Socitm advocates combination of Agile and PRINCE2
The local public sector IT management society Socitm is urging public sector ICT managers undertaking new product and service developments to consider the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM). The approach combines the best of the widely-used Agile and PRINCE2 methodologies, the society says. In a new briefing, Agile or PRINCE2 - a need to choose?" Socitm says that Agile development has many champions because of its ability to deliver business benefits fast. However, as the whole project is not planned in detail at the start, there are perceived risks of costly overruns, it says. There are also concerns about scalability, since Agile uses small teams and public sector projects can be very large. Favoured in the public sector for its tools to manage cost and risk, PRINCE2 is, however, often criticised for being bureaucratic and for generating too much documentation. It is also associated with the 'waterfall' approach to project management, with its lengthy, linear successions of steps that can mean that by the time implementation is eventually reached, the business requirement has moved on. DSDM makes it possible to combine the speed of Agile, while maintaining the control of PRINCE2, for example by breaking the project down into small parts, the briefing says. "Agile or PRINCE2 - a need to choose?" is available free of charge to Socitm Insight subscribers
Pictured: A still from a DSDM introductory video, from the method's website dsdm.org
Socitm: www.socitm.net
BCS launches entry level Digital Skills Award
As part of its campaign working with IT qualification providers and trainers across the UK to help people gain the skills they need, BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has launched an Entry Award in Digital Skills. The award offers learners the opportunity to gain basic computer skills such as how to get online, do internet searches, use email and an introduction to the basic computer skills required for employment. It features an engaging interactive learning system and will be delivered across the UK by BCS accredited centres, partly with funding from The Skills Funding Agency. The new award will complement the Institute's existing range of qualifications including the popular European Computer Driving Licence, through which 2.5 million people in the UK have learned IT skills.
BCS Digital Skills Award: www.bcs.org/category/18201
