Socitm Advocates DSDM For Public Sector

ICT managers in the public sector should consider adopting the Dynamic Systems Development Method (DSDM), claims ICT representative body Socitm.

In its new briefing, Agile or PRINCE2 – A Need to Choose, the organisation claims that DSDM is a promising combination of the Agile and PRINCE2 methods.

According to Socitm, each management style has its merits – the former has the ability to deliver business benefits fast, whereas the latter has tools to manage cost and risks.

However, the body claims that when using Agile, the whole project is not planned out at the start, potentially leading to costly overruns and there are concerns about scalability because it requires small teams when public sector projects can be very large.

PRINCE2, it says, can be too bureaucratic, produces too much documentation and has lengthy, linear steps that take so long to implement that the business requirement has changed from the original specification.

DSDM “Offers Best Of Both Worlds”

“DSDM inverts the traditional governance model for software development, making it possible to combine the speed and fitness for purpose that Agile promises, while maintaining the control that PRINCE2 offers,” claimed Socitm.

According to the organisation, DSDM allows for increased focus on the business need, timely delivery, collaboration, high quality projects, clear communication and control.

The Method also enables the project to be broken down into small parts with a project manager that coordinates activities.

“We need new systems urgently and while an Agile approach offers quick delivery, public services want the strong governance associated with PRINCE2, as well as scalability,” claims Chris Head, author of the briefing.

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