Agile Development Plan for a Library System: A 10-Sprint Roadmap (Real-Life Example and Templates)

Developing a library system that caters to the needs of both librarians and library patrons can be a challenging task. To ensure that the system meets the requirements of all stakeholders and is delivered within the expected timeframe, an Agile development approach can be adopted. In this article, we present an Agile development plan for a library system that can be completed in 10 sprints over the course of 100 working days.

Problem Scenario – A Library System

The local public library is experiencing issues with their online catalog system. The system has been intermittently down for the past week, causing frustration for both library staff and patrons. Some patrons have reported that they are unable to search for books, while others have reported being unable to renew their checked-out items online.

Library staff have been receiving a high volume of phone calls and in-person inquiries about the system outage, causing delays in other library services. Additionally, staff members have noticed that the system is running slowly even when it is up, which is causing further frustration for both staff and patrons.

The library’s IT department has been working to identify and fix the issue, but so far they have been unsuccessful in restoring the system to full functionality. In the meantime, library staff have been manually checking out and renewing items for patrons, which is taking up a significant amount of time and causing delays for other tasks.

The library director has requested that the IT department provide a timeline for when the system will be fully functional again, as well as a plan for preventing similar issues in the future. The director is also considering hiring a consultant to assess the library’s overall technology infrastructure and provide recommendations for improvements.

Identify candidate use cases from a problem scenario

To identify a list of candidate use cases from a problem scenario, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the main actors in the problem scenario. The actors are the people, organizations, or systems that interact with the system being developed.
2. For each actor, identify their goals or objectives. What does the actor want to achieve by using the system?
3. Identify the different ways in which the actor interacts with the system to achieve their goals. This can include actions they take, information they provide, or information they receive from the system.
4. For each interaction, identify the specific use case that describes it. A use case is a description of a specific interaction between an actor and the system, and it typically includes a set of steps or actions that the actor takes to achieve their goal.
5. Review and refine the list of candidate use cases to ensure that they are complete, relevant, and non-redundant. You may need to combine or split use cases, or remove ones that are not essential to the system.

Overall, the goal of identifying a list of candidate use cases is to ensure that the system being developed meets the needs and requirements of all stakeholders, and that it provides a clear and complete set of features and functionality that enable them to achieve their goals.

Here are some candidate use cases for a library system:

1. Search the catalog: Patrons can search the library’s catalog for books, DVDs, and other materials.
2. Place a hold: Patrons can place a hold on an item that is currently checked out or not yet available.
3. Check out materials: Patrons can check out books, DVDs, and other materials from the library.
4. Renew materials: Patrons can renew their checked-out items online or in-person.
5. Pay fines: Patrons can pay any fines or fees they owe to the library.
6. Request an interlibrary loan: Patrons can request to borrow materials from another library outside of their local system.
7. Manage account information: Patrons can manage their personal information, such as updating their address or phone number.
8. Manage reading history: Patrons can track the books they have read and leave reviews or ratings.
9. Manage wishlist: Patrons can create a wishlist of books they want to read and receive notifications when they become available.
10. Receive alerts: Patrons can receive alerts for when their holds are available or their checked-out items are due soon.

How to Identify Actors

To identify actors and link them to use cases as primary and secondary actors, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the main stakeholders who will be interacting with the system. These stakeholders can include users, administrators, customers, and other parties who will be using or affected by the system.
2. For each stakeholder, identify their primary goals and objectives in using the system. What are they trying to achieve by using the system? This will help you to identify the primary use cases for each stakeholder.
3. Identify any additional goals or objectives that the stakeholder may have, but that are not central to their primary use cases. These goals may involve interacting with other stakeholders or subsystems in the system, or may be related to system administration or maintenance. These will help you to identify any secondary actors and their corresponding use cases.
4. Identify any interactions between the primary and secondary actors, and between the actors and the system. These interactions may involve sharing data, communicating information, or triggering actions in the system. These will help you to define the boundaries and scope of the use cases.
5. Create a list of use cases and actors, and link each use case to its primary and secondary actors. This will help you to ensure that all stakeholders are accounted for in the use case model, and that the system is designed to meet the needs of all users and administrators.

