The Impact of Scaling on Planning Activities in an Agile Software Development Center

This paper evaluates agile practices when applied in multi-team and multi-person-year projects. It does so through inspection of the requirements brought on by scaling projects, and applying basic agile principles to those requirements. In the introduction section the main agile principles are introduced, as well as the Lean principles upon which the agile methods are built. One of those Lean principles, Muri or overburdening of people, are addressed through the extension of the agile planning process. The extension of the most used agile planning technique (iteration planning) is described in detail, both the motivation for the extension as well as the collaboration practices behind each planning level. In the final chapter the impact of product complexities on the planning process is evaluated, and a solution to create a smooth flow in the planning/delivery cycle is presented