Question

In your own words, describe crashing, fast tracking, and scope reduction as means of schedule compression. Would any of these methods apply to Agile projects?

Answer 1

Crashing :

Project crashing is basically providing more resources like labor to the project incase the project is behind schedule. Resources are looked for internally as well as externally and a tradeoff between choosing the resources to finish on time and costs of those resources is made to ensure that least is spent on providing resources to finish the project on time.

Fast tracking : another schedule compression method which involves doing few tasks or activities simultaneously instead of going at them in a sequence. Usually, as an activity is finished, next step of activities are performed but in fast tracking, two or more activities are carried out sequentially.

Scope reduction : another way which which you can cope with lagging behind on schedule is by comprising with the quality of the project. There are certain standards or specs that project manager needs to follow which are usually laid down by customers or sponsors, in scope reduction, quality is compromised and the standard aren't followed strictly which allows time and resources to complete project on time.

An agile project manager, as we know, would prefer crashing method becuase agile project management is based on some key point namely, trust, team work, quality intensive etc. Since quality is compromised with in scope reduction and must tasking isn't preferred in which case fast tracking isn't possible, crashing is the only method of schedule compression that would allow quality project be completed on time.