Agile Project Management: Scrum Methodology for Construction Projects

This project discusses the role of project management and the Scrum methodology in managing big construction projects. It highlights the advantages of Scrum agile management practice, including flexibility, financial risk management, and regular progress updates. The Scrum methodology involves different stages, such as product backlog creation, sprint planning, working on sprint, testing and product demonstration, and retrospective and next sprint planning. The project also presents case studies of successful implementation of Scrum methodology in construction and other sectors.

AGILE PROJECT
MANAGEMENT

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Analysis, findings and evaluation................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13

Abstract
The aim of the project is to provide a clear brief about the role of project management
and the scrum methodology to manage the big construction projects. This project has highlighted
features of the scrum agile management practice which involve flexibility, measure financial risk
involve in project, identify the completion on a regular basis and such other advantages. In case
of construction project companies prefer using the scrum agile management technique to manage
such a huge and giant construction project as it allow the organisation to control cost of
construction and further to improve business profits.

INTRODUCTION
Project management is defined as a practice to lead the work of the team for achieving
the project goals. This project will discuss the agile method that is adopted to manage the project.
With the use of published examples the technique will critically analysis. The success factor
included in the technique will highlight in this project. Furthermore, the latest literature will
present to disclose the success factors included in the technique. Evaluation and reflection on the
practical application of the stated agile method or practices with reference to the case study
examples.
MAIN BODY
Analysis, findings and evaluation
Construction sector is wide in range and allow projects to take a reasonable amount of
time. The sector require the use of project management techniques that can allow the projects to
complete in the limited time spam along with improve the feasibility of the project to complete in
the most cost-efficient manner. Scrum is one of the major technique adopted in the project
management practice that conation different stages to manage and coordinate the entire project.
This methodology is designed to guide the team members in process of iterative and incremental
delivery of a product (van der Hoorn and Killen, 2021). This entire methodology work on
developing and designing the system that can allow the whole team involve in the construction
project to respond rapidly, efficiently and effectively to adopt the change in the project. Usually
the large project require the strong system to adopt the necessary changes as time consuming
project generally completed by considering plenty of amounts of changes in the project. This
technique of project management is consider favourable for the construction sector. As the sector
allow this technique to adopt all the changes required during the time of construction.

Scrum as a technique of project management coordinate the entire project with the use of
different stages such as product backlog creation, sprint planning and creating backlog, working
on sprint, testing and product demonstration and in the final stage retrospective and the next
sprint planning. All these are the various stages involve under project management practice used
scrum as a technique. Höfner (2019), has presented in its study that scrum as a technique of
project management contain 3 pillars like transparency, inspection and adaption. All these are the
core pillars that allow the manager to manage all individual activity involve with the construction
project. Transparency allows the contractor and other stakeholder to ensure the proper
authenticity involved with managing the entire project. Inspection allows the manager to
constantly look at the quality of the project. Role of inspection is important in managing the huge
and time-consuming project as in many situations the quality of the construction work get
challenged. Inspection allows the manager to assess the quality of the construction work.
Inspection further support in to make necessary changes require to improve the efficiency of the
construction project (Dias and Amaral, 2021). The adaptation is another pillar part of the project
management. Scrum technique of project management allow the manager to experiment and
adopt modified techniques. New approaches can also follow to improve the quality of the work.
Giant and big construction project support the use of scrum technique to create new design and
Illustration 1: Scrum Project Management

adapt new ideas to execute the project in the best manner. Adoption of new ideas and better
technique is a key benefit scrum agile method of project management approach provide.
The Szreder, Walentynowicz and Sycz (2019), in its study disclosed about the various
principles that allow the project manager to use the technique of scrum agile method of project
management. This technique allow the manager to take a control over the empirical process
apply to mange and control the project. Controlling the project is a key part of handling big
project. This is important that the project manager must be capable enough to handle and control
each stage involve in constructing the big projects. Self organisation facility also allocate by the
project manager. This is important for the manager to organise itself the whole project. Scrum
approach of agile management do not require a whole team of professional to manager the entire
project. One manager can by itself handle the entire project or to manage all the stages involve in
the construction project. Collaboration is one of the important part of managing the construction
project (Baxter and Turner, 2021). This technique allows the manager to collaborate with all the
various professional such as architect, contractor, labour supply officer and many others.
Collaboration plays a vital role behind the success of any project in case of construction project.
Value based prioritisation is also the key feature this technique of agile project management
allocate to the project manager. Time boxing is also necessary to handle the big construction
projects. Interactive development is asp associated with the scrum technique or method of project
management. General the large construction project require the use of multiple approaches that
professional associate with the scrum method of agile project management practice.
Illustration 2: Structure of scrum project

