FIT5057- Project Management

Semester 2 - 2024

Assignment Three – Team Assignment

Due Dates:

●    Team presentation and Agile Artefacts (10%): Team presentation in the form. of a Stand-up Meeting to be conducted during Weeks 12 Applied sessions.

●     Individual submission (90%): Deliverables 1-3 as an individual assignment through Moodle before the deadline - Thursday  October 2024.

Value: 25% of overall unit assessment

Mode of Submission: Online via Moodle

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The objectives of Assignment 3 are designed to deepen students' understanding and application of:

●    Adaptive Project Management: Utilising Agile and Scrum methodologies to manage and adapt to evolving project requirements dynamically.

●    Scrum Master Roles: Enhancing knowledge and skills pertinent to the roles and responsibilities of a Scrum Master within IT project management.

●    Team Collaboration: Fostering advanced collaborative skills necessary for effective teamwork and project success in real-time environments.

THE CONTEXT

This assignment involves a series of deliverables that will guide you through the establishment of agile project foundations, detailed sprint planning and allocation and execution of the initial sprints. Each deliverable is designed to integrate the theoretical underpinnings of agile project management with practical application, allowing students to experience first-hand the dynamic environment of agile project execution.

●    Transition from  Planning to Action: Assignment 3 focuses on  moving from the detailed  project plans developed in Assignment 2 into an active development phase using agile methodologies.

●     Focus  on  Agile   Execution:   You  will  learn  to   apply  agile  principles  like  sprints,  continuous improvement, and regular evaluation for effective project execution.

●     Practical  Application   of  Agile   Principles:  The   assignment  includes  deliverables  that   require students to:

○     Refine goals and requirements using agile approaches.

○     Create user personas to understand user needs.

○     Develop a high-level agile project timeline.

○     Breakdown the project into manageable sprints.

●     Educational Objectives: This assignment fosters practical project management skills and prepares students to manage real-world projects within agile frameworks.

●     Emphasis on User and Organisational Needs: Agile methodologies will help you develop solutions that are highly responsive to user needs and contribute to the stakeholder’s organisational goals.

●     Bridging Theory and Practice: This assignment helps students apply their theoretical knowledge of agile project management to practical project scenarios, preparing them for future project management roles.

Note: A ‘Writing Guide' is provided to help you structure your responses effectively.  Using this writing guide will ensure you address all key aspects of the questions and demonstrate your understanding of agile concepts.

INSTRUCTIONS

1.    The workshop topics will address different components of the assignment (see Specification below).

You should actively  participate  and  engage  in classes  and discuss emerging concepts as a team. Where required, discuss your progress with your tutor, who can provide support and advice.

2.   There are two assignment requirements:

a.    Group demonstration (Team stand-up meeting and Agile artefacts) due Week 12 during Applied session. Short extensions are not available for this task and ALL team members must be present, unless they have explicit permission from the CE (Roisin McNaney).

b.    Individual submission (all deliverables) due Week 14 (31 October 2024, 11:55 PM).

3.    Submissions (individual) must take the form. of a single PDF document.

a.   Individual submission should be named: <<A3>>_<<Group #>>_<<Student ID>>.pdf.

-   <<A3>> is Assignment 3.

-   <<Group #>> is the group number that will be assigned to your group when you enrol yourself in groups through the Moodle portal.

-   <<Student ID>> is your unique Monash University student number.

-   For example, a file name could be A3_0301_12345678.pdf, where the group number is ‘0301’ and the student ID is ‘12345678’ .

PLAGIARISM DECLARATION

When uploading your assignment on Moodle, you are required to accept the Student Statement (which includes a declaration that you have not plagiarised during the preparation of your assignment solution). You  are  required to  ACCEPT the Student Statement;  otherwise, you will  not  be  able  to  submit your assignment electronically and your assignment will NOT be assessed.

NOTE : Marks may be deducted for any paragraphs or tables containing text which have been inserted into the document as screenshots or images. Any sections created in another word document or spreadsheet must be copied and pasted as text.

GENERATIVE AI

AI & Generative AI tools may be used SELECTIVELY within this assessment. Where used, AI must be used responsibly, clearly documented, and appropriately acknowledged (see Learn HQ).

represent a sincere demonstration of your human efforts, skills, and subject knowledge that you will be accountable for.

●    adhere to the guidelines for AI use set for the assessment task.

●     reflect the university's commitment to academic integrity and ethical behaviour.

Inappropriate AI use and/or AI use without acknowledgement will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

LATE SUBMISSION

1.    Submission must be made by the due date. Unless an extension or special consideration has been granted, or otherwise specified in the learning management system, students who submit an assessment task after the due date will  receive a  late-submission  penalty of 5 percent of the available marks in that task. A further penalty of 5 percent of the available marks will be applied for each additional day (24-hour period), or part thereof, the assessment task is overdue.

2.    If you cannot complete an assessment (due to exceptional circumstances beyond your control), you  may  be  eligible  for  a  short  extension  or  special  consideration. A short  extension  is  two calendar days and is available once for each eligible assessment. The first short extension for a unit will be granted without a reason given. All subsequent extensions require a reason when the application is submitted. Special consideration is a longer extension (for more than two days). Eligible students must supply a reason and supporting documentation.

