Agile methods have delivered real value in accelerating software delivery, but they address only a fraction of what organisational agility actually requires — and even within IT, speed of delivery is just one dimension. This white paper argues for a broader framework built around three complementary strategies: doing less (leveraging packages, components, and reference models); doing things faster (Agile, DevOps, automation); and making more flexible things (runtime-adaptable and domain model-driven systems). It also tackles the challenge of achieving agility in organisations burdened with large legacy application landscapes.
LiveMethod: A Model and Infrastructure for Empowering Methods Use in Organisations
Most organisations adopt development methods with good intentions, but find them too complex, too static, and too disconnected from day-to-day project work to deliver lasting value. This paper presents LiveMethod — a model-based infrastructure that treats methods as living, intranet-delivered resources, tightly linked to the project artefacts produced from them. It addresses the practical challenges of method deployment, tailoring, and evolution in large, distributed organisations.
Managing Information Technology Projects
Most project management texts focus on either general methodology or system development — very few address the full range of IT project types a practising manager actually faces. Co-authored with Derek Smith and drawing on 45 years of combined industry experience, this book equips IT and information systems project managers with the knowledge to handle everything from systems development and package implementation to hardware installation and business process reengineering. It covers planning, scope and change control, risk management, quality, and the people skills that determine whether projects succeed or fail.
Beyond UML: A Practical Method for Delivering Commercial Software Systems
UML brought valuable standardisation to object-oriented analysis and design, but leaves critical gaps: no standard process, weak dynamic modelling, and little architectural guidance for building flexible, maintainable systems. This book presents the Inspired Method — developed and refined over decades of commercial practice — as a comprehensive alternative covering the full lifecycle from business analysis through design, architecture, and delivery. It is aimed at developers and analysts building multi-user, database-backed commercial applications who need a rigorous yet accessible approach that actually works in practice.