Developing a mechanism for agile risk management in telecommunications

Abstract

Subject. The relevance of this topic is underpinned by the growing number of failures of agile projects due to realization of unique set of risks and the fact that standard agile practices neglect important risk management steps. The paper fills the research gaps in this area and addresses inefficiencies in explicit agile risk management frameworks. Objectives. The aim is to develop a risk control mechanism and tools for flexible projects implemented by information and communication industry (ICT) companies. Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was the explorations of domestic and foreign scientists in the field of risk management of agile projects. We also applied general scientific research methods, including data analysis and synthesis. Results. We developed the mechanism’s concept and the block diagram for scrum framework. They include risk controlling tools, like risk-based release planning, system of key risk indicators, and agile risk controlling, using the effectiveness evaluation tree. Unlike peers mentioned in existing studies, the mechanism provides a holistic approach to the agile risk management while keeping the agile spirit. It addresses risk governance issues, ensures integration and coordination of risk management activities, both inside the team and across the company, and provides for efficient tools. Conclusions. The developed mechanism can be adapted for other agile frameworks and can be applied by scrum masters and project managers in the ICT industry, as well as by the researches who are interested in further enhancement of agile risk management practices.