Sapient Consulting Case Study: Evaluating Hybrid Agile Approach

This case study examines Sapient Consulting's implementation of a Hybrid Agile approach for a Global HR Outsourcing Inc. (GHRO) project. The project involved developing an HR portal (HRPP) with a fixed budget and timeline, presenting challenges for the project management team led by Mr. Ranjan Gupta. The analysis explores the suitability of the Hybrid Agile approach, the challenges faced by the project manager (estimation, documentation, and training), and the impact of this methodology on project success. Alternative actions and a preferred action plan for leveraging the Hybrid Agile approach are discussed, emphasizing the importance of client collaboration and iterative development. The study concludes that the Hybrid Agile methodology can be beneficial for IT companies like Sapient, offering a combination of traditional and modern project management concepts to achieve better results within fixed time and cost constraints. This document is available on Desklib, a platform providing study tools and resources for students.

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Table of Contents
Problem statement...........................................................................................................................2
Applicable concepts.........................................................................................................................2
Qualitative data................................................................................................................................3
Quantitative data..............................................................................................................................3
Analysis results................................................................................................................................3
Alternative actions...........................................................................................................................4
Preferred action plan for Hybrid Agile Approach...........................................................................4
Reference.........................................................................................................................................5

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Problem statement
This case enumerated about the different type of system for software development for
human resource management in Global HR Outsourcing Inc. (GHRO). In this project, they
introduced a new technology for software development that is Hybrid Agile technology. It is
having iteration method for software development, which is having complications. Sapient was a
global service company that provides different services to their clients, such as business,
marketing, and technology. Sapient is having a branch in India. Mr. Ranjan Gupta is senior
manager of project management in that branch. He faced challenge for new project, which is
based on the agile technology that is new for their team. The problem is about the GHRO’S HR
PORTAL PROJECT (HRPP) development through hybrid approach. However, they charge fixed
amount for project. They were having fixed time for completing the project. Hybrid approach is
suitable for the HRPP project with fixed price and fixed-time nature of the project. It provides
better solutions of those problems, which are found out at the final handover time or release of
project (Baird and Riggins).
Applicable concepts
Hybrid agile method is might be better in implementation of HRPP. Sapient is adopting
that method first time for their project development and management. They excluding waterfall
model for project management. Agile method is having an incremental method that is providing
authority to client. Client can provide changes in project in next iteration as per their
requirement. Developers make it with new concepts. It will be helpful for the sapient that they
introduce new concept for project development. Therefore, it can produce better result or bad
results as sapient are having many constraints for project development. Leaders are always ready
to accept challenges. Mr. Gupta is ready to take challenge for project development and he guided
his team about the new model for software development (Conforto and Amaral).

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Qualitative data
In this case, agile technology is new concept in front of team of sapient. Therefore,
research is dependent on the different things, such as identification of agile technology. Team
member faced different issues in implementation of agile technology for software development.
Senior manager is facing challenges in different things, such as estimation, documentation, and
training for team members (Cooper and Sommer). He is also faced release of project. In that
phase, they have user acceptance testing (UAT) for remove client confusions with the user data.
Quantitative data
IT companies are adopted agile technology for new projects. Agile methodology is
having ability to mix other methodologies also for better results. It provides better ways to
changes in the product. It is best to introduce new technologies for software development. Agile
methodology can be used to overcome different issues of waterfall model for software
development. Sapient culture is very nice for work. However, they are providing best quality in a
proper time and fixed cost. It is a best thing of sapient. New methodologies should adopt from
the organizations for experiencing and learning. Hybrid agile methodology is affecting the
working process of the project as well as company growth. It is also a reason for success of
project. In agile methodology, client is always connected with team for modification at same
time. It is a time saver processes for both company and client (Fernandez and Fernandez).
Analysis results
Analysis of this case study clearly portrayed the better quality of the hybrid agile
methodology for software development in Sapient IT Company. Sapient has adopted hybrid agile
methodology for their consulting firm in India. It is a good decision for them to achieve better
results. Agile methodology is change the working process of the company, such as no
documentation, designing and many more (Highsmith).

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Alternative actions
Different companies are having alternative actions for software development.
Researchers are making correlation and regression the advantages of the hybrid agile
methodology for project management. Results were showing that agile methodology is providing
better results and success in same time and fixed cost with many advantages (Serrador and
Pinto).
Preferred action plan for Hybrid Agile Approach
Hybrid agile methodology is beneficial for the sapient as well as other IT companies for
their project management. It is a combination of latest and previous concepts of project
management. In present era, time and cost are most preferable things for companies and clients.
Therefore, changes should make at same time according to client’s requirements. Sometime
because of lack of communication, there are huge mistakes in the project. Therefore, client is
always having a connection with programmer of designer (Baird and Riggins).

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Reference
Baird, Aaron and Frederick J. Riggins. "Planning and sprinting: Use of a hybrid project
management methodology within a CIS capstone course." Journal of Information
Systems Education 23.3 (2012): 243-257. Document.
Conforto, Edivandro C. and Daniel C. Amaral. "Agile project management and stage-gate model
—A hybrid framework for technology-based companies." Journal of Engineering and
Technology Management (2016): 1-14. Document.
Cooper, Robert G. and Anita F. Sommer. "The agile–stage‐gate hybrid model: a promising new
approach and a new research opportunity." Journal of Product Innovation Management
(2008): 53-526. Document.
Fernandez, Daniel J. and John D. Fernandez. "Agile project management—agilism versus
traditional approaches." Journal of Computer Information Systems 49.2 (2008): 10-17.
Document.
Highsmith, Jim Robert. Agile project management: creating innovative products. . New York:
Pearson Education, 2009. Book.
Serrador, Pedro and Jeffrey K. Pinto. "Does Agile work?—A quantitative analysis of agile
project success." International Journal of Project Management 33.5 (2015): 1040-1051.
Paper.