Agile project methodology , PMBOK - PMP... Why & Where?

These days, one find’s more and more discussion and comparison in social forum between

• The water fall model with that of agile project methodology (iterative).
• Agile project certification /Scrum with that of PMP.

The another common question, one would find is about, which one of the project management methodology is better?.

To me, Project management has to cover all aspects and processes of project from project initiation to close, including all the commercials and if needed, one has to take care of legal aspect. Once, we get into the legal aspect or towards conflict resolution, the proof could be the documented agreement for any third party arbitration, PMBOK fairly covers these aspect to a greater extend.

Project execution method can vary it can a water fall model or iterative model. The approach towards iterative model of project execution is well defined in ‘Agile’ project methodology. To me, choosing a particular project execution methodology whether its water fall or iterative (Agile) depends on many factors.

Some of the critical ones being,
• Industry.
• Product.
• Size and complexity of the project.
• Customer or project Owner.

Industry: PMBOK is not industry specific and can suit all industry. Agile methodology is mostly applicable to IT industry and it could extend to some other industries as well, particularly in design of prototype. Also, sometimes, the solution or the product release to market might be time bound, which would call for quick turnaround time in development, hence ‘agile’ methodology can be opted.

Product: In my viewpoint, ‘Agile’ type of project management methodology suits IT products development. For example, software packaged solution or electronic product which uses micro controller or Embedded application. These products have shelf life. One has to keep up with competition and product release has to happen at right point of time, one cannot release a product version ahead OR late. Releasing a product ahead or late can be a potential risk in absorption of product by market and hence the success of product and thereby to the project itself. In such products life (months or even years depending on product), there need to be release of product versions from time to time and improvement or enhancement happen throughout the potential life of the product. This being the case, naturally Agile methodology would be a clear winner.

Size and Complexity of the project: If size of the project effort is small and if there is scope clarity, then a water fall model on Fixed price basis can be a better option as it would involve cost saving. In any case, even in small sized projects, improvements do happen post production. However, a complex project like ERP with greater degree of effort would require some form of iteration, not only for user to adopt and understand ERP functionality and wherever there are gap in the proposed business functionality, some form of customization OR integration requirement and hence agile type iterative approach would be useful. As a matter of fact, there are iteration in ERP implementation which are known as CRPs (common room pilot) but only difference may be that it might not precisely match Agile methodology like – product backlogs, sprint run, burn down charts etc.

Customer OR product owner: In an agile type of project, customer’s testing team should available to test the product output repeatedly and hence their effort is also critical. In a vendor – customer relationship, its normal in IT project environment, customer testing team (which likely to be business process team members) may not have time bandwidth to perform repeated testing. However within a company, if R and D team is coming out with iterative product output and with product owner controlling testing and producing teams the agile methodology will better suit. The fact is that scoping, commercials or even if any conflict happens - it can be resolved by the product owners.

Each project can be unique, bound by constraints and the challenges could be situational time to time, adopting a particular project management methodology alone might not bring success to a project. However, methodology would be effective tool towards success of project, if acknowledged, adopted and supported by key stakeholders. The above points could play a critical role in choosing a particular project methodology.

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The Phoenix Market City, Chennai

In last 4 to 5 years, there have been quite a few malls which have come up in Chennai. The latest addition is ‘The Phoenix Market City’ Mall at Velachery. This is supposed to be one among the biggest mall is South India with a stated measurement of over 2 Million sq feet and it had surpassed Express Avenue mall, Rayapettah in size.

Being near to my apartment(approx 1 Km), once I heard that mall is opened,  visited the mall yesterday evening. Yes… it was open and understood from information desk, it’s a ‘soft’ open (I was wrong in thinking only IT / management folks use jargon)….. So what would be ‘hard’ open?..... looks like that would be the 'official' opening :-).

Since, there was no official announcement and being a week day evening not much of crowd around in the mall. Interestingly, one can find Jewelry and saree outlet (RMKV) in the mall and so is food joint ‘Nandoos’, which is yet to open. Use to have food at ‘Nandoos’ during my project stint at South Africa couple of years back. 

Looks quite huge, however not all outlets are open, many are doing their interior including the hyper market – Big bazaar. In addition to this, the complex is expected to have a hotel and residential apartments too for which construction is being carried out. 

hmmmm…..In a month time, this spot at Velachery would become a popular destination at Chennai. 

