of ownership over work, which often leads to higher team motivation, flexibility, and collaboration. It also enhances decision-making efficiency and reduces delays common in projects with hierarchical structures, as decisions can be made without excessive bureaucracy or long approval processes.

Facilitated Workshops

Facilitated Workshops are a DSDM technique that encourages active stakeholder involvement in identifying, discussing, and resolving issues during project delivery. By bringing together key stakeholders, these workshops provide a forum for open communication, information sharing, and decision-making. They enable the quick and efficient resolution of any issues that may arise during the project. Facilitated Workshops also promote effective planning, detailed requirement analysis, and a collaborative team environment conducive to a successful Agile project. This practice ensures that all necessary parties are involved in the decision-making process and helps develop a shared understanding of project objectives and priorities among team members.

Focus on Business Value

The prime objective of DSDM projects is to deliver the most significant business value to the organization within a given timeframe and budget. This concept requires project teams to prioritize user requirements based on their expected business value, ensuring that the project outcome delivers maximum ROI. DSDM teams utilize activities like MoSCoW prioritization and timeboxing to align their work with the organization's strategic objectives. By focusing on delivering elements that provide the highest business value, the team can better allocate their resources and efforts, achieving more impactful outcomes.

Role Flexibility

Role Flexibility is an essential concept in DSDM that allows team members to take on multiple roles or responsibilities during the project, fostering a shared sense of ownership and collaboration. The ability to be flexible in team roles supports the agile philosophy of adaptability and responsiveness to change by ensuring that team members can step in and fill any gaps or shortfalls when needed. This approach also leads to more efficient resource allocation, reduces bottlenecks in project progress, and increases the chances of successful project delivery. Role flexibility further contributes to the development of cross-functional teams capable of quickly adapting to changing project needs and surpassing challenges.

Incremental Delivery

Incremental Delivery is the practice of releasing fully tested and working features of a system to the users, one piece at a time. In DSDM, incremental delivery goes hand-in-hand with iterative development, as it involves delivering increments of the system at the end of each iteration. The goal is to deliver the most important features first, allowing users to realize business benefits as early as possible. Incremental delivery also provides opportunities for user feedback and testing, allowing the project team to adapt and refine the system in response to this feedback.

Project Lifecycle

The DSDM Project Lifecycle is a structured framework for planning, executing, and closing agile projects. It is composed of five distinct phases: Pre-Project, Feasibility Study, Business Study, Functional Model Iteration, and Implementation. This framework guides the project team through the various stages of the project, ensuring that key activities and decisions are made at the right time. The lifecycle also allows for regular reviews and checkpoints, providing the necessary governance and control mechanisms to ensure that the project remains on track and aligned with business objectives.

Risk Management

Risk Management in DSDM is a proactive process that involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks that may arise during the course of a project. Project risks can include technical, financial, business, or organizational factors that may jeopardize the success of the project. Agile projects, in particular, can face unique risks associated with the adaptive nature of the approach and the need for ongoing collaboration and decision-making. DSDM places a strong emphasis on risk management, encouraging the project team to address risks early and continuously throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that potential issues are identified and managed before they become critical.

More Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM) questions
19 questions (total)