Source: How to start a project with PRINCE2 methodology

In continuation of my previous blog [#6] on this subject following questions and answers are continued:

1. During test driven development [TDD] what are the main tasks need to be considered ?

Ans: During TDD, the following tasks need to be considered:

• A test first approach need to be facilitated while iteration requirements are being drafted or during model storming activity.
• The test approach points need to be converted into software specifications to design and develop the software code.
• Finally a concrete test case finalization can happen during TDD process.
• Make a Plan to write the code in a testable approach.

2. What is review activity in a project and where all you can have this activity ?

Ans: The Review need to be done against on any output of the activity. Before starting an activity we need to have the base item to work on that activity to complete. Once it is completed the review need to be performed to identify the potential issues. This need to happen across the Agile project activities. The review can be formal or informal depends on the need or situation.

3. What is a code refactoring ?

Ans: In any software code or program, the future requirements need to be ammended. The written instructions need to be flexible to adopt the new steps to accommodate easily in the existing code. If this facility is not available in the code, the new or old developer need to restructure the code to accommodate these amendments. In every code the reusable component or functions insertion is the best practice to utilize for future requirements.

This method is called code refactoring. Many legacy systems, those were coded on ad-hoc basis need to be under code refactoring activity. The Agile process steps can be implemented if the code refactored or if the software has reusable modules. This way the developers or any technical teams can delivery the SPRINT items faster.

To have some understanding on building reusable code please see my videos which has an e-commerce scenario example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCR6GP1ji60

4. What is Scrum and how it helps in Agile development cycle?

Ans: Scrum is an incremental and iterative software development process/framework in Agile software development. It makes the development team as integrated team to work on a common goal. The teams are also collaborated and mixed together with this process to work on common goals. This way it helps Agile SDLC to deliver the workable software.

5. How the teams are expected to work in a Scrum process ?

Ans: The teams are expected to work in a self organized way. They are also expected to co-locate to one place or through online collaboration within the teams to work closely and to have daily face to face communication with a disciplined approach to reach the goal.

6. How to handle the Requirements volatility in Scrum Process ?

Ans: In a Scrum process the key principle is to accept the requirements changes during the product development. Hence at any given time before deploying the product into production the users can demand for any change and the technical team need to accept it. Hence there is a facility to handle the Requirements volatility in Scrum Process.

7. During the scrum process how the problem definition and its acceptance can be adopted ?

Ans: In Scrum, with multiple iterations the product development is driven. The details of product final goal or vision is not known in one iteration. Once all the iterations are defined only, these symptoms can be known. In the beginning of the project or during requirements envision phase the iterations need to be defined in high level with requirements segregation. Then the iterations clarity need to be available to accept for construction during the SPRINTs making. Then the acceptance criteria is known to the teams to adopt into delivery process for different SPRINTs.

8. How the Scrum Model works ?

Ans: The Scrum model works in the following approach:

• By focusing on maximizing the team’s ability to deliver quickly.
• The response for emerging requirements should be faster.
• More adoption to evolving technologies.
• Adopting changes towards the market conditions.

9. Whom all the Product owner represents during Scrum process ?

Ans: Product owner represents the Product stakeholders and the voice of the customer.

10. What for the Product owner is accountable in a Scrum process ?

Ans: The Product owner [PO] is accountable to ensure the teams deliver the value to the business.

Please feel free to contact for any support.

Many teams are being or going to be converted into Agile SDLC from V-model through different IT organizations as per the current IT trends.

When they are on Agile projects, if they do not get any detailed trainings by their organization before this model conversion starts. Their productivity will be slowed down due to lack of understanding on Agile process. They also get confusion on the terminology and Scrum teams process.

Hence one need to understand this conversion process before moving to Agile from V-Model.

I have drafted a comparision between these models and the project phases. This might help if any of you did not get Agile or model conversion training and if you are into Agile project already.  Please remember; you also need to compare with your organization’s SDLC guidelines/needs and follow them also.

At the same time please read all of my blog series for: SDLC & Agile – Interview questions for Freshers,  to know the steps involved in Agile project.

Question # 1. : During the conversion from V-model  to Agile model; how the User requirements are considered and into which phase of Agile it need to be considered ?

Ans: In Agile model the following phases are considered:

1. Concept, B) Inception, C) Construction, D) Transition, E) Production, F) Retirement.

In V-model the phases are: A) User requirements [the UAT uses these for product certification], B) Software Requirement Specification-SRS [Being used for System testing], C) High Level Design-HLD [Used for Integration testing], D) Detailed Design Specification-DDS [Used for Integration testing], E) Coding [The code requirements also can be used for coding and during Unit testing these will be used].

