Agile Stage-Gates
By Stefano Vigato
This article will explore the Agile-Stage Gate (AGS) framework, an innovative hybrid approach that aims to implement IT agile, and more specifically the Scrum framework, in linear and plan-based stage-gates management methods. A lot of papers have been written about the structure of the two methods: here the goal is to explain how two different (almost opposite) systems can be merged and create a new, efficient, and reactive solution that preserves the advantages of both models. In the last decades, linear methods like Stage-Gate have shown better results in delivering high-quality products on time. Nowadays, the ability to adapt quickly to the client’s needs is an essential requirement for business competitiveness, and feedback-based adjustments have become part and parcel of modern processes (Sommer et al. 2015). Therefore, flexible strategies have become vital for those companies that need to switch quickly from a traditional structure to a more modern and efficient organization. Recent studies on AGS show significant improvements in several areas, such as the communication ability with internal and external stakeholders, the understanding of progress metrics and control procedures, as well as the engagement of the team (Cooper, Sommer, 2015). Nevertheless, there is still extensive room for improvement, and its limitations offer new challenges for tomorrow’s project managers. To describe AGS clearly, it is necessary to explain its parts also. Therefore, the first section of the article will be dedicated to agile principles and agile project management – what it is and how it works. In the second part, the classical stage-gate process will be introduced. In the third part, the core of the article will be unfolded: here the traditional Stage-Gate model will be explained, also providing some useful frameworks to understand its functioning. Then, a real application case study will be discussed, and its outcomes evaluated to move from theory to practice and help practitioners visualize a possible implementation.
Key references:
Robert G. Cooper, Anita F Sommer, Agile-Stage-Gate: New idea-to-launch method for manufactured new products is faster, more responsive, Industrial Marketing Management, Volume 59, 2016, Pages 167-180, ISSN 0019-8501, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.10.006 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019850116301894)
White, K. R. J. (2008). Agile project management: a mandate for the changing business environment. Paper presented at PMI® Global Congress 2008—North America, Denver, CO. Newtown Square, PA: Project Management Institute.
Sommer, Anita & Hedegaard, Christian & Dukovska-Popovska, Iskra & Steger-Jensen, Kenn. (2015). Improved Product Development Performance through Agile/Stage-Gate Hybrids: The Next-Generation Stage-Gate Process?. Research-Technology Management. 58. 10.5437/08956308X5801236.
Robert G. Cooper, Anita F Sommer, Agile-Stage-Gate: New idea-to-launch method for manufactured new products is faster, more responsive, Industrial Marketing Management, Volume 59,2016, Pages 167-180, ISSN 0019-8501,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2016.10.006. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0019850116301894)
