CHAPTER 11 CASE STUDY : : DST System Scores with Scrum Application Lifecycle Management

1.) What were some of the problems with DST System’s old software development environment?

 

      The problems faced with DST System’s old software development are processes were often manual and time consuming. This caused by a mixture of tools, processes, and source code control system, without any unified repository for code or single developer tool set. Different groups within the organization used very different tools for software development, like Serena PVCS, Eclipse, or other source code software packages. Moreover, Automated Work Distributor was most important product for DST who releases a new version once every two years. DST knew that it needed a better method than the traditional “waterfall” method for designing, coding, testing, and integrating its products. Managers were unable to easily determine how resource were being allocated, which of their employees were working on certain project, and the status of specific assets. For example, DST fully used resources at optimum level to produce productivity and efficiently.

      2.) How did Scrum development help solve some of those problems?

 

DST chooses Scrum development seen has potential through projects progress via a series of iterations called sprints. Scrum projects make progress in a series of sprints, which are timeboxed iterations no more than a month long.  At the start of a sprint, team members commit to delivering some number of features that were listed on a project’s product backlog. These features are supposed to be completed by the end the sprint. Scrum has own existing software development tools and experienced strong results.  Process cycle of software development down from 24 to 6 months and developer productivity increased 20 percent, but  Scrum didn’t work as well as DST had hoped with existing tool.

 

     3.) What other adjustment did DST make to use Scrum more effectively in its software? What people. Organization, and technology issues had to be addressed?

DST set up a project evaluation team to identify the right development environment for them. DST wanted the ability to use the new software without significant training  and software they could quickly adopt. DST tend to use of CollabNet’s offering, Team Forge, for its ALM platform. CollabNet specializes in software designed to work well with agile software development methods such as Scrum. For Team Forge, an integrated suite of Web-based development and collaboration tools simplify management of users, projects, process and assets. CollabNet’s Subversion product to help with the management and control of changes to project document, programs and other information stored as computer files.

  

 MIS in Action:

1.) Describe some of the benefits and drawbacks of Scrum development. 

 

Scrum can maintain the changes of customer requirement within immediately. It does this by providing a flexible framework wherein new features can be added and tasks reprioritized without neglect potential influence.

Secondly, the system of sprints encourages regular feedback. Each sprint is followed by a review, which given chances to worker make review and correction. Entire team examines through previous sprint’s result and predict the effect to next sprint

Thirdly, all team members understanding roles and scope of work, this can avoid conflict roles occur among them. Perhaps, conflict occurs between cross functional department.

One of the drawback with Scrum is needed a certain dynamic team that only good for small, quick project, because it is meant for small teams. All members must committed and requires experience for completing project on time. On the other hand, organize meeting within 30 minutes but meeting often take much longer in order to fit in the necessary review and report. Time was taken to long leads to wasting resources, and reducing the team efficiency and productivity. 

2.) How does Scrum differ from other software development methodologies? 

Different of Scrum and other software development looked on SCRUM methodology a sprint is the basic unit has been divided into smaller task. Each sprint need planning meeting to identify the task for the sprint to discuss step taken for manage sprint. Followed by a review or short meeting where the progress is reviewed and lesson for next sprint are identified. During each sprint, the team creates finished portions of a product.    

In the Agile methods involved more complete software which  each iteration involves a team working through a full software development cycle, including analysis of performance, design scheduled, managing resources when there presenting to stakeholders. 



3.) What are the potential benefits to companies using scrum development. 

Scrum benefits company through reducing the cost of production and daily operation. As we know company difficultly estimated real cost of production. Scrum point the complexity tasks for worker emphasis with frequently reviewing to find suitable ways to manage task. Complexity strongly relates to cost of production because this taking more day to execute effort. Scrum pointing allow to estimates unwanted cost being held on project. Company become more communicate and focus on collaboration to be almost double time. Scrum provides visibility on tasks for each team member, to track progress and allow better allocation of resources