3.    For more details of the Special Consideration procedure and rules, and how to apply, visit:

https://www.monash.edu/students/admin/exams/changes/special-consideration

ASSIGNMENT TEAMS

WHAT IS A TEAM PROJECT?

A “Team Project” is NOT the same as a traditional “Group Project”.

In a “Team Project” the members of a team work on closely related problems (in this case projects within a portfolio of maximum 4 projects). Students perform. some work as a team, in this case, the (a) Group presentation (Team stand-up meeting and Agile artefacts). Students also submit other work as an individual, in this case, (b) the “Main Submission” (that is, all other components of the assignment).

Even though the “Main Submission” is an individual piece of work, you are expected to work alongside the other members of your team in the unit’s applied sessions as a number of elements of the individual “Main submission” depend upon decisions that you make collectively as a team (e.g. how to navigate your projects towards the success of your portfolio).

If, after reading the above, you are still unclear about the difference between a “Team Project” and a traditional “Group Project” then contact your tutor and/or Chief Examiner (Roisin.McNaney@monash.edu).

ASSIGNMENT SUMMARY

To formulate a successful portfolio, your team and you (as a Scrum Master for your individual project) will complete the following deliverables. Discussion of the deliverables will be the focus of Workshops and Applied Sessions in weeks 9 to 12 of the semester:

●     Individual Submission:

○     Deliverable  1 (30%): Agile Project  Foundations [Relevant content: workshop 10; workshop 11; applied 10]

○     Deliverable  2  (40%):  Agile  Planning  and  Sprint  Allocation  [Relevant  content:  workshop  11, applied 11]

○     Deliverable   3   (10%):   Agile   Reflection   and   Professional   Development   [Relevant   content: workshop 11; applied 9; applied 10; applied 11]

●    Team Presentation and Agile Artefacts (10%) [Relevant content: workshop 12; applied 12; Recorded Deep dive]

●    Completeness and correctness of statements; Referencing (10%)

ASSIGNMENT TASKS

Building on the groundwork established in Assignment 2, students will now act as Scrum Team, leading their teams through the execution of their individual projects developed in the previous assignment. This stage   introduces  the   practical   challenges   and   decision-making   processes   typical   in   agile   project environments, requiring students to iteratively develop and refine their project outputs based on real- time feedback and evolving project needs.

This shift to a practical, hands-on approach in Assignment 3 ensures that students not only learn about the theoretical aspects of IT project management but also gain valuable experience in applying these principles in a controlled yet dynamic and responsive learning environment.

Project 1: Eidolon’s Veil

Project Overview:

Eidolon’s Veil is a surreal exploration and puzzle adventure game that transports players into a dreamlike world filled with forgotten memories, cryptic symbols, and hidden truths. The protagonist can transform. into different forms—such as a shadow, a wisp of light, or an ancient tree—each with unique abilities that help  solve  symbolic  puzzles.  The  game’s  visual  style. features  hand-painted  landscapes  transitioning between reality and abstraction, evoking strong emotional themes such as love, loss, and identity.

Project 2: Cipher Protocol

Project Overview:

Cipher  Protocol  is  a  cyberpunk  stealth-action  game  set  in  a  dystopian  metropolis   ruled   by  mega- corporations.  Players  assume  the   role  of  a   rogue  hacker,  infiltrating  secure  facilities,  manipulating surveillance systems, and uncovering corporate secrets. The game features dynamic level design with vertical exploration and morally complex choices that impact the city’s power structure. Players must navigate their way through  a world  of corporate control,  rebel  factions,  or  total  anarchy, with  each decision shaping the future of the city.

Project 3: Retro Rivals

Project Overview:

Retro Rivals brings back the nostalgia of ‘80s arcade racing, complete with vibrant retro visuals and an electrifying synthwave soundtrack. Players can choose from a selection of classic cars, from muscle cars to neon-lit speedsters, and compete in time-attack challenges. Tracks feature hidden shortcuts and ghost racers to beat, blending modern mechanics with the iconic arcade racing experience.

Project 4: Stellar Nexus

Project Overview:

Stellar Nexus is a galactic exploration adventure that invites players to captain their starship and explore a procedurally generated galaxy. Players will uncover ancient ruins, alien artefacts, and cosmic anomalies, while engaging in diplomacy, trade, or conflict with alien civilisations. Each decision shapes the galaxy’s fate, allowing for non-linear exploration and dynamic storytelling based on player choices.

DELIVERABLE 1: Agile Project Foundations

Key Focus:  Setting a strong foundation for iterative development by refining your understanding of the problem, the users, and laying groundwork for an agile workflow.

Task 1.1 Project Vision and Initial Requirements for your individual project

●     Refine  your  project’s Vision:  Using  the writing guide  provided,  develop  a  clear  project vision statement. Describe what your project aims to achieve, including its scope, elaborate on the value your project offers, and identify the stakeholders who will benefit the most.

●     Problem Statement: Clearly define the problem your project will solve, focusing on the benefits for the game players or end users.

