Complex programs and dependencies are handled the way complex projects and dependencies are handled: visiblility, simplification, and just-in-time architectural support. Works at the team level, works at the program level.
Fixed calendar dates are also not an issue. Remember, the goal is to separate delivery from scheduling. There's no magic fix to make you automatically hit dates, but you can generate real numbers on what it takes to meet arbitrary calendar dates if that's your situation. You should know, for instance, that 2 more teams need to be spun up within the next week if your group is going to hit the date.
It's a myth that Agile team techniques don't scale out. This was true several years ago but a lot has changed since then. A better way of describing the situation is that there are multiple models for scaling out Agile teams and estimation, many of which have years of real-world traction. We don't have the same number of data points as we do with, say, how well stand-ups map to the average team, but we have data and we have demonstrable traction on the problem. All of the normal project and program management tools are available to Agile teams and programs.
For a discussion of how simple systems can scale out into complex projects, check out my 15-minute video. (Sorry for the additional plug, but it is relevant here) https://vimeo.com/57146799 Also for a review of the various Agile Program management systems out there, https://vimeo.com/64452664
Complex programs and dependencies are handled the way complex projects and dependencies are handled: visiblility, simplification, and just-in-time architectural support. Works at the team level, works at the program level.
Fixed calendar dates are also not an issue. Remember, the goal is to separate delivery from scheduling. There's no magic fix to make you automatically hit dates, but you can generate real numbers on what it takes to meet arbitrary calendar dates if that's your situation. You should know, for instance, that 2 more teams need to be spun up within the next week if your group is going to hit the date.
It's a myth that Agile team techniques don't scale out. This was true several years ago but a lot has changed since then. A better way of describing the situation is that there are multiple models for scaling out Agile teams and estimation, many of which have years of real-world traction. We don't have the same number of data points as we do with, say, how well stand-ups map to the average team, but we have data and we have demonstrable traction on the problem. All of the normal project and program management tools are available to Agile teams and programs.
For a discussion of how simple systems can scale out into complex projects, check out my 15-minute video. (Sorry for the additional plug, but it is relevant here) https://vimeo.com/57146799 Also for a review of the various Agile Program management systems out there, https://vimeo.com/64452664