Q10
September 12, 2024
GLPI
September 12, 2024

Gestor.

Client:

Andar SA

Role:

Scrum Master | Project Manager

Category:

Web Apps

Date:

Jan 2019 - Aug 2021

Location:

Medellín - Hybrid

Description

This web application was developed to support administrative tasks across multiple departments, including Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, IT Service Management, Human Resources, Hiring, User Access Management, and KPIs. The project was an ongoing effort, aimed at centralizing and streamlining the operations of these departments by providing a unified platform to manage various tasks efficiently.

Key features of the app include user account management, error handling, permissions configuration, and a variety of specialized modules for different business areas. The app integrates Power BI for reporting and dashboards, allowing departments to visualize KPIs and manage data effectively. It also includes modules for user management, password reset, IT tickets, vacation tracking, meeting room bookings, and inventory management.

Additionally, the app facilitates more complex operations such as chemical product management, HR processes, security and health regulations, and financial services. With integrations like Salesforce, Wompi, and CRM systems, the platform became a comprehensive tool for managing business operations across departments, providing a seamless interface to control everything from procurement to IT service requests.

Methodologies:

Scrum

We utilized the Scrum framework throughout the entire development process, which allowed for iterative progress and continuous feedback. This approach ensured that the project stayed aligned with evolving business needs and department-specific requirements. Scrum's focus on flexibility and collaboration was essential in adapting to the growing demands and complexity of the application.

The team participated in regular Scrum ceremonies, including daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives. These ceremonies were conducted remotely, as the team was distributed across multiple locations. Daily stand-ups helped facilitate updates and allowed for quick resolution of blockers, while sprint planning sessions provided clear objectives and deliverables for each sprint. This iterative process ensured that all departments involved had their evolving needs addressed in a timely manner, keeping the project on track and organized.

Tools:

The project utilized a suite of powerful tools to enhance project management, collaboration, and quality assurance.

Jira Software

Was used as the primary project management tool, enabling us to track tasks, manage sprints, and monitor progress in real-time. Its robust features facilitated effective backlog management and provided visibility into the development process for all team members.

Zephyr

Was integrated into Jira for comprehensive test management. It supported the creation, execution, and tracking of test cases, helping to ensure the quality and reliability of the mobile app. Zephyr's integration with Jira provided seamless traceability between requirements, test cases, and defects.

GitBook

Served as the central documentation repository. It was used to create, manage, and share project documentation, including technical specifications, user guides, and process documentation. This tool was critical in maintaining a single source of truth that all team members could access and update as needed.

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Challenges and Solutions:

 

  • Challenges:

    The project faced significant challenges, particularly with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start, there was no development team in place, and I had to build the team from scratch, hiring developers, QA engineers, and other key roles. With no dedicated Product Owner, I took on the dual responsibilities of Scrum Master and acting PO, gathering requirements directly from various departments. This created a high demand for careful planning and prioritization, as multiple areas of the business were submitting requests, each requiring significant attention and effort to manage effectively.

  • Solutions:

    To overcome these challenges, I quickly structured and onboarded a capable development team, ensuring that the right skill sets were in place. I worked closely with stakeholders to gather clear requirements and established a strong communication process to handle the influx of requests. By using Scrum methodologies, I was able to break down tasks into manageable sprints and prioritize based on department needs. Regular planning sessions were key to balancing the workload and ensuring that each department’s urgent requests were addressed without compromising overall project progress.

    These efforts helped keep the project on track despite the heavy workload and rapidly changing requirements brought on by the pandemic.

 

Results and Achievements:

 

  • Team Formation and Productivity: Despite starting without a development team, I successfully hired and structured a capable team of developers and QA engineers, allowing the project to move forward efficiently. 
  • Effective Requirement Management: By taking on the role of Product Owner and gathering requirements from various departments, I was able to create a clear roadmap and ensure all business needs were met.
  • Prioritized and Organized Workflows: Through the use of Scrum planning and prioritization, the team was able to handle the overwhelming number of requests efficiently. We completed 95% of the high-priority tasks on time, even during the pandemic, ensuring that critical business operations continued without disruption.

Challenges and Solutions:

 

  • Challenges: I encountered several significant challenges. One of the primary issues was the high turnover rate, which required constant training of new team members and consumed a substantial portion of my working hours. Despite the need to expand the team to increase bandwidth, we struggled with retaining staff, as many team members did not stay long enough to reach their first year. Additionally, the team lacked a points system, making it difficult to measure team velocity and track progress effectively.
  • Solutions Implemented: To address the high turnover rate, I implemented a structured onboarding process that included comprehensive training materials and documentation. This reduced the time required for new hires to get up to speed and allowed them to become productive more quickly. I also focused on improving the team culture and work environment to enhance employee retention, which included regular team-building activities, recognition programs for outstanding performance, and opportunities for professional development. By fostering a more supportive and engaging work environment, I aimed to reduce turnover and build a more stable, high-performing team. Additionally, I introduced a points system to measure team velocity, which helped us better understand our capacity and make informed decisions about workload distribution. These efforts collectively helped us overcome the challenges and maintain project momentum.

 

Resultados y logros:

 

  • Increased Efficiency: Team productivity improved by 25% after introducing the structured onboarding process and points system, enabling faster and higher-quality delivery of project milestones.
  • Reduced Turnover: Enhanced team culture and retention strategies led to a 40% reduction in turnover rates, contributing to a more stable and cohesive team environment.
  • User Adoption: Over 10,000 students and teachers actively used the mobile application within the first six months of its launch.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Improved resource management and reduced training time for new hires resulted in better cost-efficiency for the project.

 

Resources and Links

Resources

Testimonials

"Alejandro’s ability to gather and organize requirements from multiple departments was key to the project’s success. Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, his leadership and focus kept us on track. The platform has been a game-changer for our operations."

Supply Chain Manager

"What impressed us the most was Alejandro’s ability to manage so many different moving parts. He built the team from scratch and still ensured that every department's needs were met. The web app has streamlined many of our processes, and we couldn't be happier with the result."

IT Manager

"Working with Alejandro was a great experience. Even though the team was formed quickly, his clear direction and organization made the transition easy. His approach to managing sprints and prioritizing work allowed us to deliver high-quality features under tight deadlines."

Backend Developer

"Alejandro’s leadership during the project was exceptional, especially in building a development team from the ground up. He also prioritized communication, which made it easy for HR to manage the hiring and onboarding process smoothly. His ability to balance multiple roles under pressure was truly impressive."

 HR Representative

"Alejandro’s ability to gather and organize requirements from multiple departments was key to the project’s success. Despite the challenges brought on by COVID-19, his leadership and focus kept us on track. The platform has been a game-changer for our operations."

Supply Chain Manager

"What impressed us the most was Alejandro’s ability to manage so many different moving parts. He built the team from scratch and still ensured that every department's needs were met. The web app has streamlined many of our processes, and we couldn't be happier with the result."

IT Manager

"Working with Alejandro was a great experience. Even though the team was formed quickly, his clear direction and organization made the transition easy. His approach to managing sprints and prioritizing work allowed us to deliver high-quality features under tight deadlines."

Backend Developer

"Alejandro’s leadership during the project was exceptional, especially in building a development team from the ground up. He also prioritized communication, which made it easy for HR to manage the hiring and onboarding process smoothly. His ability to balance multiple roles under pressure was truly impressive."

 HR Representative

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