Agile project management XYZ Corporation

Agile project management XYZ Corporation

1
Instructor/Developer: Williams
The XYZ Corporation
Agile Project Management Course Main Case
UMGC IFSM 441
Introduction to Main Case and Scenario Assignments
This is the Agile Project Management (IFSM 441) course main case. This case focuses on the XYZ Corporation, a fictitious
but life-like corporation, and its project management environment. In conjunction with this case, students are assigned
five assignment scenarios over the course of UMUC’s 8-week semester that extend the details of this main case and
require students to apply and demonstrate their knowledge of Agile project management concepts. The five scenarios
themselves are independent of each other, though each links back to the details of this main case. Each scenario
requires students to perform one or more work tasks as if they are employees of the XYZ Corporation, according to the
context and details specified in each scenario.
Overview of XYZ Corporation and its Project Management Environment
The XYZ Corporation is a large private-sector company headquartered in Adelphi, MD that focuses on government
contracting. Approximately 80% of annual revenues stem from the federal government sector, 14 % from the state
government sector, 5% from the local government sector, and 1% from the private sector. 2011 annual revenues for the
corporation were close to $100M. XYZ has approximately 700 employees. XYZ Corporation focuses on three main service
delivery areas: 1) emergency management, 2) health crisis prevention/response management, and 3) related logistical,
coordination, and collaboration services. The corporation derives approximately 80% of its revenues from services and
20% from products (hardware, software, etc.).
Approximately, 60% of delivered services are information technology services, 30% management consulting services,
and the remaining 10% an assortment of training and other support services. Approximately, 90% of the revenue from
products is Internet related, and the other 10% is a wide assortment of other products.
The XYZ Corporation is made up of the following four divisions: 1) Information Technology and Processes (IT
management, Project Management Office (PMO), etc. ; 2) Administration (Human Resources, Payroll, etc.); 3)
Emergency Management Service/Product Delivery (Marketing, Sales, Client Relations, Strategic Planning,
Product/Service Development, Product/Service Delivery, etc.); and 4) Health Crisis Prevention and Response
Management Service/Product Delivery (Marketing, Sales, Client Relations, Strategic Planning, Product/Service
Development, Product/Service Delivery, etc.). An organizational chart follows that illustrates how XYZ’s Project
Management Office (PMO) provides project governance:
2
Instructor/Developer: Williams
XYZ Corporation’s Project Management Office (PMO) promotes, develops, and maintains project
methodologies and standards, and, as well, oversees all aspects of project implementation and governance for
specified projects. The PMO at XYZ routinely supports 3 approved project management methodologies: 1)
PMBOK-compliant Methodology (per PMI’s PMBOK and related best practices); 2) Agile Methodology (per the
Agile PM (APM) Framework and Agile best practices); and 3) PMBOK/Agile Hybrid Methodology (a
combination of PMBOK and Agile PM best practices). Most projects are hybrid.
The PMO is responsible for determining not only which projects are approved, but, as well, which project
management methodology will be employed for each approved project. The PMO routinely considers two
main factors in pairing a methodology with a project: 1) internal unit fit for efficiency/effectiveness based on
the use of methodologies in past projects, requests by unit managers, skills of available PMO/unit project
managers, and other factors; and 2) external business environment factors, such as business/technical sector,
uncertainty, complexity, competition/opportunity, timeframe, technologies/processes/staff involved, etc. This
is the organization’s customized methodology adaption approach based on Agile PM best practices. By
mandate of corporate policy, the PMO must be involved in all projects with over a $100,000 annual budget. All
business units are encouraged to involve the PMO in projects as may be beneficial and per polices are
required to involve PMO oversight in projects with over $100,000 annual budget.
Internally, XYZ uses the PeopleSoft ERP across all divisions and an assortment of other Intranet and Internet
applications built either on a Java or .NET platform.
Additional XYZ Corporation PMO and Project Management Approaches Information
The XYZ Corporation’s approaches to project management have been greatly influenced by PMI’s PMBOK
approaches and, more recently, by 1) Agile PM and Agile approaches, and 2) concepts, best practices, and
approaches of various Agile Manifesto signers and Agile PM luminaries.
Let’s Scrum: How Scrum Methodology Encourages Students to View Themselves as Collaborators is authored
by Rebecca Pope-Ruark, Michelle Eichel, Sarah Talbott and Kasey Thornton. What Every Owner Should Know is
authored by Carlo Kruger. For more background information on the related best practice concepts and
approaches of Agile PM luminaries, see the assigned readings or search the web. XYZ Corporation’s Agile
project governance structures, methodologies, standards, and practices are greatly influenced by these
sources and, as implemented, are centrally driven by the XYZ PMO in close collaboration with the
Administration Division and the two Line of Business (LOB) Divisions.
Summary
This document has introduced the XYZ Corporation and its technology platforms and project management
approaches of choice. Since you will be an “employee” of XYZ Corporation this semester, it is important that
you look back from time to time to this profile of XYZ Corporation when planning and executing related
scenarios as assignments for this course. While this profile on XYZ Corporation is helpful, you may need to
check with your instructor or classmates from time to time for clarification and/or extension of this
information. Feel free to contact your instructor any time if you have XYZ Corporation questions or related
case or scenario questions relating to your work activities.