• From the V-Model; the User requirements are considered into the Inception phase.
• And the Product owner [PO] develops the user stories against to these user requirements with the help of users.
• The PO divide them into different iterations for SPRINT process as per the Agile model.
• This will be done under the activities of “Initial Requirements Envisioning” and “Initial Architecture Envisioning”.Question # 2. : How the SRS can be converted from V-Model to Agile model ?

Ans:

• As per the Agile model the Inception phase should have the activities of “Initial Requirements Envisioning” and “Initial Architecture Envisioning”.
• The PO should consider the user requirements and map these Software Requirements Specifications [SRS] to them in view of user stories and make a product Backlog [PB].
• Once this is done the project [Scrum] teams should consider the PB to convert them into the SPRINT to deliver the software into different iterations.
• On priority the SPRINTs are considered for delivery as per the Scrum process. Question # 3.: How the HLD and DDS are converted into Agile from V-model ?

Ans:

• As per the Agile model the Construction phase need to have the Current SPRINT.
• The relevant design specifications need to be pulled into the relevant iterations to work on different SPRINT Cycles.Question # 4.: How the coding activity can be handled in Agile from V-model ?

Ans:

• Once the HLD and DDS are converted into different SPRINT cycles, the relevant components can be identified to allocate to the developers for coding activity under Construction phase of Agile.
• The developers consider their delivery of work into different iterations by following Scrum process.
• The relevant documentation is mandatory as per the Agile process.

Question # 5.: How the Integration Testing [IT] can be executed in Agile mode when you transform from V-Model ?

Ans:

• Once the SPRINT planning is done the coding and unit testing need to be completed by Scrum process.
• Then the next activity can be IT.
• This should be executed during Construction phase of Agile.
• At this stage an initial System Testing is also possible as per the project need, before moving to Transition phase of Agile.

I hope this might give some level of understanding or confidence to move forward with your current Agile process/project.

Please feel free to contact for any of your project delivery support.

In continuation of my previous blog  on this subject following questions and answers are continued:

 1. What is rapid prototype model?

Ans:  During rapid prototype model the team will have complete product and technical knowledge to create the demo or skeleton software. Once the users approved, it can be converted into a full pledged product with different features. And it can be considered for Agile delivery under different iterations.  

Example: If the team has knowledge of E-commerce system design, development and implementation they can consider as a product to develop with a prototype for a customer demo. Once it is approved it can be converted into full  product development project using Agile SDLC model.

2. What is initial funding?

Ans: In Any Agile project the initial vision is mandatory.

During this activity the ROI is calculated for different phases of project. During Project initiation  the required fund for project initiation phase is released. This will be the initial funding. Once the project initiation is done, the balance of the project funding is released incrementally  from the project budget.

3.  What are the work items in Agile project and how can you get them from a story ?

Ans: In Agile projects; the work items are derived from requirements [user story] for developers to construct the code. The requirements from each iteration are transformed into work items by following a decomposition method. [Refer to model storming question in my previous blog]. Example: One user requirement [user story] can be  decomposed into one or more design requirements. One design requirement might need to have a source code to construct. Similarly these process steps are followed for all the iterations.

4. When can you consider highest prioritized work items ?

Ans: As per the Agile project during the project initiation phase, the requirements are prioritized under requirements envisioning activity.  From this activity the highest prioritized requirements are collected and grouped into 1^st iteration for delivery. Then the technical team can take forward them to decompose to SPRINT. SPRINT items also will have priority in relation to iteration requirement.  [to understand clearly, watch Agile videos posted on this blog site].

5. What is planning session in Agile project ?

Ans: Once an initial demo is done to the business users, they might bring up with some changes or new requirements. These need to be discussed among the developers under a planning session to segregate them into different future iterations.  Ultimately the SPRINT items can be derived.

6. What is project viability during construction phase ?

Ans: During construction phase the user demo is conducted. At that time the requirements are segregated into different iterations with a consumable solution. If the iteration can fit for the required functional requirements then the technical team can decide as it is viable to proceed. Otherwise, they can consider it is not viable to deliver the heavy sized [in effort] of the project with more requirements and within the given duration along with the  limited resources.

7. What is Replenishment of modeling session during business value identification of agile project ?

Ans: During business value identification of Agile project, the new features or requirements are validated by the stakeholders. During this stage each requirement is validated towards incorporating it as software feature. Both the technical and business teams will assess the technical and business value of each requirement for ROI and finalize the requirements for a project or iteration. This process is done during the inception phase by adopting the activity of Requirements envisioning.

