Agile Certification Training | Time-boxing in Agile Practices

What Is Timeboxing?

Time-boxing is a feature of software development technology that plans and allots time boxes for different activities. Time-boxing enables separation of different time boxes for various tasks and processes within a project along with their own deliverables, budget and deadline. The idea behind time boxing is to set a fixed time limit to a certain activity in order to generate focus sharply on the expected outcomes from that particular activity.

Timeboxing in Agile Projects

In Agile projects, time-boxing is extended to development to meetings and in all other focus areas of the projects. Every iteration is a time-box in agile development projects. Example of time-boxing in agile projects can be fixed 15 minutes time-box for daily stand-up meetings and so on. This time-box can exceed as well as decrease as per the requirements.

Practices of Time-boxing Technique

• Time-box can be of any duration – years, months or days.
• The level of control that includes defining expected outcomes, comparing expected and actual outcomes etc. is exercised at the lowest level of time-box.
• When everything that was planned to be done within a time-box cannot be accomplished, it can be deferred to the next time-box.
• The length of the iteration and plan for working is fixed as much as can be accommodated within that iteration.

Advantages of Time-boxing Technique

• Time-boxing enables focus generation on the task at hand. Within a time-box distractions can be prevented and also as un-divided attention is fixed for each task there is more possibility of progress.
• It tends to drive productivity. People tend to work hard and smart towards achieving the goal of the task as they are aware of the deadline. It defeats tendencies such as the Parkinson’s Law that says work expands so as to occupy the time available to complete it or the Student’s syndrome that says people will start to fully apply themselves to a task only at the last possible moment before a deadline.
• Time-box enables realization of the amount of time that was actually spent on a particular activity.
• As time is always limited and the limit is known one can avoid “analysis paralysis”, i.e. spending too much time on analysis.

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How to Use Timeboxing for Agile Planning? 

You must choose the type and length of timeboxing in Agile before you start using it in Agile. Software for Agile project management might also help to accelerate this procedure.

Timeboxes should typically last two to four weeks. There are two fundamental categories to think about:

• Organized Timebox for DSDM

There are three main stages in this method: investigation (research), refinement (using research to address problems), and consolidation ( i.e., wrapping up the project before the timebox expires). These three phases are spaced out over a timeframe to guarantee enough emphasis on each step.

• A Flexible Time Frame

The other strategy is simply setting a timebox and working until it runs out. This method is more ad hoc and might work better for straightforward tasks or small teams.

How to Start Planning Your Timebox?

To begin using a timebox to organize your day, try these five steps:

• Timebox Start

Reviewing the aims and objectives of your time-planning timebox is the first step. Make sure the things you have to complete can get accomplished within the time range you have set—the best timebox structure, whether DSDM or a free-form timebox, must also be determined.

• Investigation

You examine each job for the project and make plans for completing them within the timeframe during the analysis stage of timeboxing in Agile. Timeboxing is crucial in Agile management since it generates iterations. Short iterations allow you to divide the burden and ensure everyone is paying attention when they should be.

• Clarification

Testing is the subsequent stage. It is essential to carefully review every work finished during the inquiry phase to ensure that it will achieve your goals. Agile timebox results should be submitted to the stakeholders for approval after testing is finished. These stakeholders then offer their opinions.

• Combination

Any input that demands action should be given during consolidation. Considering these new modifications, additional testing might be required. The results are then compared to the goals to determine if the timebox was successful. A fresh sprint planning timebox will be needed if any or all of the objectives are not accomplished by the time the timebox expires.

• Closeout

Finally, a timebox needs to get thoroughly examined. Agile management recommends planning the next iteration if unexpected issues arise throughout the timeframe or if specific goals aren't achieved. Just remember to evaluate any incomplete work and decide if it should be carried over, put on hold indefinitely, or saved for a later time. It is essential to carefully consider if deferring work to the last time box will be worthwhile because the primary purpose of timeboxes is to maintain a strict deadline.

MoSCoW - Prioritizing Requirements in Agile Projects

As iterations are time-boxed in agile projects, the importance of identifying prior requirements of each activity within a project increases. One of the popular categorizations for representing prior requirements used by most agile practitioners in agile projects is MoSCoW.  The MoSCoW terminology suggests that categorization of a project should be made as per the level of requirement such as Must (M), Should (S), Could (C) or Won’t (W). The MoSCoW prioritization of requirements is the tool behind usage of time-box towards successful completion of agile projects. Know more about Agile practices by joining.

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