The use of scrum method has covered all areas and aspect that motivate the contractor to
make a use of this technique of project management. Consumer satisfaction is a key term that is
associated with the construction project. The scrum method of project management approach is
widely suitable to satisfy the customers need and requirement through managing the large and
giant project in the most professional manner. Changes are also associate with the construction
project. Many times in process to satisfy specific need contractor and the manager need to
implement some rapid changes in the project. Scrum technique provide that space where changes
can take place even in the mid of the construction project. The ability of the manager to make
rapid and immediate changes make this technique even more reliable and suitable for the project
especially to deliver the construction projects. Vogelzang, Admiraal and Van Driel (2020), has
mentioned that this method allow the manager to deliver the value frequently in the project.
Break the silos of the project is another key feature related to this project management practice.
The construction project require the team of qualified professional that can look at all different
areas of the project. The scrum project management practice motivate the manager to involve
various professionals and graduates to lead specific areas and responsibility included in the entire
project to be handled. Communication is a key to achieve success in handling the project.
Construction project require the use of bunch of professional and a whole team of labours,
architect, labour officer, supplier and many more. Communication between all the top-level of
officials is important. Scrum method of agile project management allow the superiors involve in
construction to communicate properly and in timely manner so that completion of the structure
can take place to nearby the estimated deadline of the project. Any delay in the construction
project would cost extra amount of resources that will further minimise the profits of the
organisation. This method support the smoothest communication processes that may lead further
to cost saving models and tools that will also improve the profit making opportunity for the
management.
There are multiple project that is developed with the use of scrum methodology of agile
project management. Dutch Railway is a very popular example and case study associated with
the scrum method of project management. The case study over Dutch Railway is very famous
and justify effective the use of the scrum methodology of project management. Earlier the
project was traditionally managed but failed due to the lack in approaches applied. Scrum
methodology allowed the project manager to consider all the key areas like architecture,

requirements documentation, material and labour supply, finances and many more areas to be
required to successfully implement the whole project. The technique suitable for all the core
need and requirement of the project to be handled (Sakikhales and Stravoravdis, 2017). The
structure was giant and require the suitable approach that can manage all the losses earlier
incurred due to the acquire of project and further to reconstruct the entire project. This technique
contains the scope of modification and making changes in the project which could favour the
contractor and architect to redesign the whole project and make necessary changes in the project.
This methodology could success the entire project by completing it efficiently. There are other
case studios also like H&R Block that is also used the scrum methodology of project
management to establish the server transformation that can ensure traditional, time sensitive,
consumer tax preparation service like of transformation. The use of the scrum technique or
methodology is not only associated with the construction project rather the technique or
methodology contain the vast scope of handling different categories of project. Different case
studies like Saab Defence adoption of the advanced fighter jet is also classified as one of the core
example that has successfully used and adopt the agile project management technique with the
use of scrum. BBC News media has also one discussed the exponentiation scope of this
technique of managing the big projects that can related to construction, technology, management,
marketing and any other sector.
Bogdanova, Parashkevova and Stoyanova (2020), has discussed some examples of
scrum methodology of agile project management that include success of the Ducth Railway has
set a different example for the project manager to use and adopt the practice of scrum project
management. This project cover wide range of scope to handle and manage the whole project.
Construction project usually take time that require a suitable technique that can constantly
support the development of the project by ensuring the bets quality possible. In Unite Kingdom
many examples are also seen of scrum methodology such as highway projects, bridges, airport
and many more that adopted the scrum method or technique of project management. As the
construction project require bunch of professional and operational areas that need to adopt the
constant processing of using the right methodology that can handle different areas of the project.
The ability of the scrum methodology to monitor all areas of project, sustain efficient
communication across all areas of constructing the project, continuous reporting about all
different areas of project and its quality and many more aspect of the project. This methodology

