Making Informed Decisions with a Go/No-Go Checklist for Agile Projects: A Scoring Approach

Agile methodologies have gained significant popularity in recent years due to their ability to deliver products quickly and adapt to changing requirements. However, not all projects are feasible, and it’s crucial to make informed decisions about whether to proceed with a project or not. The Go/No-Go Checklist combined with a weighted scoring approach can provide a framework for evaluating the feasibility of an Agile project. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of a Go/No-Go Checklist and how a weighted scoring approach can help in making informed decisions.

Why A Go/No-Go Checklist for Agile Projects

Feasibility studies are an essential component of the Agile project development process. These studies are performed to evaluate the practicality of the proposed project and to determine whether the project is viable in terms of scope, budget, and timeline. One of the critical components of the feasibility study is the Go/No-Go Checklist, which is used to determine whether a project should be initiated, paused, or stopped. In this article, we will discuss the before and after process of using a Go/No-Go Checklist in the feasibility study of an Agile project.

Before the Feasibility Study

Before starting the feasibility study, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the project’s objectives, scope, and stakeholders’ requirements. The project’s feasibility study typically involves assessing the technical, financial, operational, and market feasibility of the project. It is essential to have a detailed plan for the feasibility study and to involve all relevant stakeholders in the process.

The Go/No-Go Checklist is an essential tool used during the feasibility study. It outlines the criteria that must be met for the project to proceed. The criteria typically include technical feasibility, financial viability, market demand, and the availability of resources. The Go/No-Go Checklist helps to ensure that all the critical factors are considered, and the project’s potential success is evaluated before proceeding.

After the Feasibility Study

After the feasibility study is completed, the Go/No-Go Checklist is used to determine whether the project should be initiated, paused, or stopped. If the project meets all the criteria outlined in the checklist, it is considered feasible, and the project can proceed. If the project fails to meet any of the criteria, it may be necessary to pause or stop the project until the issue is resolved.

The Go/No-Go Checklist is a valuable tool for ensuring that the project’s feasibility is thoroughly evaluated before proceeding. It helps to identify potential risks and issues that may impact the project’s success. By using the checklist, stakeholders can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the project.

Benefits of Using a Go/No-Go Checklist

There are several benefits to using a Go/No-Go Checklist in the feasibility study of an Agile project. These include:

1. Clear Criteria: The checklist provides clear criteria that must be met for the project to proceed. This ensures that all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the project’s objectives and the criteria for success.
2. Risk Management: The checklist helps to identify potential risks and issues that may impact the project’s success. This enables stakeholders to take appropriate measures to mitigate the risks before initiating the project.
3. Informed Decisions: The checklist helps stakeholders make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the project. By evaluating the project’s feasibility based on clear criteria, stakeholders can make more informed decisions about the project’s potential success.

Examples

Here are a few examples of items that may be included in a Go/No-Go Checklist for an Agile project feasibility study:

1. Technical Feasibility:

• Is the technology required to develop the project available?
• Can the project be developed within the given technical constraints?
• Does the development team have the required skills and expertise to complete the project?

2. Financial Viability:

• Is the project financially viable?
• Does the estimated budget align with the project’s goals and objectives?
• Are there potential cost overruns that could impact the project’s feasibility?

3. Market Demand:

• Is there a demand for the project in the market?
• Are there similar projects already available in the market?
• Is the project aligned with the current market trends and demands?

4. Resource Availability:

• Are the required resources available for the project?
• Can the project be completed within the given timeline with the available resources?
• Are there any potential resource constraints that could impact the project’s feasibility?

If the project meets all the criteria listed in the Go/No-Go Checklist, it can proceed to the next stage of development. If it fails to meet any of the criteria, the project may need to be paused or stopped until the issues are resolved.

Real-life Examples

Based on this Go/No-Go Checklist, the project appears feasible and can proceed to the next stage of development. However, the development team will need to monitor the project closely to ensure that it stays within the established constraints and that any potential issues are addressed promptly.

In the “Yes” and “No” columns, you can mark whether the project meets the criteria or not. In the “Comments” column, you can provide additional information or notes about each criterion, such as potential issues or concerns that need to be addressed.

