A few of California's biggest IT projects are either using agile methods now or considering the switch as part of retooled efforts. More than ever, the state appears to be receptive to alternative approaches for development that don't center on the traditional "waterfall" method. This relatively sudden shift has sparked a lot of conversation in government about the way forward.
The dialog continues on Thursday when a panel of practitioners will share their perspectives on agile and California's evolving strategy for using the agile methodology.
Chris Cruz, chief deputy director of operations for the California Department of Technology, will moderate the session at the California Technology Forum in Sacramento. Cruz will be joined by three panelists: former agency information officer Shell Culp, who is an IT project coach for Almirante Partners; Peter Kelly, deputy director of Child Welfare Digital Services at the Office of Systems Integration; and keynote speaker Elizabeth Raley, a certified Scrum master and creator of the Agile Government Leadership organization.
The agile development methodology promotes a set of specific traits and values: These include development of working software rather than exhaustive upfront documentation; incremental software releases that occur sooner in a project's life cycle; and constant feedback from business users. That's markedly different from the "waterfall" management approach the state government has relied on for decades. Waterfall starts with a complete and documented budget plan to design, develop and implement a project, and then typically rolls out a finished product toward the end in a "big bang" release.
Proponents say agile, if done well, can result in projects that are completed more quickly with functionality that's more responsive to users' day-to-day needs. Conversely, others worry that agile in the public sector could be challenging given that expenditures and deliverables are by design more flexible than what the Legislature is used to seeing. The debate about which is the best approach continues, and some believe which is the best fit depends on the specifics of each project on a case by case basis.
The California Department of Technology intends to create an environment where agencies and departments could use either agile development or a traditional waterfall-style approach depending on the situation, State CIO Amy Tong told Techwire last month. A contractor is looking at what changes are needed so that agile can be used within the state’s current framework for project management, project approval, independent project oversight and other key functions.
Here's more about three panelists scheduled to discuss agile on Thursday:
Kelly, in leading the Child Welfare Digital Services organization, is deeply involved in the agile development activities associated with the state's child welfare replacement project. Still in its beginning stages, it's the biggest project in California state government that's used agile end to end.
Raley manages Agile Government Leadership (AGL), a community-powered network of agile professionals working to bring an iterative, user-focused approach to government project management. There she works with other members of the committee organizing and strategizing, creating course content and reaching other leaders in the agile community to participate and share their knowledge in order to propagate agile in government.
During her time in the public sector, Culp was the former interim director and chief deputy director of the Office of Systems Integration, and agency information officer of the California Health and Human Services Agency. She is now the chief innovation officer of the Stewards of Change Institute, a principal at Almirante Partners and senior fellow at the Center for Digital Government.
Editor's Note: The California Technology Forum is hosted by Techwire parent company e.Republic and sister publication Government Technology.
