If you remember, we've been concerned about how to get a fit between Agile methods and the Time, Cost and Quality mantra of project management for some time now. Gradually this aspect is being addressed because companies have to find a way to work with their clients to ensure that they get paid fairly for their time and expertise. Agile tends to be labour intensive because at least two programmers work on developing small pieces of functionality in limited amounts of time. They test as they go and demonstrate their product to the client frequently.
Recently a Danish friend explained how his company balanced the dilemma by working back from the time allowed for a project – say 3 months – and the number of 4 week 'sprints' that his team would allow the clients in that time, namely 3. (For those not working with Agile yet, a 'sprint' is a short period of development time allocated to program defined functionality and show this to the client.) We can see this way working if you define the sprint time and know the project end time. But not everyone works to a 4 week 'sprint', some have 2 week sprints, or, variable sprints according to the functionality that is being designed and tested in a sprint.
Finally we've found a great article that defines '10 types of contract for your next Agile project'. Peter Stevens writes about Agile and the relationship with different ways of working (contracts) at:
agilesoftwaredevelopment.com/blog/peterstev/10-agile-contracts
His analysis about the risks involved with a particular type of contract and the affect on the relationship with the client is particularly valuable. Do take a look.
Daljeet Sidhu gives 10 tips to identifying a quality service firm from web designers. Do you measure up? His tenth point is:
10. A Good Web Design Company Gets Honest about Rates and Turnaround Time
Even the most efficient Web designers can combine only two of the three features (High quality, speed and low cost) when designing your web-site. Professional web design teams will provide you accurate estimates about their rates, speed and turnaround time. Firms that are more expensive often have smaller waiting lists. If sufficient time is available, you can get a high quality website at a lower cost.
ezinearticles.com/?Website-Design-Ten-Ways-to-Identify-a-Quality-Services-Firm&id=2977640
Slightly different perspectives on whether time, cost and quality can be achieved and what you have to do to keep your clients on-side. Perhaps there's truth in both.
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