29
votes
Accepted
What are developers expected to do during testing in the latter half of each Sprint?
TL; DR
Your question embeds some false assumptions about the linear nature of testing within an agile process. A mature agile team with cross-functional skill sets treats development and testing as ...
- 47.3k
12
votes
Accepted
What to do when the backend work is much larger than the frontend?
One approach I have seen work is to initially stub the backend functionality before doing the detailed development work.
These are the steps the team takes:
The backend developer defines an API that ...
- 18.1k
9
votes
How do I organize a team of “shadow" software developers (think ghostwriters)?
The simplest answer to this will likely be the answer you least like. Don't...
In the last fifteen or so years we have seen an ever increasing level of transparency in the work place. This crosses ...
- 12.3k
8
votes
What are developers expected to do during testing in the latter half of each Sprint?
They could be doing a number of things. What they should be doing depends on your organization's Scrum/XP maturity but here are some common items:
QA work - yes devs can QA, whether thats writing ...
- 3,922
7
votes
How do you handle change requests in Scrum?
TL;DR
The original question was tagged Scrum, so my answer will focus on how Scrum expects routine and non-routine changes to be managed. In brief, Scrum embraces change, but encourages the Product ...
- 47.3k
6
votes
Why can't QA's share expertise and suggest new ways of working
It might be how you're suggesting these changes.
It probably has nothing to do with your position (QA), per se, but more to do with the fact that some new guy is coming in, telling everyone that what ...
- 14.7k
5
votes
Accepted
Why do Agile practice not exist in scientific research projects and organizations?
I think the reason you've not found much written is that when you get down to the cores of agile, the difference in projects is not all that pronounced. What you want from a project is what really ...
- 12.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Difference between maintenance and development
This is based on personal experience, so if it differs from your own, feel free to jump in.
Development - refers to the primary implementation of new projects. Once an initial development project is ...
- 126
5
votes
Accepted
Which is the best way to list tickets that do not change lane / status in JIRA?
I don't believe it is possible to sort by status changed date. However, given that your requirement is "to have a list of the JIRA tickets that are not moving from one lane to another so that I can ...
- 14.7k
5
votes
Does a business analyst fit into the Scrum framework?
TL;DR
The canonically-correct solution is to put someone with business analysis skills onto the Scrum Team in a Developer role, and then cross-train the whole Scrum Team. Cross-pollination of skills ...
- 47.3k
4
votes
Accepted
How do I improve the development process at our small startup?
Focus on quality and estimates
You identified four problems. Of those, I would view the following two as your main issues (long hours and missed deadlines are likely resulting from these):
Quality ...
- 10.9k
4
votes
Is there an Agile or Scrum method without Iterations / Sprints?
I would suggest taking a look at MS kanban 1.0 template. Which is more of a continuous delivery process instead of iteration based approach.
- 76
4
votes
Is there an Agile or Scrum method without Iterations / Sprints?
This question raises a big question to me - is this actually a project in itself, or something that will be altered as part of other projects? If the latter, it may not need anything around it other ...
- 879
4
votes
How do I organize a team of “shadow" software developers (think ghostwriters)?
The contract type is another factor to consider. A firm-fixed price (FFP) contract can provide you the opacity which is your stated desire. The specification is set in the statement of work or ...
- 356
4
votes
What are developers expected to do during testing in the latter half of each Sprint?
"Typically for a team of 3 to 4 developers, there would be 1 QA resource"
That's your problem there. There are three roles in Scrum, Product Owner, Scrum Master and Development Team Member. Your ...
- 1,255
4
votes
Why can't QA's share expertise and suggest new ways of working
Anybody in the team can make suggestions for how the team can perform better, also new team members with a QA background. There are, however, two things working against getting your ideas accepted.
...
- 2,650
4
votes
Transition from waterfall to agile
I would recommend you guys hire an Agile Coach or Scrum Master, at least for a six months period. One of the four parts of the agile manifesto is Individuals and interactions over processes and tools ...
- 854
4
votes
How to be an honest and good project coordinator in a corrupt and dishonest work environment?
If this is the US Federal government, you are in the middle of some serious fraud. This isn't something you fix, this is something you report. Call the whistleblowers hotline and look for a new job.
...
- 36.5k
4
votes
Does a business analyst fit into the Scrum framework?
I usually see BAs work in one of two ways. Sometimes they assist on items being developed in the current sprint by providing their domain expertise to developers, helping to fill in any missing ...
- 5,662
4
votes
Does a business analyst fit into the Scrum framework?
There are two answers here - the Scrum answer and the my practical answer.
In Scrum, there are three "accountabilities" (prior to the November 2020 revision, roles) on a Scrum Team - Scrum ...
- 17k
4
votes
Does a business analyst fit into the Scrum framework?
I have seen many business analysts work well in Scrum teams.
The three biggest challenges for them are typically:
Reaching a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities with the Product Owner
...
- 18.1k
3
votes
How do I organize a team of “shadow" software developers (think ghostwriters)?
Since you're arguing for a situation where (at least some of) your employees will benefit from the anonymity, I can only think of one option:
Code Names
Create a culture of 'ninja squads' or some ...
- 178
3
votes
How do I organize a team of “shadow" software developers (think ghostwriters)?
Joel spoke well. As someone with this same issue, however, here's how I approach the dilemma:
Relationships, not abilities, matter. I only hire excellent people, engineering or otherwise. So my goal ...
- 131
3
votes
Does the "Plan Scope Management Process" contain many sub-processes?
The Planning is the Activity
You're misreading the objective. For "Plan Scope Management Process," the sole output of the activity is a plan, not all of the other things that a scope management ...
- 47.3k
3
votes
How do I improve the development process at our small startup?
Do not take on any more extra work, there is a temptation but if your organisation is brought into line then the money will come. Just keep enough to maintain your cash flow. Greed is a very ...
- 31
3
votes
Accepted
Metrics for changing a process
I want to quantify my reasons for automation
The best reason for automation is cost reduction. This is your ultimate metric.
Calculate how much time your automation + execution takes, and how much ...
- 859
3
votes
How to define clear processes for different projects?
What you're talking about is creating a 'methodology', and yes, it's a good idea.
The methodology is created for the reason you mentioned - so that (most) anyone can step in and keep the project ...
- 6,761
3
votes
Collecting And Sharing Status
I found that walking around and talking to each person is the only effective way to get a full status update. the write it up and send an email.
Unless you're really good at it, don't use electronic ...
- 4,532
3
votes
What are developers expected to do during testing in the latter half of each Sprint?
It sounds like you are not really practising scrum but 'timeboxed waterfall'. With this approach each sprint is it's own mini waterfall project, with dev up front and testing at the end. As you have ...
- 436
3
votes
How to put on one chart multiple projects to show dependencies between them?
You need to build an integrated master schedule. You need to pull in all your separate projects' schedules into one schedule and link them. You can link the work packages from different projects ...
- 36.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible