In Value Versus Scope, Focus on the Former

by Jim Highsmith

One big difference between traditional and agile project management is the one between a focus on value and a focus on scope. Value is an outcome. Scope is a characteristic that may help produce value, or may not. Neither a requirement nor a story is valuable unless put to use. Because project teams are often not involved in "use," many traditionalists say that project teams and project managers have no "control" over outcomes and therefore should be measured -- for success or failure -- on whether the team delivers the agreed-upon scope (along, of course, with schedule and cost). What is ironic is that project managers think they have "control" over scope.

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In Value Versus Scope, Focus on the FormerThu Jun 05 08:20:13 CDT 2008