Part 2. Getting started

When we start an agile project, we frequently have an iteration 0. Iteration 0 is the time to put the project foundation in place before construction begins. This includes tasks such as establishing development environments, finalizing contracts with third parties, and assembling the project team.

You’ll have the equivalent of an iteration 0 when you begin your migration to a more agile process. You’ll need to put the foundation pieces in place that support an environment conducive to the migration. The following chapters will help you put a process in place to support adding agility to your existing methodology.

We’ll lead you through an assessment that will let you understand your potential for improving your existing development lifecycle. Afterward, we’ll explain the importance of buy-in across the company and provide a blueprint you can use to obtain executive and team-member support. We’ll conclude this part of the book by rejoining our case study and watching the team at Acme Media document their existing process and identify ways to make it more agile. Acme will then select a pilot project on which to test the new process.

These pages reflect our personal experiences, trials and errors, and beliefs for bringing agility into an organization. We believe this foundational work will prepare you for long-term success and give you the best opportunity to become and stay agile.