Course description

Agile project management is a project management methodology based on the idea that projects must be able to adapt to ever changing business needs. To minimize risk, components are built in small, discrete timeframes There have been several approaches to agile project management over the years. Scrum, the approach addressed in this course, has been used since the early 1990’s. While not directly addressed in the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^®), Scrum is a form of iterative project management referenced in the PMBOK.

Agile Project Management Using Scrum provides context for what agile project management is, its benefits, and how it differs from traditional project management. It also introduces roles, processes, and techniques to overcome the challenges of working on agile projects.

In keeping with the philosophy of the CEG, the course is taught by experienced project managers, and much of the class time is devoted to exercises in which participants can practice the skills being taught. Job aids introduced in the course can be used by participants when they return to the workplace to help them apply their new skills in the performance of job tasks.

Key characteristics that differentiate this course from others include:

• Experiential Training.
• Two case studies are integrated into the course to allow participants to view demonstrations of work products and techniques and then apply learned skills within a consistent context.
• Much of the class time is devoted to exercises in which participants can practice the skills being taught.
• Experience.
• The course is written and delivered by professionals with extensive experience in project management.
• Applied Focus.
• The Participant Guide includes dozens of job aids that are referenced throughout the course and available to the participant after training; these include work product templates and samples, as well as checklists for processes and best practices.

Who should attend

Program managers, project managers, and team members interested in applying the Scrum project management approach within their organizations.

What you will achieve

• Compare and contrast Scrum agile project management with traditional project management.
• Describe the Scrum process framework and how it supports project success.
• Assemble a Scrum team equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively carry out a software development initiative.
• Initiate a Scrum project by creating a shared vision among team members.
• Elicit, document, and incorporate user stories as an effective means for requirements definition.
• Apply the principles and techniques of Scrum to a software development project.
• Plan a Scrum project by estimating user stories, compiling a project backlog, and measuring progress.
• Conduct effective Scrum meetings and planning sessions.

What you will learn

• Scrum project management versus traditional project management
• Benefits and challenges of agile approaches
• Scrum process framework
• Scrum team dynamics
• Scrum process components from inception through closure
• Product vision statement
• Product declaration statement
• Milestones
• User stories: attributes, user roles, and techniques to elicit and document
• User proxies
• User story acceptance testing
• Epics
• Themes
• Release planning
• Story points
• Product backlog
• Sprint planning
• Team velocity
• The Daily Scrum
• Sprint review meeting
• Sprint retrospective meeting
• Scaling Scrum to larger projects

Agenda

Day One

• Introduction to Agile Project Management Using Scrum
• The Scrum Framework
• Create a Shared Vision
• Elicit and Document User Stories

Day Two

• Test and Organize User Stories
• Estimate and Plan Scrum Projects
• Execute Scrum Projects
• Monitor and Control Scrum Projects