logit model

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Instructor/Developer: Williams

The XYZ Corporation

Agile Project Management Course Main Case

UMGC IFSM 441

Introduction to Main Case and Scenario Assignments

This is the Agile Project Management (IFSM 441) course main case. This case focuses on the XYZ Corporation, a fictitious

but life-like corporation, and its project management environment. In conjunction with this case, students are assigned

five assignment scenarios over the course of UMUC’s 8-week semester that extend the details of this main case and

require students to apply and demonstrate their knowledge of Agile project management concepts. The five scenarios

themselves are independent of each other, though each links back to the details of this main case. Each scenario

requires students to perform one or more work tasks as if they are employees of the XYZ Corporation, according to the

context and details specified in each scenario.

Overview of XYZ Corporation and its Project Management Environment

The XYZ Corporation is a large private-sector company headquartered in Adelphi, MD that focuses on government

contracting. Approximately 80% of annual revenues stem from the federal government sector, 14 % from the state

government sector, 5% from the local government sector, and 1% from the private sector. 2011 annual revenues for the

corporation were close to $100M. XYZ has approximately 700 employees. XYZ Corporation focuses on three main service

delivery areas: 1) emergency management, 2) health crisis prevention/response management, and 3) related logistical,

coordination, and collaboration services. The corporation derives approximately 80% of its revenues from services and

20% from products (hardware, software, etc.).

Approximately, 60% of delivered services are information technology services, 30% management consulting services,

and the remaining 10% an assortment of training and other support services. Approximately, 90% of the revenue from

products is Internet related, and the other 10% is a wide assortment of other products.

The XYZ Corporation is made up of the following four divisions: 1) Information Technology and Processes (IT

management, Project Management Office (PMO), etc. ; 2) Administration (Human Resources, Payroll, etc.); 3)

Emergency Management Service/Product Delivery (Marketing, Sales, Client Relations, Strategic Planning,

Product/Service Development, Product/Service Delivery, etc.); and 4) Health Crisis Prevention and Response

Management Service/Product Delivery (Marketing, Sales, Client Relations, Strategic Planning, Product/Service

Development, Product/Service Delivery, etc.). An organizational chart follows that illustrates how XYZ’s Project

Management Office (PMO) provides project governance:

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Instructor/Developer: Williams

XYZ Corporation’s Project Management Office (PMO) promotes, develops, and maintains project

methodologies and standards, and, as well, oversees all aspects of project implementation and governance for

specified projects. The PMO at XYZ routinely supports 3 approved project management methodologies: 1)

PMBOK-compliant Methodology (per PMI’s PMBOK and related best practices); 2) Agile Methodology (per the

Agile PM (APM) Framework and Agile best practices); and 3) PMBOK/Agile Hybrid Methodology (a

combination of PMBOK and Agile PM best practices). Most projects are hybrid.

The PMO is responsible for determining not only which projects are approved, but, as well, which project

management methodology will be employed for each approved project. The PMO routinely considers two

main factors in pairing a methodology with a project: 1) internal unit fit for efficiency/effectiveness based on

the use of methodologies in past projects, requests by unit managers, skills of available PMO/unit project

managers, and other factors; and 2) external business environment factors, such as business/technical sector,

uncertainty, complexity, competition/opportunity, timeframe, technologies/processes/staff involved, etc. This

is the organization’s customized methodology adaption approach based on Agile PM best practices. By

mandate of corporate policy, the PMO must be involved in all projects with over a $100,000 annual budget. All

business units are encouraged to involve the PMO in projects as may be beneficial and per polices are

required to involve PMO oversight in projects with over $100,000 annual budget.

Internally, XYZ uses the PeopleSoft ERP across all divisions and an assortment of other Intranet and Internet applications built either on a Java or .NET platform.

Additional XYZ Corporation PMO and Project Management Approaches Information

The XYZ Corporation’s approaches to project management have been greatly influenced by PMI’s PMBOK

approaches and, more recently, by 1) Agile PM and Agile approaches, and 2) concepts, best practices, and

approaches of various Agile Manifesto signers and Agile PM luminaries.

Let’s Scrum: How Scrum Methodology Encourages Students to View Themselves as Collaborators is authored

by Rebecca Pope-Ruark, Michelle Eichel, Sarah Talbott and Kasey Thornton. What Every Owner Should Know is

authored by Carlo Kruger. For more background information on the related best practice concepts and

approaches of Agile PM luminaries, see the assigned readings or search the web. XYZ Corporation’s Agile

project governance structures, methodologies, standards, and practices are greatly influenced by these

sources and, as implemented, are centrally driven by the XYZ PMO in close collaboration with the

Administration Division and the two Line of Business (LOB) Divisions.

Summary

This document has introduced the XYZ Corporation and its technology platforms and project management

approaches of choice. Since you will be an “employee” of XYZ Corporation this semester, it is important that

you look back from time to time to this profile of XYZ Corporation when planning and executing related

scenarios as assignments for this course. While this profile on XYZ Corporation is helpful, you may need to

check with your instructor or classmates from time to time for clarification and/or extension of this

information. Feel free to contact your instructor any time if you have XYZ Corporation questions or related

case or scenario questions relating to your work activities.