will rightly empower the project manager to allow proepr coordination between professionals
involve in the project along with managing timely construction of the entire structure.
The Buganová and Šimíčková (2019), in its case study over the scrum methodology of
agile project management mentioned about the Intronis a leading provider of online backup
services. The organisation adopted this technique and could introduce rapid changes in the
system and the structure. The changes was related to the technology, infrastructure, management
and such other. All these changes result into double the productivity of the organisation within
the time spam of 6 months. The scrum methodology has highlighted certain changes that would
ensure the organisation to make a rapid growth in the sector. This is another example that clearly
indicate that the use of this methodology is beneficial for the organisation to design the future
growth and development possibilities.
The Emejom and et.al. (2019), has also disclosed the example of CIO's Play-book for
adoption of the scrum methodology. The case study provided over Ken Schwaber has adopted
the scrum methodology of agile project management to improve the growth of the software. The
entrepreneur has directed the transformation in business with the support of this methodology.
Many changes took place in the form of technology, back office changes that directly connected
to the customer of the company and many more. The methodology is rightly suitable approach to
adopt and ensure various changes that organisation require. The use of scrum methodology is
multi dimensional as it do not only support the construction project or technological
advancement or any specific area of development. Rather the methodology is multi dimensional
in nature that would allow the stakeholders to create different changes based on the need and
requirement of the organisation or the project. Further, the ability of the methodology is to
address all the changes require in the project would further support the manager to easily and
conveniently adopt this practice of project management.
Agile method is highly rated technique to manage the project. The scrum methods of
project management practice allow and support the provide more flexibility to manage the entire
project. This whole method or technique is to allow project manager to work according to the
requirement of the project (López-González and et.al., 2021). Flexibility become a major issue in
managing big and giant project and this technique of project manager allow to coordinate and
manage the big projects in the best way possible. This technique provide more flexibility to the
professional as it also favour any kind of change manager like to experience in order to meet the

need and requirement of the project. The role of project manager is to drive the campaign in such
a manner that all different areas and aspects can cover to achieve the smooth control over the
practice. Agile method allow the manager to introduce any rapid change based on the need and
requirements of the project. Flexibility become a key to achieve success specially for managing
and coordinating the big projects. This approach of agile project management support
professional to coordinate various changes that are required in the project. More flexible
environment support the project manager to effectively coordinate all different areas related to
the project with the respective authorities.
Productivity is also one of the key feature of any project management practice. Agile
method of project management with the use of scrum technique allow the manager to control
every single stage or activity part of the project management plan. This further ensure the
manager to boost the productivity involve with the project. Ahmed and Altaie (2021), has also
supported the fact that productivity is one of the core benefit associated with the scrum method
of agile project management practice. Usually construction project include big and giant
structure that require long time duration. Productivity become a key part associated with the
project that are undertaken. Scrum method of project management work may also involve more
transparency to the entire project that is to be managed. Construction project require the time and
resources that can be invested in order to handle the whole project. The amount of financial and
other resources require to handle the construction project is also massive in number hence, this
technique of scrum agile methodology of project management support the organisation to
effectively maintain proper transparency to handle the whole project (Reddy and et.al., 2021).
Transparency allow and support the manager to control the resource requirement and availability
of the resources with the organisation. Transparent system allow the manager to effectively
control and coordinate the entire project so that best form of support can be granted to the
organisation handling the project. The resource requirement is massive so it become necessary
and essential to ensure the best utilisation of the project that is handling by the constriction
company. This technique is a transparent system which allow the management to ensure
effective level of control to handle the entire project. Transparency is one of the major benefit
associated with the scrum methodology of project.
The project management require to ensure the superior quality to be maintained in the
construction project. The methodology allow the professional to control every single phase of the

