About Monash University
Monash University, a renowned institution in Australia, sought to develop an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to predict the impact of construction on daily routines and the economy. This case study highlights the challenges faced during the project and the strategies employed to overcome them, ultimately leading to the successful delivery of the ITS system.
Case Study: Monash University’s Intelligent Transport System: Overcoming Challenges, Delivering Success
Challenges Faced:
- Complex Algorithm and Domain Knowledge: The project involved implementing algorithms from research papers and introducing technical terms like “Macroscopic” and “Microscopic”, posing a challenge due to the team’s unfamiliarity with the domain.
- Communication Gap with the Client: Monash University has expertise in research but limited knowledge of software development, leading to communication barriers and misunderstandings.
- Limited Documentation of 3rd Party Solutions: The integration of third-party libraries lacked adequate documentation, hindering the team’s understanding and development process.
Approaches and Solutions:
- Dedicated Product Owner and Business Analyst: To bridge the communication gap, a valid Product Owner and Business Analyst collaborated closely with the client to define the customer journey, ensuring clarity and alignment on project scope and objectives.
- Agile Development Framework: The team adopted the Scrum framework and Agile adaptive planning to anticipate changes, enabling flexibility and rapid adaptation to evolving requirements.
- Training and Collaboration: Training sessions were organized for the team, mainly the Business Analyst, to gain domain knowledge from Monash’s experts, facilitating better understanding and collaboration.
- Utilization of Azure DevOps: AURE DevOps is leveraged for streamlined collaboration with automated pipelines for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), ensuring faster delivery and improved quality.
Achievements: Despite the challenges, the project was delivered on time and within budget. The resulting ITS system has been successfully implemented and utilized by Monash University, serving as a showcase for the Melbourne ITS system. The collaborative efforts of the team, coupled with effective communication strategies and agile methodologies, have led to the project’s success, showcasing the importance of overcoming challenges through innovation and collaboration.
Conclusion
The successful collaboration between Monash University and the software development vendor exemplifies the importance of effective communication, agile methodologies, and continuous learning in overcoming challenges and delivering innovative solutions. By leveraging dedicated roles such as Product Owner and Business Analyst, and adopting agile development frameworks like Scrum, the team navigated complex algorithms and communication barriers to deliver the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on time and within budget.
The team gained valuable insights into Monash University’s research and requirements through training sessions and close collaboration with domain experts, ensuring alignment and clarity throughout the project. Additionally, utilizing Azure DevOps for streamlined collaboration and automated pipelines for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) facilitated faster delivery and improved quality.
The successful implementation of the ITS system stands as a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of the team, showcasing their ability to overcome challenges and deliver impactful solutions. The lessons learned from this project will inform future endeavors, reinforcing the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement in success in complex software development projects.