Based on the readings for this week, what do you see as the Implications of Adapting over Conforming? 2. Review the front page of your local newspaper or the front page of the business section (online or hard copy). Try to identify at least one “project” that might have had a better outcome/result had it been focused on adapting versus conforming? (You can also use the Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Dallas Business Journal.)

QUESTION

TEXTBOOK(S) AND REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Title: Agile! The Good, the Hype and the Ugly

Author: Bertrand Meyer

Publisher: Springer

Year Published: 2014 Edition: 1st Edition

ISBN: 10: 3319051547 or 13: 9783319051543

Title: Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products

Author: Jim Highsmith

Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional

Year Published: 2010 Edition: 2nd Edition

ISBN: 10: 0321658396 or 13: 9780321658395

Title: Project Management the Agile Way: Making It Work in the Enterprise

Author: John C. Goodpasture, PMP

Publisher: J. Ross Publishing

Year Published: 2019 Edition: 2nd Edition

ISBN: 10: or 13: 9781604271157

Topics/Course Competencies [1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14]

• Adaptive Planning in the Agile Project Context
• The Science of Adaptation
• Responding to Change
• Adapting over Conforming
• Principle of Deferred Commitment
• Advanced Release Planning

Readings:

Highsmith: Chapters 7 and 8

Goodpasture: Chapters 5, 6, and 7

Meyer: Chapter 6

Assignment

This week’s Discussion Forum will ask you to correlate what you are studying in the texts with real life examples from the business or organizational world – including your personal experience(s).

Answer these Questions for this week’s Discussion Forum (200 word minimum):

1. Based on the readings for this week, what do you see as the Implications of Adapting over Conforming?

2. Review the front page of your local newspaper or the front page of the business section (online or hard copy). Try to identify at least one “project” that might have had a better outcome/result had it been focused on adapting versus conforming? (You can also use the Wall Street Journal, New York Times or Dallas Business Journal.)

ANSWER

 Implications of Adapting over Conforming

The Implications of Adapting over Conforming

Adapting over conforming is a fundamental principle in agile project management, emphasizing flexibility, responsiveness, and the ability to embrace change. Based on the readings for this week, several implications can be identified:

Embracing Change

 Adapting over conforming allows organizations to embrace change and respond effectively to evolving requirements, market conditions, and customer needs. By prioritizing adaptability, teams can adjust their plans, processes, and deliverables in real-time, maximizing their ability to deliver value.

Increased Stakeholder Satisfaction

 Agile methodologies encourage continuous feedback and collaboration with stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle (Robertson & Choi, 2012). By focusing on adapting, project teams can incorporate stakeholder input and make adjustments accordingly. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and satisfaction among stakeholders, as they see their concerns addressed and their suggestions implemented.

 Continuous Improvement

Adapting over conforming promotes a culture of continuous improvement. Agile teams regularly reflect on their performance and adapt their processes to enhance efficiency, productivity, and quality. This iterative approach enables teams to learn from their experiences, experiment with new ideas, and optimize their practices to deliver better results over time.

Risk Mitigation

By prioritizing adaptability, agile project management helps mitigate risks associated with uncertainty and change. Rather than relying on rigid plans that may become outdated, adaptive teams can identify potential risks early and take proactive measures to address them. This proactive risk management approach minimizes the impact of unforeseen challenges and increases project success rates.

Innovation and Creativity

Adapting over conforming encourages creativity and innovation within project teams. Agile methodologies provide space for exploration and experimentation, allowing teams to discover novel solutions and approaches (N. Anderson et al., 2014). By embracing adaptation, organizations foster a culture of innovation that drives the development of cutting-edge products and services.

In conclusion, the implications of adapting over conforming are profound. By prioritizing adaptability, organizations can navigate the complexities of today’s dynamic business landscape, deliver value to stakeholders, mitigate risks, foster innovation, and continuously improve their project outcomes.

Example of a Project with Better Outcome through Adapting:

Upon reviewing the front page of the local newspaper, an example of a project that might have had a better outcome through adapting rather than conforming is the construction of a new transportation system in a major city.

The project initially started with a fixed plan based on the current population density, traffic patterns, and economic projections. However, during the course of the project, the city experienced unexpected growth due to an influx of new residents and businesses. This sudden population increase led to significant congestion and strained the existing transportation infrastructure.

Had the project been focused on adapting over conforming, the development team could have responded to the changing circumstances in real-time. They could have utilized agile project management principles to reassess the evolving transportation needs and adjust the plans accordingly (Shastri et al., 2017). This adaptive approach would have allowed for flexible expansion of the transportation system, accommodating the increased demand and minimizing the disruption caused by the congestion.

By embracing adaptation, the project team could have collaborated with key stakeholders, including city officials, transportation experts, and residents, to gather feedback and insights. This feedback loop would have facilitated a more comprehensive understanding of the changing requirements and enabled the team to make timely adjustments to the project scope, timelines, and resources.

Ultimately, an adaptive approach would have allowed the transportation project to align with the evolving needs of the city and its inhabitants. By embracing change, leveraging feedback, and adjusting plans accordingly, the project could have delivered a more efficient and effective transportation system that better served the growing population, reduced traffic congestion, and improved overall mobility.

In conclusion, the example of the transportation project highlights the importance of adapting over conforming in dynamic environments. By embracing agile principles and adjusting plans to accommodate changing circumstances, projects can achieve better outcomes and deliver greater value to stakeholders.

References

Anderson, N., Potočnik, K., & Zhou, J. (2014). Innovation and Creativity in Organizations. Journal of Management, 40(5), 1297–1333. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206314527128 

Robertson, P. K. J., & Choi, T. (2012). Deliberation, Consensus, and Stakeholder Satisfaction. Public Management Review, 14(1), 83–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/14719037.2011.589619

Shastri, Y., Hoda, R., & Amor, R. (2017). Understanding the Roles of the Manager in Agile Project Management. https://doi.org/10.1145/3021460.3021465