Here is a template for a Go/No-Go Checklist in table form for an Agile project feasibility study:

Criteria	Yes	No	Comments
Technical Feasibility
Is the technology required to develop the project available?	Yes		The company has experience with web-based applications and is familiar with the technology stack required for the project.
Can the project be developed within the given technical constraints?	Yes		The project’s technical requirements are within the capabilities of the development team.
Does the development team have the required skills and expertise to complete the project?	Yes		The team has experience developing similar projects and has the necessary skills to complete the project.
Financial Viability
Is the project financially viable?	Yes		The estimated revenue from the project is expected to exceed the development costs.
Does the estimated budget align with the project’s goals and objectives?	Yes		The project’s budget is in line with the company’s financial resources and goals.
Are there potential cost overruns that could impact the project’s feasibility?	No		The development team has identified potential cost overruns and has taken steps to mitigate them.
Market Demand
Is there a demand for the project in the market?	Yes		Market research has shown that there is a need for a project management tool for small businesses.
Are there similar projects already available in the market?	Yes		There are several project management tools available in the market, but none that specifically cater to the needs of small businesses.
Is the project aligned with the current market trends and demands?	Yes		The project aligns with current market trends and demands for cloud-based software solutions.
Resource Availability
Are the required resources available for the project?	Yes		The necessary hardware, software, and other resources are available for the project.
Can the project be completed within the given timeline with the available resources?	Yes		The project’s timeline is realistic and achievable with the available resources.
Are there any potential resource constraints that could impact the project’s feasibility?	No		The development team has identified potential resource constraints and has taken steps to mitigate them.

 

Using this table template can help you document the decision-making process and provide a clear record of why the project was either approved to proceed or stopped.

 

Simple Scoring for Go/No-Go Checklist

In this example, a score of 1 is assigned to each criterion that meets the project’s requirements, and a score of 0.5 is assigned to the criterion that is partially met. The final score is calculated by adding up the scores for each criterion, and the project is deemed feasible if the score is above a certain threshold (e.g., 8/11).

Criteria	Yes	No	Score	Comments
Technical Feasibility
Is the technology required to develop the project available?	Yes		1	The company has experience with web-based applications and is familiar with the technology stack required for the project.
Can the project be developed within the given technical constraints?	Yes		1	The project’s technical requirements are within the capabilities of the development team.
Does the development team have the required skills and expertise to complete the project?	Yes		1	The team has experience developing similar projects and has the necessary skills to complete the project.
Financial Viability
Is the project financially viable?	Yes		1	The estimated revenue from the project is expected to exceed the development costs.
Does the estimated budget align with the project’s goals and objectives?	Yes		1	The project’s budget is in line with the company’s financial resources and goals.
Are there potential cost overruns that could impact the project’s feasibility?	No		1	The development team has identified potential cost overruns and has taken steps to mitigate them.
Market Demand
Is there a demand for the project in the market?	Yes		1	Market research has shown that there is a need for a project management tool for small businesses.
Are there similar projects already available in the market?	Yes		0.5	There are several project management tools available in the market, but none that specifically cater to the needs of small businesses.
Is the project aligned with the current market trends and demands?	Yes		1	The project aligns with current market trends and demands for cloud-based software solutions.
Resource Availability
Are the required resources available for the project?	Yes		1	The necessary hardware, software, and other resources are available for the project.
Can the project be completed within the given timeline with the available resources?	Yes		1	The project’s timeline is realistic and achievable with the available resources.
Are there any potential resource constraints that could impact the project’s feasibility?	No		1	The development team has identified potential resource constraints and has taken steps to mitigate them.
Total			9.5/11

However, it’s important to note that assigning scores to each criterion can be subjective and may not always accurately reflect the project’s feasibility. It’s essential to consider the context and unique characteristics of each project when using a scoring system to evaluate its feasibility.

 

Weighted Value Scoring System with Go/No-Go Checklist

The scoring system and weighted values are important components of the Go/No-Go Checklist, and they provide a way to quantitatively evaluate the feasibility of a project based on a set of predefined criteria.