Aside to this, to a social conscious mind, just wondering with each passing year, there has been an increase deficit in electricity availability in the state, further with many more buildings coming up, just wondering as where the state would be heading towards in next few years on electricity requirement?. Another one is traffic, this could turn out to be a major bottle neck at the entrance side, once the entire complex becomes operational near check post at the Velachery main road, as already this road becomes chocked of traffic during peak hours.

Anyways, Velachery is becoming a city by itself, one may not need to step out of Velachery for their needs. From a personal perspective, once in a month visit to Express Avenue mall may not happen in the future.

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Welcome 2013, happy new year!

As the clocks tick on, another year is about to pass over and we entering not only a new year. Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year.

A brief looks Nature, Economic, Political and Technology happening over 2012

Nature: The hype created around Dooms day - 21st Dec 2012 was quite interesting and funny. This can be made into movie, in line with movie '2012' and sure would be a block buster.

Some of the stories which went around .... Earth would stop its rotation due to magnetic pole swift, Yellow stone volcanic eruption and its impact, huge sized Asteroid hitting the earth similar to one happened during time of Dinosaur.

All of which were scary only to remind us how blessed are we, to just to carry on by taking all nature's action for granted. Apart from above hoax, 2012 had been relatively peaceful year.

Economy: Another year passed by with currency wars happening as usual. Paper currency continued to loose stream as investment focus was on more trusted 'yellow' metal - Gold. On year on year basis, as of Dec 2012, there is around 20% hike.

From my view point, it looks like gold has reached it saturation point for the given economic condition of the world. From now on any hike may be slower one, unless there is further turmoil in Economy.

From economy growth perspective, the response was mixed and one can say it was sluggish all across the globe. After few years of growth, there had been a fall in India GDP this year.

The economic outlook for India does not seem to look promising particularly with higher NPA (Non performing assets - Recent RBI report) in banking sector with inflation refusing to come down.

Political: Political climate across there globe was much quiet. 2011 saw political changes in middle east, but 2012 was quite. 2013 could be a crucial year for India, before the general election before proposed election in 2014.

Technology: Virtualization and mobile communication continued to grow. Virtualization in form of cloud computing and mobile communication packed with feature are being widely marketed. In future mobile phones might become once valet and even used towards identity of a person apart from his signature or picture.

With every passing year, not only do we become old, but also become more mature and with keener understanding of life. Lets learn to live without regrets and focus our energy towards our goals.

GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!!!

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Where is my India?

Where is my India? - This is statement put up by one of the leading news TV channels in the last few days, after the brutal crime happened at the capital in mid December 2012. Without losing time, the guilty need to be punished at the earliest.

The matter should not end with this, the question "Where is my India?" should act as a trigger at this point of time to bring in necessary reforms. About couple of decade back, Doordarshan and news papers where the only source of ‘news’ for public. Everyone is aware of quality of news produced by Doordarshan and even though news paper were privately run provided better coverage of news, unfortunately, one was not getting a complete 360 degree view point about the happenings and communication was one way.

Opening up of economy, evolved the media sector. 90’s saw growth of private TV channel, but the focus of these private channel was on entertainment , as the thought would have been only entertainment would provide sustainable business model for these media channel. Hence, the focus was not on quality of news provided OR analysis of news.

Come 2005, exclusive news channels were born. These news channels started providing a 360 degree view point of news and there has been no hiding of information. For any kind of major incidence happening in India, the media channel is there to provide the necessary information across India. In addition to news channels, the communication facilities and options like mobile, facebook and twitter has provided faster dissemination of information with support evidences.

Reforms in economy alone would not benefit the country, there needs to reforms all around, keeping in mind many factors and has to happen quickly. As this did not happen, some of the sectors have changed drastically due to technology, opening up of economy and professionalism while many sectors are resisting changes to happen. Some sectors in India have moved forward, while some others lag way behind. Anyways its matter of time, changes happen for good. After all, change is the only permanent thing, none can prevent it.

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'End of the world', Phobia....

Mayan's calendar ends on 21st December 2012, which is today and so?.....
I would like to link this up with history and also Hinduism. Mayan's calender started around 3000 BC, around same time as Kali yuga had started after the end of Dwapura Yuga around 3000 BC.

