Agile/Scrum Essentials for Practitioners

Course description

There is a lot of buzz today around Agile as a different approach to managing projects, specifically software development and implementation projects. Unfortunately, when Agile was first being introduced it was set in opposition to traditional or waterfall project management approaches. This caused an unnecessary and counterproductive riff that was mostly due to a lack of understanding and a few overzealous evangelists. Today Agile is more main stream, particularly in IT, and much of this division has started to erode. However, a comprehensive understand of the mindset of Agile over a few well known practices like the daily scrum, is foundational to truly leveraging the benefits of Agile and creating an environment that if both fun to work in and produces high quality business results. This session on Agile will give you the foundational background that will help you understand how Agile is different and why certain practices make more sense and result in more productive teams. You will see how Agile is as much of a mindset as it is a project management framework and how adopting Agile can turn your next project into a success.

Each LearnNowOnline training course is made up of Modules (typically an hour in length). Within each module there are Topics (typically 15-30 minutes each) and Subtopics (typically 2-5 minutes each). There is a Post Exam for each Module that must be passed with a score of 70% or higher to successfully and fully complete the course.

Prerequisites

This course is designed for users looking to understand and start the process of becoming a certified Agile/Scrum Master.

Meet the expert

Geof Lory

Geof Lory is an engaging speaker and trainer with more than 30 years of practical project management consulting experience. He is the product owner for the Fissure PM and Agile/Scrum Simulations and is certified to deliver various other team, leadership, and project management curricula. He is a Project Management Professional (PMP) and an Agile Certified Professional (ACP) from PMI as well as a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) from the Scrum Alliance. Geof is the author of multiple white papers and articles and the co-author of the MSF Pocket Guide. In addition to writing, speaking, teaching, and coaching Agile, Geof continues to actively manage Agile projects, bringing real-life practical application of the Agile values, principles, and practices to life within organizations and creating sustainable change that maximizes project team performance.

Video Runtime

143 Minutes

Time to complete

326 Minutes

Course Outline

Agile

Introduction (05:11)

• Introduction (00:28)
• Guide Introduction (03:03)
• Q&A Product Backlog (01:24)
• Summary (00:14)

Agile Background (20:08)

• Introduction (00:19)
• Success Hasn't Come Easy (02:33)
• Today's Business Environment (01:38)
• Features/Functions Used (01:56)
• The Swing of the Pendulum (01:32)
• The Unintentional Mousetrap (01:09)
• Landscape Affects the Approach (02:18)
• The Discipline/Process Curve (04:43)
• Emphasis and Constraints (03:41)
• Summary (00:14)

Agile Overview (09:09)

• Introduction (00:17)
• A Definition of Agile (01:33)
• Agile is Iterative (00:54)
• Agile is Iterative (cont.) (01:08)
• A Family of Agile Methods (01:24)
• Building Blocks of Agile (03:36)
• Summary (00:14)

Agile Manifesto (21:54)

• Introduction (00:23)
• The Agile Manifesto (06:17)
• Agile – The 12 Principles (02:43)
• Agile – 12 Principles (cont.) (04:33)
• Agile – Proven Practices (02:48)
• Agile – Practices (cont.) (01:13)
• Agile – Key Results & Benefits (03:38)
• Summary (00:16)

Why Agile Works (11:35)

• Introduction (00:23)
• Proven Sciences & Disciplines (03:33)
• Serial Large - Iterative Small (02:57)
• Agile is NOT for Lightweights (04:17)
• Summary (00:23)

Scrum

Scrum Overview (19:29)

• Introduction (00:24)
• Origins of Scrum (00:49)
• Origins of Scrum (cont.) (00:47)
• A Simple Starting Methodology (01:19)
• Starting Methodology (cont.) (03:21)
• Scrum Elements (01:38)
• Scrum Iterative & Agile Flow (07:07)
• Cascading Plans (03:44)
• Summary (00:16)

Scrum Team (20:43)

• Introduction (00:22)
• Scrum Elements – Team Roles (07:33)
• Scrum Team Basics (03:08)
• A High Performance Team Model (04:07)
• Team Stages & Leadership Style (05:05)
• Summary (00:24)

Team Roles (23:02)

• Introduction (00:25)
• Team Roles & Constituency (02:14)
• The Scrum Terms (01:30)
• Team Role 1: The Product Owner (01:58)
• Team Role 1: The PO (cont.) (04:08)
• Team Role 2: The Scrum Master (03:08)
• Team Role 3: The Delivery Team (03:14)
• Team Role 3: Delivery (cont.) (01:53)
• The Team Operating Agreement (02:20)
• RACI Chart for a Scrum Team (00:49)
• Scaling Scrum Teams (01:05)
• Summary (00:13)

Exercise (12:36)

• Introduction (00:21)
• Demo: The Scrum - Backlog (02:34)
• Demo: The Scrum - WIP (06:03)
• Demo: The Scrum - Finish (03:25)
• Summary (00:11)