Question

Your project sponsor is Shirley, the Chief Information Officer. She is a member of the hospital leadership team who controls the IT budget and resources. She understands the requirements and how the portal will integrate with other systems. Shirley wants you to use agile project management practices to deliver the functionality in increments, ensuring a high-quality solution that meets user needs. You review the requirements and technical approach drafted by the IT team and they seem complete. Shirley is anxious to begin and suggests that you start release planning. What is your first step?

A. you meet with shirley to confirm the requirements, then draft a release plan with your development team.
B. you review the plan in detail with her management team to confirm their understanding and support.
C. before starting release planning you ask shirley to help identify everybody with an interest in this project.
D. she reminds you that as the product owner she will provide any direction you need, but reluctantly agrees to the meeting.

Answer 1

The correct first step before starting release planning is to work with Shirley to identify all stakeholders interested in the project (option C).

Step-by-step explanation:

This aligns with agile principles, ensuring broad support, diverse input, and a quality solution that meets user needs.

The correct answer is option C: Before starting release planning you ask Shirley to help identify everybody with an interest in this project. When taking the first steps in an agile project management process, it is crucial to understand who the stakeholders are. Identifying all parties with a vested interest in the project ensures that you have a comprehensive understanding of the requirements and expectations. These stakeholders will be the ones providing consistent feedback and setting direction for the project, and their buy-in is essential for the project's success.

Agile methodologies prioritize collaboration, adaptability, and customer satisfaction. Therefore, having a meeting with Shirley to determine all the stakeholders aligns with the agile principle of involving customers and users in the development process. This step will help clarify the project's direction, provide diverse perspectives, ensure a broad base of support, and ultimately lead to a higher quality outcome that is accepted by all relevant parties.

Additionally, creating a strong relationship with stakeholders and understanding their roles and expectations can help provide clarity and set measurable goals. Keeping stakeholders informed and involved throughout the process allows for a more fluid and adaptable management of the project, taking into account any staff transitions or changes that may occur over time.