8. During Initial  stage, for  Architectural requirements envisioning  activity what are the major tasks need to be performed ?

Ans:  We need to identify the high level scope of the requirements, identification of initial requirements stack and identification of architectural vision. This can be considered as initial architecture of the product or project planned to execute using Agile SDLC. Note this will be in very high level product architecture. Sometimes; you may not find the details of the architecture components also. When we move forward on the project the more clarity can be achieved.

9. What are the tasks will be performed during iteration modeling ?

Ans: During the iteration modeling;  planning for good estimates identification and planning the work items for the iteration can happen. With these tasks the team can identify the work items for an iteration to start. We can call this activity [iteration modeling] as iteration planning session also within the teams.  

10. What are the critical activities need to be performed during model storming ?

Ans: During the model storming following critical activities are performed:

A) Working through specific issues on a JIT [Just In Time] manner.

B) Active participation of stakeholders

C) Making sure the requirements are evolving throughout the project.

D) Consider to model the current needed requirements only and make provision to come back later.  

Keep watching this site for further updates.
Contact for any guidance/coaching.

In continuation of my previous blog [https://wordpress.com/post/vskumar.blog/1944] on this subject following questions and answers are continued:

1.  During selection of Agile  Projects what are the main activities need to be performed?

Ans: a) Identify potential projects

         b) Prioritize potential projects

         c) Develop initial vision

         d) Consider project feasibility

 2.  How to identify potential projects in an organization?

Ans: In any organization initially, the critical business processes are identified. These critical business process are analyzed for automation through IT  technology. Then they are going to be converted into IT projects. And will be planned as per the Agile methodology for planning, execution and delivery.

3. How the  projects can be prioritized/identified during Agile ?

Ans: Once the critical business processes are identified and planned for IT projects, and these will be the potential projects for prioritization and planning. 

4. What is the initial vision to a project and what should be done at that stage?

Ans: Each prioritized  project should be associated with initial vision of organization. During this stage the ROI [Return On Investment] is calculated for a project. 

5.  What is a project feasibility?

Ans: Once ROI is measured for  a project. The feasibility of doing that project is going to be researched. If it is feasible only the project team is going to consider it as an IT project.

 6.  To initiate the Agile project what are the main activities need to be performed?

Ans: a) Identification of active stakeholders and their participation.

         b) Identification of budgeting and funding to the project. The Required support           need  to be given.         

        c) Building the initial teams.

         d) Envisioning the initial requirement with agile concept by following iterative development plans.

         e) Identifying initial architecture and design.

         f) Identifying required development, testing environments and setting up these environments.

      7. What is the process involved in initial requirement envisioning

             Ans:  In a prioritized project the customer requirements are gathered and these requirements are prioritized by user group. The project team is going to segregate them into different iterations of a software delivery. Each iteration is going to be considered in  one software delivery.

8. What are the steps involved during  initial architecture?

Ans: During initiation of project,  the project team need to identify the required technical teams for  different iterations of delivery. The skeleton architecture need to be enhanced to baseline it with reference to the identified iterations of entire software project delivery. Then the technical teams need to understand their delivery responsibility in view of different software components.

9.  During the initiation of the project what are the steps involved in setting up  the environments ?

Ans:  i) During the environmental  setup activity as per the agile development process we need to have the following environments by minimum.

a) Development environment

b) Testing environment

c) Production environment.

          ii) The above environments needs to be satisfied as per the initial architectural requirement.

iii) If modification is required it needs to be documented for specific iteration.

10. During construction phase what is the meaning or importance for active stakeholder participation?

Ans:  In agile development by following different process steps it facilitates for a sustainable development environment. During this stage the stakeholders are called [for example ] as; sponsors, developers, users, etc. These stakeholders can vary from one project to another project, when it is going to be defined for a project selection. The stakeholders involvement is mandatory during construction phase to review and decide on  further movement  of construction phase tasks. At this stage they might ask for some more changes also. The developers should be in a position to accept them as per the Agile manifesto rules. The Product Owner [PO] can decide on the size of the SPRINT [iteration] delivery. Hence during construction stage the stakeholder participation is mandatory to finalize the final SPRINT delivery. If it is a maintenance or bug fixes project sometimes the stakeholders may not be required, the PO only can decide the final SPRINT.

Keep watching this site for further updates.

Contact for any guidance/coaching.

URL is : https://www.urbanpro.com/vskumar

For next blog, visit: https://vskumar.blog/2017/10/05/sdlc-agile-interview-questions-for-freshers-4/