Page 135 - Straight Talk On Project Management IV

“Present Wrapping as a Service, “he told me, “when I wrap gifts it looks like the dog’s had a crack at
it. So, I only shop for my wife, mum and mother in law at shops where gift wrapping is part of the
service.”

“I remember my wife one year jokingly ask if the lady at the fish and chip shop had wrapped her
presents, I’d spent ages on them! Never again. I let someone else do the things I’m terrible at and
free up time for me to drink mulled wine.”

Agile

I shared Martina’s suggestion that Waterfall was the go-to gift buying methodology with my friend
(and Agile Evangelist) Mel and she retorted panto-style, “Oh no it isn’t.”

“Hilariously, my husband jokes that I go ‘Peak Project Manager’ at Christmas,” says Mel.
“I think he’s probably right! I think I borrow heavily from my preferred methodology too – Agile!
When I hit the shops, I rely on flexibility and speed. I want to get in, get what I need and get out! But
the thought of doing everything on one long trip to the shopping centre fills me with dread so I like
to buy one or two gifts at a time and then come away while I still have my sanity. Agile's short
delivery "sprints" are great training for this.”

Are there any other Agile benefits that can be transferred to gift buying?

“Comms!” says Mel. “Agile is king for communication. The best! In IT Projects it’s the methodology
for ‘comms’ across the team so I guess I use those skills to make sure that my husband and I don't
accidentally buy the same presents!!”

Traditional is nice, but an open mind is better

Helen writes, "Christmas shopping is different to what it was ten or even five years ago. A decade
ago, I would be hitting the High Street exclusively, five years back it would have been a mix of online
and actual shops but now I'm 80% online. To expect one methodology to be the perfect strategy for
all aspects of an IT Project is blinkered and, while I’m a lover of the traditional, the hybrid approach I
use at work is what works best in all areas of your life – so why not Christmas!”
And Helen really shook up Christmas twelve months ago!

“Last year we abandoned the turkey and trimmings and because our Indian takeaway was open on
Christmas day, we all had curry! Chicken tikka bhuna, pilau rice and lashings of mango chutney –
heaven!! My mum and dad were horrified when we told them of our plans but afterwards said it was
the best Christmas ever!”

Mixing things up in IT Projects can also deliver surprising and wonderful results. In 2020, try PMaaS
resources or try a hybrid approach rather than your go-to methodology – it’s good to freshen up
your thinking.

Scrum!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, I think Kev speaks for many men.
"Scrum! I mean, on two levels. We split Christmas shopping among us in scrum like bursts that start
mid-October and my wife is effectively the scrum master who brings it all together. My brother and I
meet up to sort the more technical presents for my kids and nieces and nephews, but we make sure
that we report our progress back to the scrum master!! Then, in a more literal sense, I will have