Agile Project Management (AgilePM) and TimeBoxing

Update (11 December 2024):

This article was written in 2021 with Agile Project Management (AgilePM) V2 as baseline. In October 2024, Agile Business Consortium announced the launch of Agile Project Management V3 (AgilePM3). Though parts of the article below are still relevant, the topics covered may not be referring to the latest guidance on Agile Project Management.

Agile’s influence on project, programme and change management continues to rise at pace. Agile Project Management (AgilePM) guidance offers a practical, scalable and repeatable methodology that achieves an ideal balance between the standards, rigour and visibility required for good project management, and the fast-pace, change and empowerment provided by agile.

As per the definition, a Timebox is a fixed period of time at the end of which an objective has been met and usually a timebox has completion of one or more deliverables set as an objective. These deliverables combine together to bring about a Solution Increment. 

Timeboxing practice ensure that focus remains on achieving something complete and meaningful rather than ticking the tasks checklist only. The team should deliver something valuable in a timebox rather than “looking busy” only.

DSDM and major other Agile approaches guide on timebox length to be ideally between 2 to 4 weeks. However, it can be as short as 1 day and as long as 1 week in situations needing such a duration to deliver something complete and meaningful. 

Timeboxing is a well defined process guiding the team on meeting the objectives of the project/ Business As Usual (BAU) work. By this ensuring that low-level products are created in an iterative and controlled way. 

There are frequent review points built into a timebox itself ensuring appropriate level of governance and control on the “solution” being delivered. Business is expected to accept or reject the deliverables of a timebox at such a review point. Essentially making sure that after six months into a project the business can't claim that project has not delivered what they intended it to deliver.

Agile Project Management (AgilePM) guidance provides the option of following timebox structures:

1. DSDM Structured Timebox
2. Free Format Timebox (similar to those in other agile approaches)

The availability of Business Amabassador (DSDM role in Agile Project Management (AgilePM) may have an influence on the style of timebox adopted for any project. 

Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) Handbook provides guidance on timeboxing in sufficient detail. 

Visit Tecknologia to learn more about Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) and how to achieve certifications for Agile Project Management (AgilePM). This will help you learn all about Timeboxing in Agile world, particularly in DSDM based Agile Project Management (AgilePM®).

Credit: Agile Business Consortium and APMG International.