The scoring system assigns a value of either Yes or No to each criterion in the checklist, based on whether the criterion is met or not. For example, a criterion related to technical feasibility might ask whether the technology required to develop the project is available. If the technology is available, the answer to the criterion would be Yes, and if it’s not available, the answer would be No.

Once each criterion is evaluated and scored, the weighted values come into play. Each criterion is assigned a weightage, which represents the relative importance of that criterion in the overall evaluation of the project’s feasibility. The weightage is typically expressed as a percentage, with the sum of all weightages equaling 100%.

Example

Here’s an example of a Go/No-Go Checklist with weighted values:

Criteria	Weightage	Yes	No	Score	Comments
Technical Feasibility	40%
Is the technology required to develop the project available?	20%	Yes		0.2	The company has experience with web-based applications and is familiar with the technology stack required for the project.
Can the project be developed within the given technical constraints?	10%	Yes		0.1	The project’s technical requirements are within the capabilities of the development team.
Does the development team have the required skills and expertise to complete the project?	10%	Yes		0.1	The team has experience developing similar projects and has the necessary skills to complete the project.
Financial Viability	30%
Is the project financially viable?	20%	Yes		0.2	The estimated revenue from the project is expected to exceed the development costs.
Does the estimated budget align with the project’s goals and objectives?	5%	Yes		0.05	The project’s budget is in line with the company’s financial resources and goals.
Are there potential cost overruns that could impact the project’s feasibility?	5%	No		0.05	The development team has identified potential cost overruns and has taken steps to mitigate them.
Market Demand	20%
Is there a demand for the project in the market?	10%	Yes		0.1	Market research has shown that there is a need for a project management tool for small businesses.
Are there similar projects already available in the market?	5%	Yes		0.025	There are several project management tools available in the market, but none that specifically cater to the needs of small businesses.
Is the project aligned with the current market trends and demands?	5%	Yes		0.025	The project aligns with current market trends and demands for cloud-based software solutions.
Resource Availability	10%
Are the required resources available for the project?	5%	Yes		0.05	The necessary hardware, software, and other resources are available for the project.
Can the project be completed within the given timeline with the available resources?	3%	Yes		0.03	The project’s timeline is realistic and achievable with the available resources.
Are there any potential resource constraints that could impact the project’s feasibility?	2%	No		0.02	The development team has identified potential resource constraints and has taken steps to mitigate them.
Total	100%			0.605

In this example, the weightage of each criterion is based on the project’s specific requirements and priorities. The final score is calculated by multiplying the score of each criterion by its weightage and then adding up the weighted scores. The final score is a quantitative measure of the project’s feasibility based on the criteria evaluated in the checklist.

It’s important to note that the weightage assigned to each criterion is subjective and may vary depending on the project’s specific context. Therefore, it’s crucial to consult with relevant stakeholders and subject matter experts to determine the appropriate weightage for each criterion.

Once the final score is calculated, it can be used as a basis for making a Go/No-Go decision. For example, if the final score exceeds a predetermined threshold, the project may be approved to proceed, whereas if the score falls below the threshold, the project may be deemed unfeasible and abandoned.

In conclusion, a weighted scoring system can provide a more nuanced and context-specific evaluation of a project’s feasibility by assigning different weights to different criteria. The Go/No-Go Checklist, combined with a weighted scoring system, can be a valuable tool for making informed decisions about whether to proceed with an Agile project.

Summary

The Go/No-Go Checklist is a useful tool for evaluating the feasibility of Agile projects. By assigning weightage to each criterion in the checklist, a more nuanced and context-specific evaluation can be performed. The scoring system assigns a value of Yes or No to each criterion based on whether the criterion is met or not, and the weighted value represents the relative importance of that criterion in the overall evaluation. Once the weighted score is calculated for each criterion, the final score is obtained by summing up all the weighted scores. This final score is a quantitative measure of the project’s feasibility, and it can be used as a basis for making informed decisions about whether to proceed with an Agile project. With the Go/No-Go Checklist and a weighted scoring approach, organizations can make informed decisions and increase the chances of project success.