How do you use agile and scrum in GIS project management?

1 What is agile and scrum?

Agile is a set of principles and values that emphasize customer satisfaction, adaptive planning, continuous improvement, and team collaboration. Scrum is a specific framework for implementing agile, based on iterative and incremental cycles called sprints. In each sprint, a cross-functional team works on a prioritized list of tasks, called a backlog, and delivers a potentially shippable product increment. The team also holds regular meetings, called scrums, to coordinate, communicate, and review their progress and feedback.

2 How to apply agile and scrum to GIS projects?

To use agile and scrum in GIS projects, you need to adapt some of the key elements and practices to the specific characteristics and needs of your project. This includes defining a project vision, goals, and scope, creating a product backlog and sprint backlog, planning sprints with roles and responsibilities assigned to team members, conducting daily scrums for progress updates, reviewing sprint outcomes, and retrospecting the process. Tools like Trello, Jira, Asana, Google Calendar, Outlook, Slack, Zoom, Skype, Teams, ArcGIS Online, QGIS, Tableau, Miro, Retrium and FunRetro can be used to manage the process. Short user stories are a useful way to describe what end users want or need from the GIS product or service. Collecting feedback from stakeholders and users is also important for evaluating success.

3 What are the benefits of agile and scrum for GIS projects?

Agile and scrum for GIS projects can bring several advantages, such as improved customer satisfaction through early delivery and incorporating feedback, increased flexibility and adaptability in responding to changing requirements, enhanced quality and accuracy through testing and validating data, reduced risk and waste by avoiding over-engineering or under-delivering, and boosted team collaboration through self-organizing and empowered teams sharing their knowledge.

4 What are the challenges of agile and scrum for GIS projects?

Using agile and scrum for GIS projects can also pose some challenges, such as managing complex and large-scale data that may require more time and resources to process, analyze, and visualize. Integrating different data sources, formats, and standards may require more coordination and alignment among the team and the stakeholders, which can affect the quality and consistency of the product or service. Balancing technical and non-technical skills may need additional training and support for the team members, potentially affecting the distribution of roles and responsibilities. Dealing with uncertainty and ambiguity can necessitate more creativity and problem-solving skills for the team, potentially influencing the estimation and prioritization of tasks.

5 How to overcome the challenges of agile and scrum for GIS projects?

To overcome the challenges of agile and scrum for GIS projects, you should define clear and realistic expectations and criteria for your product or service, and communicate them with your team and stakeholders. Additionally, you should use agile data management techniques such as data modeling, data profiling, data cleansing, and data integration to ensure the quality and usability of your data. Agile analysis and visualization techniques such as exploratory data analysis, prototyping, wireframing, and user testing can also help ensure the relevance and effectiveness of your product or service. Furthermore, you should use agile tools and platforms like cloud computing, web services, and APIs to enable faster and easier access, processing, and sharing of your data and product or service. Finally, agile coaching and mentoring such as peer reviews, pair programming, and feedback sessions can foster a culture of learning and improvement among your team.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?