The goal of identifying actors and linking them to use cases is to create a clear and complete picture of the system’s functionality, and to ensure that all stakeholders are considered in the design and development process. This will help to ensure that the final system meets the needs and requirements of all users and administrators.

Here is a table summarizing the list of candidate use cases for a library system, along with their associated actors and goals:

Use Case	Primary Actor	Secondary Actor(s)	Use Case Goal
Search the catalog	Patron	None	Allow patrons to search for books, DVDs, and other materials in the library catalog.
Place a hold	Patron	None	Enable patrons to reserve an item that is currently checked out or not yet available.
Check out materials	Patron	Library Staff	Allow patrons to borrow books, DVDs, and other materials from the library.
Renew materials	Patron	Library Staff	Allow patrons to extend the due date of their checked-out items.
Pay fines	Patron	None	Allow patrons to pay any fines or fees they owe to the library.
Request interlibrary loan	Patron	Interlibrary Loan Staff	Enable patrons to request to borrow materials from another library outside of their local system.
Manage account information	Patron	None	Allow patrons to manage their personal information, such as updating their address or phone number.
Manage reading history	Patron	None	Allow patrons to track the books they have read and leave reviews or ratings.
Manage wishlist	Patron	None	Enable patrons to create a wishlist of books they want to read and receive notifications when they become available.
Receive alerts	Patron	None	Allow patrons to receive alerts for when their holds are available or their checked-out items are due soon.

Prioritize Use Cases

Prioritizing use cases is an important step in the software development process because it helps to ensure that the most important and valuable features of the system are developed first. Prioritization helps to focus the development team’s efforts and resources on the features that will deliver the most value to the end-users and stakeholders of the system.

Here’s a prioritized list of the use cases from most important to least important, along with a priority field:

Use Case	Primary Actor	Secondary Actor(s)	Use Case Goal	Priority
Check out materials	Patron	Library Staff	Allow patrons to borrow books, DVDs, and other materials from the library.	1
Search the catalog	Patron	None	Allow patrons to search for books, DVDs, and other materials in the library catalog.	2
Place a hold	Patron	None	Enable patrons to reserve an item that is currently checked out or not yet available.	3
Renew materials	Patron	Library Staff	Allow patrons to extend the due date of their checked-out items.	4
Request interlibrary loan	Patron	Interlibrary Loan Staff	Enable patrons to request to borrow materials from another library outside of their local system.	5
Pay fines	Patron	None	Allow patrons to pay any fines or fees they owe to the library.	6
Receive alerts	Patron	None	Allow patrons to receive alerts for when their holds are available or their checked-out items are due soon.	7
Manage account information	Patron	None	Allow patrons to manage their personal information, such as updating their address or phone number.	8
Manage wishlist	Patron	None	Enable patrons to create a wishlist of books they want to read and receive notifications when they become available.	9
Manage reading history	Patron	None	Allow patrons to track the books they have read and leave reviews or ratings.	10

Note that the priority order may vary depending on the specific needs and goals of the library system, and this is just one possible prioritization based on general library user needs.

Form the Team and Estimate the Cost

For example,

To estimate the cost of human resources for a 6-month period in Hong Kong, we need to consider the roles and the minimum and average salary ranges for each role.

