Blow-up the Iron Triangle

Blow-up the Iron Triangle: Rethinking Software Project Goals and Approaches to Increase Business Value

Presentation accompanying paper presented at 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium

Paper can be downloaded from: http://goodrequirements.net/2013/utd-pm-symposium

From the modified Abstract:
There is a dichotomy in how executives and executors (those of us who do the work directed by the executives) view projects. Executives are focused on solving the significant corporate issues of the day and adding value in an ever-competitive market. Meanwhile, executors are measured against how well they control progress towards established project targets. The difference between these two are vast and the implications distort projects across the globe. It doesn’t have to be this way.

In an effort to bring more value, save more time, and make a bigger difference, software projects are rethinking every part of project delivery. Companies are attempting new approaches to solve challenges and opportunities.

These changes herald how the definition for project success is moving from the Iron Triangle of Schedule-Cost-Scope to a more flexible and impactful model of Value-Quality-Constraints. The tectonic shift influences nearly all elements of how software projects are conceived, executed, and measured. From redefining the problem statement to piloting solutions in a matter of weeks, the new focus on value over traditional project metrics shakes project management and requires a new understanding.

Transcript

1. Blow-up the Iron Triangle Rethinking Software Project Goals and Approaches to Increase Business Value
2. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Jeffrey Davidson / Principal twitter: @JeffreyGoodReq blog: goodrequirements.com email: jeffrey@davidson.net 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium
3. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium •  An IT Story: 4 Different Leaders •  Why is IT struggling? •  Is There a Solution? •  Conclusion Agenda
4. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium AN IT STORY: 4 DIFFERENT LEADERS Part 1:
5. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium 4 Different IT Leaders “Process Heavy” “Cowboy” “Yes Man”
6. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium WHY IS IT STRUGGLING? Part 2:
7. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Forces of Change “Technology is the #1 concern of CEOs worldwide” •  IBM, CEO Study 2012 It  took  38  years  for  the  radio  to  reach  an   audience  of  50  million  consumers,  13   years  for  television,  four  years  for  the   Internet,  but  only  two  years  for  the   iPhone.  It's  daun@ng  to  keep  current   with  such  an  in-­‐flux  marketplace,  not  to   men@on  the  myriad  consumer  behavior   changes  that  it  drives.   •  B.  Bonin  Bough,  HBR  Blog  Network  
8. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Utility
9. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium “Strategy is about understanding what you do, looking out over the long-term future to determine what you want to become, and— most importantly—focusing on how you plan to get there.” •  C. Davis Fogg Strategy
10. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Control “You can’t control what you can’t measure.” •  Tom DeMarco
11. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Iron Triangle Scope Schedule Cost
12. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Rewarding Success Control
13. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium IS THERE A SOLUTION? Part 3:
14. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Control “You can’t control what you can’t measure.” •  Tom DeMarco
15. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Schedule Cost Scope Blow-up the Iron Triangle
16. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium     Value (Releasable Product) Quality (Reliable, Adaptable Product) Constraints (Scope, Schedule, Cost)
17. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium It’s About Value . . . 20-30% •  Jim Highsmith
18. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium It’s About Quality . . .
19. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium It’s About Delivering . . . Create the product * Make the product Sell the product * Choose the value * Provide the value Communicate the value to customers Create the product * Make the product Sell the product •  McKinsey staff paper
20. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium CONCLUSION Part 4:
21. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium It’s About Learning . . . “Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.” •  J. P. Morgan
22. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium 4 Different IT Leaders “Process Heavy”
23. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium A New Leader
24. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium References Anupam Kundu and Manu Tandon. “How do I get the most out of my technology investments?” Presented at SIFMA, Asset Managers Forum, NYC. June 2013. Available on slideshare.net. Jeffrey Davidson. “Blow-up the Iron Triangle.” Available on http:// goodrequirements.net/2013/utd-pm- symposium
25. Blow-up the Iron Triangle 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium Share & Tell This is licensed under Creative Commons Sharealike [CC BY 3.0] •  Please use it •  Please share it •  Please improve it •  As long as you credit me somewhere
26. Blow-up the Iron Triangle Jeffrey Davidson / Principal twitter: @JeffreyGoodReq blog: goodrequirements.com email: jeffrey@davidson.net 7th Annual UT Dallas Project Management Symposium August 15-16, 2013