The Agile Project Manager : How the role of the traditional project manager changes when adopting agile methods and how the project manager can contribute to a successful use of an agile approach

Sammanfattning: Agile methods have been proven successful for handling the increased needs for embracing change and reducing time-to-market in order for companies to stay competitive. But, the use of an agile approach might also result in new challenges and problems when the new approach is implemented. A common challenge to handle is that the traditional project roles and responsibilities change. One of the project roles which change and who’s responsibilities becomes unclear when adopting agile is the project manager. Extensive research has been conducted on using an agile approach but a topic that lacks research is how the project manager fits into an agile environment and it can hence be argued that there is a need for more research that focus on the project manager role when using an agile approach. This thesis work studies the project manager role in an agile environment and has the purpose to clarify the role of the project manager when using an agile approach. The main research questions for the thesis work are: How does the role of the project manager change when a project adopts agile methods? and How can the project manager contribute to a successful use of an agile approach? The research questions have been answered by combining a literature review and a case study consisting of interviews, observations and a workshop. The case study has been conducted at a project office at the truck, buss and engine developer and manufacturer Scania CV in Södertälje. The study focuses on the project managers at the specific project office and the operations development projects these project managers manage. The study has identified changes occurring to the traditional project manager when an agile approach is adopted. The study has also identified responsibilities of an agile project manager. Further the study identifies critical aspects, problems or challenges and success factors of using an agile approach. Lastly, the study relates the critical aspects identified to the project manager and from these results suggests how the project manager can contribute to a successful use of an agile approach. The general conclusions that can be drawn from this study are that several benefits have been obtained by using an agile approach, but many problems have also arisen. Further that the role of the project manager has changed and that it remains to some extent unclear. The project manager was considered related to some of the challenges or problems reported and the conclusion is hence drawn that the project manager can contribute to a successful use of an agile approach by resolving these problems or challenges. Lastly can the conclusion be drawn that that there is a need for studying more projects, preferably at more departments, to be able to draw more reliable conclusions and to get a better understanding of the current situation at company.