construction project. Delivering high quality of construction project to ensure the quality is very
important task. More transparency would add more value to the whole project. Allocation the
superior quality at all level or areas of project is important for the manager. Quality would be a
key to achieve success in the project. Scrum methodology of agile project management is a very
suitable technique that can allow ensuring the proper quality in the project to be handled
(Fotiadis, 2021). Ensuring the superior quality will allow the manager to ensure the proper
success in the project to be handled. The scrum methodology further decreases the risk of the
missed goals of the project. As the construction project would contain many individual goal and
objectives which manager try to deal with it in against of implementing the entire project. The
scrum methodology or technique of project management allow the organisation to ensure a
proper control over the practice or technique that further allow the management to cope up with
the deadline of the project. As any delay in the project would cost to extra finances and resources
from the company. Scrum agile management technique allow the professional to sustain a proper
control over the construction process. Regular reporting and control over the progress of the
project allow the organisation to complete the entire project over a given deadline (Lalmi,
Fernandes and Souad, 2021). The methodology further include the use of statistical tools and
technique that can satisfy the all different needs and demand. The use of statistical and technical
tools allow the management to identify the total estimated cost require to complete the respective
project. Further, the tools also allow to control the costing incurred over completion of the
project. Greater involvement of the statistical tools and technique improve the feasibility of the
project that further contribute in the form of success of the project to be handled by the
organisation. Achieving success is one of the major goal associated with the project to be
handled by the stakeholder. This technique or method allow the organisation and the
management to control cost of the construction project. Timely reporting allow the professional
to ensure that the proper cost controlling can be done against the project is handled. The
management generally set the small targets in case of big construction project. The scrum
methodology involve regular monitoring of all different activities of project conducted. Lower
down the cost of the project would support the professional to maximise the sales and further to
improve profits of the project.
Scrum methodology is practically tested technique when it comes to construction project.
The methodology is designed in such a manner that it involve flexibility and proper controlling

to coordinate and manage the entire project. The construction sector require the use of this
methodology due to its nature and use. The methodology provide the complete structure or a plan
over managing the entire project. The methodology segregate the entire project in different
stages that further contribute towards the success of the project. In case of construction projects
generally it take time to manage the entire project. Project related to construction need proper
planning, coordination and controlling to monitor different areas and stages related to the
management of the project. Scrum methodology support in managing and coordinating every
single functional activity associated with the project to be handled. Esangbedo and Ealefoh
(2021), has also reflected in its study over the fact that construction sector is well suitable for the
use of scrum methodology of agile project management. As this practice involve the proper
implication of planning, controlling and coordinating different areas of the project. The scrum
methodology further involve the use of cost controlling technique that support to make sure a
proper control over the cost of the project. Construction project generally require the use of
strong financial resources and liquidity that can be controlled with the use of scrum
methodology. Coordinating changes also require the support from this methodology to adopt
multiple changes in the project. Scrum methodology is the only agile methodology that support
any form of change at any level of construction project. Many time small changes need to be
done in the project plan to meet the requirement of the client (Piik, 2021). This methodology
support the project manager to easily conduct such small changes as it keep the scope of such
changes to be made in the project. For example construction of the Dutch Railway project was
required the investment of the huge resources. Scrum methodology used in such a project to
handle all different requirements of the construction project. This technique could support the
project manager to coordinate many technical and non technical changes even after the project
was initiated. Further this methodology supported the manager to control the overall cost that
was incurred over the project. The use of this methodology is to support the project manager to
timely complete the whole project.
CONCLUSION
Project management is a process of managing and handling the entire project. Scrum
methodology is among the core technique or practice that is used to handle the whole project.
The methodology supported the management to ensure that all areas are covered of the project
and further to support the management to implement proper control over the project is managed.

Constitution project generally look suitable for the use of the scrum methodology as it allow the
proper approaches to control the cost of the project along with delivering various changes based
on the need and requirement of the project is handled. Ensuring control, productivity and other
such advantages are the key benefits of using this technique of project management.
REFERENCES
Books and Journal

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Online:
Example of scrum case studies, 2021. [ONLINE]. Available Through:
<https://appliedframeworks.com/scrum-case-studies-examples/>.