The standard for project management

Figure 6-2. Example of Assessing Organizational Culture

Several models exist for assessing such dynamics; however, the model or method used is not that important. It is 

more critical that project leaders invest the effort to understand the forces that shape their context. Understanding 

the organization and the industry requirements that an organization needs to satisfy allows for choosing the right 

conversations, the right tradeoffs, and, especially, the right techniques.

Quantity

Quality

{Other Factors}

Speed

Stability

Exploration

Execution

Flexibility

Predictability

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6.3 PROCUREMENT AND CONTRACTS

As mentioned earlier in this practice guide, the Agile Manifesto values “customer collaboration over contract 

negotiation.” Many project failures stem from breakdowns in the customer–supplier relationship. Projects incur more 

risk when those involved in the contract take the perspective of winners vs. losers. A collaborative approach is one that 

pursues a shared-risk-reward relationship, where all sides win. Some contracting techniques that can formalize this 

dynamic include the following:

u

u