●     High-Level Requirements: Identify and list a minimum of 6 essential features your product (game) must include to meet user needs. Use user-friendly language, avoiding technical jargon, and focus on the benefits to the game players. These features will eventually be included in your product backlog (e.g., “Allow players to easily transform. into different forms to solve puzzles” instead of “Implement a transformation system for character avatars”).

Note: Task  1.1  may  have  similarity  and  overlap  with  some  of your  Assignment  1  and  2  deliverables, however,  it should  not  be  a  repetition  of  your  previous  work.  Use  the formative feedback you  have received across your other assignments to refine your project vision.

Task 1.2 Scrum Persona

Personas represent the various types of users who will interact with your game or product. Use the writing guide provided in Moodle for this task to develop two personas that will help you better understand user needs, behaviours, and goals. These personas should be directly related to the type of player or user who will engage with the project you’re developing.

Include the following details for each persona:

●     Name and Photo: Give each persona a realistic name and include a representative image.

●     Description:  Provide  key  information  about  the  persona’s  background  (e.g.,  age,  occupation, interests, skill level).

●    Goals/Needs: Define the persona’s primary goals and what they want to achieve when interacting with your game.

●     Frustrations/Pain  Points:  Identify  any  challenges  or  frustrations the  persona  might  encounter while playing the game or using the product.

Using empathy to guide your  decision-making,  write  a  short  reflection  (50-100  words)  on  how  your persona might benefit from one of the features in the game

Task 1.3 Journey Mapping

Map Out a Critical User Journey:

To ensure your journey map is focused on user-centred design, select one of the personas you developed in Task 1.2 and use it as the basis for mapping a critical user journey. This will help you understand how this specific user type interacts with your game or project.

Choose a critical journey that is essential to the success of your project. The journey typically begins when the player becomes aware of a need (e.g., solving a puzzle, completing a level) and concludes when they either make a decision or accomplish their goal. By linking your journey map to the persona, you will be able to empathise with the user, identify their pain points, and propose improvements that make the experience more tailored and engaging.

Using the provided writing guide, map out this journey and include the following elements:

1. Stages:

●    Stage 1. Awareness & Consideration: Describe how the user first becomes aware of the game or product and what factors contribute to their decision to engage.

●    Stage 2.  First Interaction:  Detail the user’s first experience with the game mechanics or core product features.

●    Stage  3.  Engagement &  Problem  Solving:  Explain  how the  user interacts with the core features and what challenges they face.

●    Stage  4.  Decision  Point:  Outline the  factors influencing whether the  user continues to engage with the product or leaves.

2. Steps: Detail how the user progresses through each stage, from becoming aware to deciding whether to  continue  using  the  product.  Break  down  these  steps  into  clear  sprint  tasks  that  can  be  tackled iteratively.

3. Touchpoints: List all interactions the user has with the system, interface, or other people. Identify which interactions can be refined in future sprints.

4. Pain Points: Identify frustrations or inefficiencies the user might face at each stage. Each pain point should translate into a user story or task that can be prioritised in the backlog for future sprints.

5. Ideal Journey Improvements: Propose changes or new features that address the identified pain points. Each improvement should be associated with specific sprints for future development.

Note:

In real-world Agile projects, the journey map is often revisited and refined after each sprint based on user feedback. However, for this assignment, you are required to submit one version of the journey map as part of your deliverables.

Deliverable 1: structure & criteria

DELIVERABLE 2: Agile Planning and Sprint Allocation

Key Focus:  Translating your project vision into actionable sprints, prioritising impactful features, and demonstrating adaptability within an agile framework.

Task 2.1 Develop a comprehensive product backlog incorporating five major epics specific to your project. Utilise the writing guide provided in Moodle and include the following essential categories in your product backlog:

i. Define Your Epics:

●     Identify 5 major epics that represent the core functionalities of your project. Breakdown each epic into features (smaller epics) as needed.

●     Describe each epic in detail and clearly explain how it contributes to the project’s goals.

●     Link each epic to stakeholder needs or business value to ensure alignment with the project vision. 

ii. Break Down Features & User Stories:

For each epic, create a minimum of 2 specific features, written in user story format: “As a [user type], I want to [action], so that [benefit].”

Apply the INVEST criteria when writing user stories:

●     Independent: The story should be self-contained.

●     Negotiable: The story should allow room for discussion and flexibility.

●    Valuable: It should provide value to the stakeholders.

●     Estimable: The story should be estimable in terms of effort.

●    Small: It should be small enough to complete within one sprint.

●    Testable: There should be clear acceptance criteria for when the story is complete.

iii. Prioritise Strategically: Apply an agile prioritisation method (such as MoSCoW, Kano, or Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF)) to your backlog. Ensure that Must Have features are included in the early sprints to address critical stakeholder needs and pain points. Prioritise stories based on business value, risk, and dependencies.

iv. Estimate Effort:

●    Assign story points to each user story using techniques like Planning Poker or relative estimation. Be sure to estimate effort based on complexity, risk, and uncertainty.

●     Ensure that effort estimates are realistic, considering the team’s capacity and experience.