S(cr)ummary

In just 6 weeks, our team developed an inventory system, developed a rental system, revamped the costume organization strategy, built a website, created documentation, and more. In the following 2 weeks, we implemented the entire system and trained our client. Based on these results alone, I would classify the project as a success!

This class provided an opportunity for our team to get hands-on experience in designing, building, and implementing a system for a real client. The experience gained by all of us is something more than any textbook has to offer. For example, I have yet to come across a book in class that mentions what to do when your client misses a Sprint Review. Yet this is something we ran up against, and now we are all better prepared because of it!

Takeaways

Prioritize Value

One of the biggest lessons I learned was to pay close attention to what adds value for the client. Initially, the team and I thought that there should be a check-out system for the costume inventory. Our vision was that the check-out system would help keep everyone accountable and reduce the amount of lost costumes.

After a show was over, I agreed to help the costume coordinator put costumes away. As I watched the costume staff rapidly whisking away the costumes, I realized there is no way they would want to take the time to use a computer and check in and out each costume. The process would have only slowed them down. Additionally, I learned that the actors aren’t even allowed to take the costumes home. This meant that the likelihood of a costume being lost seemed pretty low. I brought these findings back to the group, and we decided that if we built the check-out system, it probably would not have ended up being used. We chose to concentrate our efforts on other areas instead.

My finding here taught me to focus on first on the activities that add the most value. If we had a year to complete our project, perhaps the team could have built a check-out system that was quick and fit the theater’s needs. But we only had 8 weeks, so we chose to prioritize other tasks above the check-out system.

After graduation, I will be coding automation for State Farm’s Information Security department. This lesson will be something I consider everyday as I identify possible automation projects. I will need to spend my time wisely by choosing to automate the processes that add the most value to the company. Already, people come to me with suggestions that might help their job. I must use my discretion to prioritize the best projects.

Agile/Scrum

My other most meaningful takeaway was learning how to operate using the Scrum framework and with an Agile mindset. I have worked in what I would classify as a faux Scrum team in one of my previous internships. Looking back, there were many things wrong. This class has given me the opportunity to practice Scrum in a fresh environment where no previous conditions existed.

My role as Scrum Product Owner was a great exercise in leadership. I enjoyed coming up with the project vision and communicating it to my group mates. I will be able to use these skills at State Farm through envisioning automation opportunities and bringing these ideas to my management and fellow developers. In a year or two, I would welcome the opportunity to be an official product owner.

Changes

If I could change anything, I would have wished for a larger budget or more resources. I think the team would have really enjoyed getting to build our project using code and a true database. I was able to work around our constraints by finding scripting opportunities with Google Apps Script. Overall, I believe my team was very successful with using our available resources and adapting to the short timeframe. In the end, it is not about what the team wants; it is about what is delivered to the client! We were able to provide a capable, low-cost, low-maintenance solution.

Thank You

This project was an incredible opportunity, and it took a lot of moving parts for it all to come together. First, thank you to our professor, Dr. Hauck, for coordinating the project. Thank you to the Tom Mellor for instructing us in our Scrum journey. Thank you to Community Players Theater and our client, Jen, for providing us this opportunity and working so closely with us throughout the whole process. And a huge thank you to my talented teammates for being incredible and a pleasure to work with. I have been very privileged to work with all of you, and I can’t wait to see what everyone achieves going forward!