Leaders of Agile projects must ensure that projects deliver the requested product while meeting deadlines and budgets. However, managing these constraints can be tricky. Fortunately, an old technique has been revamped to produce a method — the Agile Iron Triangle — that can help leaders succeed, especially when it’s used alongside the best project management software.
Here, we’ll discuss the Agile Iron Triangle and explain how it can help increase customer value and product quality while balancing constraints. You’ll see how the method differs from the Iron Triangle, which was developed for traditional project management methodologies like Waterfall. We’ll also cover the Agile Triangle’s key components and give examples of the triangle in use. Let’s dive in.
Brett Day (Writer, Editor)
Brett Day is an accomplished project management expert, with over a decade of experience in retail management, leading projects for major retailers like CVS, Old Navy, and Kohl’s. His proficiency in project planning and process improvement is augmented by a Six Sigma White Belt certification, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing business strategies and workflow optimization. With 13 years of writing experience, Brett’s insights have been featured on platforms like Yahoo and SmartBrief, highlighting his expertise in technology, software and strategic execution.
Aleksander Hougen (Co-Chief Editor)
Aleksander Hougen, the co-chief editor at Cloudwards, is an expert in project management, specifically within the realms of software project management and technology. With a Bachelor’s and a Postgraduate Certificate in Software Engineering, he is adept at project planning, risk management, and efficiency optimization. His keen insights into Agile methodology and Scrum framework have shaped his approach to managing complex digital projects. His work as Cloudwards’ managing editor is informed by his deep understanding of the project lifecycle and resource allocation.
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What Is the Agile Iron Triangle?
The Agile Iron Triangle helps Agile teams find a balance between delivering value, producing quality products and managing constraints (a project’s scope, cost and schedule), all of which increase customer satisfaction. This starkly contrasts the Traditional Iron Triangle, which only focuses on time, scope and cost, placing quality above customer satisfaction.
The shift in focus from ensuring quality and meeting strict scopes to delivering value and customer satisfaction aligns with the principles and guidelines that the Agile Alliance outlined in the Agile Manifesto. While the original Iron Triangle helped teams complete structured projects, the Agile Iron Triangle helps project managers successfully deliver ever-changing Agile projects.
The Agile Iron Triangle vs the Traditional Iron Triangle
Now that we know why the Traditional Iron Triangle had to be modified to work with the Agile methodology, it’s time to examine the differences between the two triangles.
The Agile Triangle’s Role in Software and Product Development
The Agile Iron Triangle may sound a little complex on paper. However, applying the method is relatively straightforward, especially during Agile software development projects — where a software team aims for continuous delivery of product iterations — and in product development projects. Below, we’ll look at examples of the Agile Iron Triangle in each project type.
The Agile Iron Triangle in Software Development
During a software development project, the entire project team can use the Agile Iron Triangle to help decide if a feature can deliver on all three key triangle components (value, quality and constraints).
When a new feature is requested during a review, the PO discusses whether it would offer value to the customer. If they decide that it would, the PO and the development team determine the quality of the feature. Finally, if the team believes that the feature offers value and that quality requirements can be met, they can alter the scope constraints to accommodate the feature.
Agile Iron Triangle Product (Manufacturing) Development Example
The Agile Iron Triangle can help project leaders manage constraints during manufacturing projects. For example, the project scope (constraints) — which is determined before a project begins — may have to be altered to accommodate a new market regulation that forces a manufacturer to revisit how a product is made or operated.
In this example, the project budget may need to increase so that the product changes can occur. The budget change will then impact the scheduling and the resources required.
The beauty of Agile methods lies in their ability to adapt. If this happened in traditional projects, the risk of scope creep would increase. However, Agile leaders can work with clients and stakeholders to adjust budgets to maintain value. They can also work with their team to see if they can do extra work (scheduling/constraints) to ensure that value and quality remain high.
Final Thoughts
The Agile Iron Triangle isn’t perfect, but it’s a friendlier model for Agile teams than the original model, which was designed for rigid traditional project management methods. Teams can use the Agile Iron Triangle to help ensure that important project decisions retain or increase customer value and product quality, and meet existing or updated project constraints.
Are you an Agile project manager or Scrum Master who has used the Agile Iron Triangle to help guide or influence your team in making decisions? Do you find that the model works well in software development? Are there any other project management concepts you’d like us to cover? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
FAQ: Agile Triangle vs Iron Triangle
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The Agile Iron Triangle is a concept that Agile teams can use to help them make sound decisions about customer value, product quality and project scopes.
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The Agile Iron Triangle model is a method that Agile project managers can use when making decisions that impact customer value, product quality and constraints like budgets and timelines. This method helps increase customer value and product quality.
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The Iron Triangle methodology is an older version of the Agile Triangle that was designed to work with traditional methodologies like Waterfall. The original Iron Triangle focuses on project costs, scheduling, scopes and favored outcomes that ensure quality.
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The Triangle of Responsibility isn’t related to the Agile Iron Triangle, but instead refers to a set of excuses used to relinquish responsibility.
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