Communication is typically one of the biggest problem-areas in any tech project. At 10x Management, we screen all of our candidates for top-notch communication skills. It’s one of the cornerstones of our vetting process. Communication can be especially difficult with large projects that have many stakeholders and various moving parts. Having a solid project manager or a sound project management strategy is an effective way to limit communication errors.
Laura Buckler, a writer at Scholar Advisor, shares some great tips on Agile Project Management below.
Agile project management (APM) methodologies are implemented in the software industry every day specifically to address communication problems. APM has short development cycles and smaller groups with specific objectives that meet more frequently.
Agile project management in a nutshell
The agile approach to project management is based on a number of principles as described in The Agile Manifesto.
In summary:
APM lets project managers achieve key goals in product development in easy stages and gives stakeholders blow-by-blow reports on progress even if project objectives change.
The value of APM is in the deliverables – specifically defined submissions of work for a definite price and duration.
The first principle of APM states, “Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.” The key terms here are “early” and “valuable.” There can be no satisfaction if the deliverables are late or not precisely what the client wants and/or needs.
The second principle states: “Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage.”
The agile approach to project management has found an audience in many industries outside software development because it is a practical and efficient way to get the job done.
Among the most popular frameworks based on this approach is Scrum. However, other methods work just as well as Scrum, if not better, depending on the project type. What does remain constant for any APM framework is the need for clear communications, which is why APM communications channels are very important.
The role of communication channels
The primary goal of APM is to create a work environment that encourages collaboration and responsiveness, and this only happens with proper communication. Some even have customized APM frameworks to suit particular needs, but they all have one thing in common: agile communication channels.
APM teams rely heavily on communication channels to get from drawing board to final product successfully.
For an agile project to succeed, all project members have to be on the same page. The project manager should be able to prepare a communication plan that would enable members to know and understand what is expected of them, along with the appropriate people in charge, feedback structures, and escalation procedures.
Agile project management is critical to achieving your corporate strategy. To ensure a successful implementation, project managers need to identify the right communication channels that will help them get things done.
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