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<TITLE>Scheduling Forwards Using the Yellow Sticky Method</TITLE>
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<p align="center">Accurate Scheduling and Estimating<br><p>
Using the Yellow Sticky Method</font></p></center>
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<p>Most projects are "scheduled-backwards", that is, the project
team is given an end date. Based on this end date, the project team must
work backwards and as a result, tasks are estimated based on the time
available rather than the time required. Not surprisingly, scheduled-
backwards projects are almost always late. </p>
<p>
So how can we develop estimates and schedules that are much more
accurate?<br>
The answer is to schedule forwards using the Yellow Sticky method. With a
little training, project teams can learn the simple techniques that will
lead to accurately estimating tasks and creating schedules that can
actually be met! </p>
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<font size="4" face="PalmSprings"><b>The Yellow Sticky
Method...</b></font>
<p><p>
<br><br>
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<BR><p><p><p><br><br><br><br><br>
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<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>Start with a complete
</b></font>
<font color="#FF0000"><b>Software Requirements Spec</b></li></font><p>
<b><li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">
Identify those requirements that are:</b></li></font>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><font color="#FF0000" size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Must Haves</b></font><font size="3"
face="PalmSprings"> -
meaning the product is not worth introducing if it lacks these
features</font></p>
<p><font color="#0000FF" size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Wants</b></font>
<font size="3" face="PalmSprings"> – meaning these are
features that customers want but could be put into a
future release if necessary</font></p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Project Team </b><em><b>commits</b></em><b> ONLY to the </b>
</font><font color="#FF0000" size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Must
Haves</b></font><font size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>
NOT to the </b></font><font color="#0000FF"
size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Wants</b></font></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Company </b><em><b>commits</b></em><b>
to </b></font><font color="#FF0000" size="3"
face="PalmSprings"><b>customers</b></font><font
size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b> to ONLY deliver
the </b></font><font color="#FF0000" size="3"
face="PalmSprings"><b>Must Haves</b></font></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><font color="#000000" size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>Project
Team develops a schedule that includes BOTH the</b></font>
<font color="#FF0000" size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>
Must Haves </b></font>
<font color="#000000" size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>and the </b></font>
<font color="#0000FF" size="3" face="PalmSprings">
<b>Wants</b></font>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>Project Team
typically would include </b>Software Development,
Software QA, Documentation, Training, others as
required.</font></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>Project Team
reviews the SRS and other relevant documents and
identifies specific tasks they, as individuals, need to
perform. For each task a Yellow Sticky is used. Each group
(Development, QA, and Doc) should use a different
<FONT Color="Red"><b>color sticky</b></font>
<font size="3" face="PalmSprings">
to help identify resource bottlenecks when the schedule is
built. </b></font></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings"><b>For each Task:
</b></font></li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Name of person
responsible </font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Task description</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Estimated
duration (days)</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Dependencies on
other tasks</font></p>
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<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings" Color="Blue">
<b>Building the Schedule going Forwards</b></font></li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">A large chart, like the one shown
below, is placed on a wall
</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Holidays, vacation, trade shows
etc.are marked off</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Project Team works together and
place individual Yellow Stickies (which represent tasks assigned to as
specific person) on the chart at the time the task should start
</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Peer review of everyone's
estimates means the estimates are very accurate
</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Ownership of the schedule by the
people who will actually do the work means the schedule is more likely
to be met
</font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">This is an iterative approach
</font></p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><font size="3" face="PalmSprings" Color="Blue"><strong>
Managing the Project to the Schedule
</strong></font></li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Once the Project Team is
satisfied with the schedule, it is entered into your favorite
Project Management tool </font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">The Project is then</font>
<font color="#FF0000" size="3" face="PalmSprings"><strong>"
managed to the schedule"</strong></font></p>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">This is accomplished by
requiring that people meet their estimates. If they can't, they
come up with a way to catch up. If unexpected things happen, then
the <font color="#0000FF"><b>Wants</b></font> can be dropped from
the schedule - not the <font color="#FF0000"><b>Must Haves.
</font></p></b>
<p><font size="3" face="PalmSprings">Everyone is held
</font>
<font color="#FF0000" size="3"
face="PalmSprings"><strong>
accountable</strong></font><font
size="3" face="PalmSprings"> for meeting their dates</font></p>
</blockquote>
</p>
<br><br>
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<p align="center"><font size="5" face="PalmSprings">For further information
on improving the <p align="center">accuracy of your estimates and schedules
</font>
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<p align="center"><font size="5" face="PalmSprings">
<em>Contact</em></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="5" face="PalmSprings"><em>
<img src="../gif/sqc.GIF" width="328" height="39"></em></font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="4" face="PalmSprings"><b>Phone:</b>
508.529.4282</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="4" face="PalmSprings"><b>Fax:</b>
508.529.7799</font></p>
<p align="center"><font size="4" face="PalmSprings"><b>E-mail:</b>
</font><a href="mailto:[email protected]"><font size="4"
face="PalmSprings">[email protected]</font></a><font
size="4" face="PalmSprings"> </font></p>
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Copyright �2000 Software Quality Consulting</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="1" face="PalmSprings">March 2000</font></p>
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