Here’s an estimate of the cost for a team of 10, assuming the minimum staff requirement and the mid-point of the average salary range:

1. Project Manager:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 35,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 60,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 210,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 360,000
2. Product Owner:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 25,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 45,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 150,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 270,000
3. Scrum Master:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 25,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 45,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 150,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 270,000
4. UX/UI Designer:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 20,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 35,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 120,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 210,000
5. Developers:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 18,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 30,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 540,000 (assuming 6 developers)
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 900,000 (assuming 6 developers)
6. Quality Assurance/Test Engineer:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 18,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 30,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 108,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 180,000
7. DevOps Engineer:
   • Minimum monthly salary: HKD 20,000
   • Average monthly salary: HKD 35,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (minimum salary): HKD 120,000
   • Estimated cost for 6 months (average salary): HKD 210,000

Assuming the minimum salary range, the total cost for a team of 10 for 6 months would be approximately HKD 1,308,000. Assuming the mid-point of the average salary range, the total cost would be approximately HKD 2,400,000. Please note that this is just an estimate, and the actual cost may vary depending on the specific details of the project and the compensation negotiated with each team member.

Create an Agile Development Plan

Here is an Agile development plan for the Library system with the proposed team above, assuming 10 sprints with each sprint lasting 10 working days:

Sprint 1 (Days 1-10):

• Conduct project kickoff meeting
• Develop user stories and prioritize backlog
• Create wireframes for the main screens
• Set up development environment
• Begin development of user authentication and authorization system

Sprint 2 (Days 11-20):

• Complete development of user authentication and authorization system
• Begin development of book search functionality
• Begin development of book borrowing functionality
• Review wireframes with stakeholders and make necessary changes

Sprint 3 (Days 21-30):

• Complete development of book search functionality
• Complete development of book borrowing functionality
• Begin development of book return functionality
• Begin development of book reservation functionality

Sprint 4 (Days 31-40):

• Complete development of book return functionality
• Complete development of book reservation functionality
• Begin development of user profile functionality
• Begin development of book recommendation functionality

Sprint 5 (Days 41-50):

• Complete development of user profile functionality
• Complete development of book recommendation functionality
• Begin development of book review and rating functionality
• Begin development of administrative dashboard for librarians

Sprint 6 (Days 51-60):

• Complete development of book review and rating functionality
• Complete development of administrative dashboard for librarians
• Begin development of book purchase and inventory management functionality
• Begin development of fine management functionality

Sprint 7 (Days 61-70):

• Complete development of book purchase and inventory management functionality
• Complete development of fine management functionality
• Begin development of reporting and analytics functionality
• Begin development of mobile application

Sprint 8 (Days 71-80):

• Complete development of reporting and analytics functionality
• Complete development of mobile application
• Begin development of integration with external systems (e.g. payment gateway)

Sprint 9 (Days 81-90):

• Complete development of integration with external systems
• Begin testing and bug fixing
• Begin user acceptance testing
• Begin documentation and training material development

Sprint 10 (Days 91-100):

• Complete testing and bug fixing
• Complete user acceptance testing
• Complete documentation and training material development
• Conduct system deployment
• Conduct final review and retrospective

This is just an example of an Agile development plan for the Library system, and the actual plan may vary depending on the specific needs of the project and the team’s progress during each sprint.

Example Project Proposal – Library System

Project Proposal: Agile Development for a Library System

Introduction: We are excited to propose an Agile development project for a comprehensive library system that caters to the needs of both librarians and library patrons. Our proposed system will provide a seamless book search, borrowing, returning, reservation, purchase, inventory management, and fine management experience to patrons, while offering an administrative dashboard, reporting, and analytics capabilities to librarians. The proposed Agile project will ensure that the system meets the needs of all stakeholders and is delivered within the expected timeframe.

Project Objectives: The objective of this project is to develop a library system that is user-friendly, efficient, and effective in managing library operations. The system will provide the following features and functionalities:

• Book search, borrowing, returning, reservation, purchase, inventory management, and fine management functionalities to patrons.
• An administrative dashboard, reporting, and analytics capabilities to librarians.
• Seamless integration with library systems and databases.
• Customizable user interfaces for both patrons and librarians.