As per Hindu mythology, Kali yuga is set to last for 4,32,000 years and we have hardly reached about 5000 years. Kali yuga is suppose to be the last phase of earth after Sathya, Treta and Dwapara yuga and each of these yuga's had lasted for close to million years.

Mayan calendar could end today and start again tomorrow.

Also wish to point out the famous Bhagavat Gita Quote, 

Hence, tomorrow would be another day.

None, can predict whats is store for each one of us tomorrow.

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FDI in retail, back again..

FDI in retail industry refuses to die down, its back again in the parliament.
One could see mixed responses from about FDI in retail, I had read an article in The Hindu and read another article in Economic times few days back, with both providing a contradictory view point about FDI. Off course, I have written in my own blog about FDI in retail about a year back.

Having opened up almost all sectors including manufacturing, it really does not matter just to protect retail sector alone.

Going through the article in The Hindu, the following question came to my mind on which I do not have answers.

True, FDI should have been ideally allowed only for import substitute, promote export's. This has not been the case, FDI or imports were allowed in most of the sectors on which India could have managed by itself very well. For example FDI or imports were allowed in soft drinks, potato chips, real estate, fast food chain franchisees and many more consumer goods. Is repatriation of profit in form of foreign exchange not happening on these or have the economy not impacted?.

Let’s assume for argument sake, that export obligation is linked with FDI investment. A company setting up Indian arm and after couple of years of export , what if it set up an a subsidiary company in foreign soil, will not the foreign exchange flow as investment into the subsidiary company in foreign country from India?. If such interlinked subsidiary companies are set up in different country, how easy would it be track money flows into and out of India?.

As pointed out in the article in economic times the GDP growth was around 3.5% till about 1991, when the Indian economy was protected, however has GDP not grown much more after liberalization?. But then, Indian currency has also become weak since 1991 against most of the international currencies.

India has come a long way, after opening Indian door for investment in many sectors including manufacturing, in spite of many challenges faced and accepted the changes. There is no other option, but to accept change, take up competition and challenges where ever possible. End of the day, Darwin theory hold good in this global economy, which is ‘Survival of fittest’. A consumer, would feel OK to buy ‘Washington apple’ or ‘Nagpur Orange’ either in FDI hypermarket or mamji shop as long as they get quality product for the price one pay. Except for some changes and adjustment, both the retail shop is bound to survive in its segment.

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Hinduism

***** Happy Deepavali to All !!! ****.
On this happy day, thought of writing about Hinduism. It is one of the very few religions where prayers are offered to god directly.
Religion and Spirituality can be interesting and would provide solace to many points of time, if one start understanding it better and believe the same.

At times, questions are raised about trueness of a religion. Every happening in life may not have answer and but religion can provide support to overcome difficulty and challenges.


Hinduism is often called the "one of the oldest living religion'. No one knows, when, how it was started. The starting place was Asian subcontinent and more particularly India

According to Hindu Philosophy, there are four ages. These are Satya Yuga, Thretha Yuga, Dvapara Yuga and Kali Yuga.

Each of the yuga is said to close to million years.

Satya Yuga : Virtue was supreme, human life span 10s of 1000 years. Truth, Dharma and spirituality of human being close to 70% (near to saint).
Thretha Yuga: Reduced virtue. Truth, Dharma and spirituality of human being close to 50 to 60%. Human being size for much bigger than current size of Human being, at least by 3 or 4 times.
Dwapara Yuga: Truth, Dharma and spirituality of human being closed to 30 to 50 %. Life span was 1000 years.
Kali Yuga: Truth, Dharma and spirituality in range of 10 to 30%. Life span max of 100 years.

The ten famous incarnation of Vishnu is said to happen over all four yugas. Lord Rama said to belong to Threta Yuga and Krishna is said to be in Dwapara yuga. Once Krishna Era was over Kali Yuga is said to be born. With Kali yuga the distance between human being and god said have increased.

Some times there are questions are raised. In the last few years, some of the finding proves the above to be true.

There are evidence of about Ramar Bridge (which belonged to Thretha Yuga).

There are evidence about, humongous sized Human being of previous Yuga.

Also, there is evidence about Dwaraka city ruins where Krishna ruled (which belonged to Dwapara Yuga).

Human being life is so very short. Every religion preaches peace for self and towards others. It is said currently, we are living in "Kaliyuga" (reduced dharma and spirituality) , where prominence is given to self and selfish motive. However, one needs to keep in mind "What we sow in mind is what we get".

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