Project Methodology: To achieve the project objectives, we will use Agile development methodologies. Agile development is an iterative and collaborative approach that emphasizes continuous feedback, flexible planning, and rapid delivery. It is well-suited to complex projects with evolving requirements, such as the library system.

The Agile development methodology will be implemented through a series of sprints, each lasting for 10 working days. We will use a Scrum framework, which is a popular Agile methodology that emphasizes regular meetings, clear communication, and incremental development.

Project Timeline: The project will be completed within 10 sprints, each lasting for 10 working days. The timeline is as follows:

• Sprint 1: Wireframe development, user authentication.
• Sprint 2: Book search and browsing functionalities.
• Sprint 3: Book borrowing and returning functionalities.
• Sprint 4: Book reservation and purchase functionalities.
• Sprint 5: Inventory management and reporting functionalities.
• Sprint 6: Fine management functionalities.
• Sprint 7: Administrative dashboard functionalities.
• Sprint 8: Reporting and analytics functionalities.
• Sprint 9: Testing, documentation, and deployment.
• Sprint 10: Final testing, documentation, and deployment.

Project Team: The project team will consist of the following roles:

• Project Manager
• Scrum Master
• Product Owner
• Developers (2-3)
• Quality Assurance Engineer
• Technical Writer

The project team will be responsible for developing, testing, documenting, and deploying the library system. The project manager will oversee the project, while the Scrum Master will ensure that the Scrum framework is followed. The Product Owner will represent the stakeholders and ensure that their needs are met, while the developers will build the system. The Quality Assurance Engineer will ensure that the system meets quality standards, and the Technical Writer will document the system.

Budget: The total cost of the project will be HKD 2,000,000. This includes the cost of human resources, hardware and software infrastructure, and any third-party services required for the project.

Conclusion: We believe that the proposed Agile development project for a library system will result in an efficient, effective, and user-friendly system that meets the needs of both patrons and librarians. We look forward to discussing this proposal with you further and are excited to work with you to develop a successful library system.

Example – Payment Schedule

Here’s a payment schedule for the proposed library system project:

1. 20% of the total cost (HKD 400,000) upon project initiation and signing of the contract.
2. 30% of the total cost (HKD 600,000) upon completion of Sprint 5 and acceptance of the delivered features by the client.
3. 30% of the total cost (HKD 600,000) upon completion of Sprint 8 and acceptance of the delivered features by the client.
4. 20% of the total cost (HKD 400,000) upon successful deployment of the system in the client’s environment and acceptance of the final product by the client.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns regarding this payment schedule.

Thank you for considering our proposal.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

 

Example – Sample Cover Letter for Project Approval Request

 

Dear [Client],

We are excited to submit our proposal for the development of a comprehensive library system. Our proposed Agile project will provide a user-friendly and efficient book search, borrowing, returning, reservation, purchase, inventory management, and fine management experience to patrons, while offering an administrative dashboard, reporting, and analytics capabilities to librarians.

Our proposed Agile development methodology will ensure that the system meets the needs of all stakeholders and is delivered within the expected timeframe. We will use a Scrum framework to ensure regular meetings, clear communication, and incremental development. The project team will consist of a Project Manager, Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers, Quality Assurance Engineer, and Technical Writer.

The project will be completed within 10 sprints, each lasting for 10 working days. The total cost of the project will be HKD 2,000,000.

We believe that our proposed library system will significantly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your library operations, and we look forward to discussing our proposal with you further.

Thank you for considering our proposal. We are excited to work with you to develop a successful library system.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Summary

The library system described in this article is a comprehensive platform that provides book search, borrowing, returning, reservation, purchase, inventory management, and fine management functionalities to patrons, while offering administrative dashboard, reporting, and analytics capabilities to librarians. The development plan is divided into 10 sprints, each lasting for 10 working days, and covers everything from wireframe development and user authentication to testing, documentation, and deployment. By following this Agile development plan, the library system can be completed efficiently and effectively, while ensuring that all stakeholders are satisfied with the end product.