Agile Project Management (scrum, Kanban): Drive It Project Success

Introduction:

Agile methodologies are transforming IT project management, enabling teams to adapt to change, deliver value iteratively, and improve collaboration. This course on Agile Project Management (Scrum, Kanban) equips participants with the specialized knowledge and skills to implement agile practices effectively. Participants will learn how to utilize Scrum and Kanban frameworks, manage backlogs, and facilitate agile ceremonies. This course bridges the gap between traditional project management and agile methodologies, empowering professionals to lead successful IT projects in dynamic environments.

Target Audience:

This course is designed for IT professionals seeking to implement agile methodologies in their projects, including:

• Project Managers
• Software Developers
• Team Leads
• Product Owners
• Scrum Masters
• Anyone involved in IT project delivery

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this Agile Project Management course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles and values of agile methodologies.
• Implement Scrum and Kanban frameworks for IT projects.
• Understand and apply agile ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, retrospectives).
• Manage product and sprint backlogs effectively.
• Understand and apply agile estimation techniques.
• Implement continuous improvement and feedback loops.
• Understand the roles and responsibilities in agile teams.
• Utilize agile metrics and reporting.
• Understand how to scale agile practices in larger organizations.
• Implement agile project planning and tracking.
• Enhance their ability to lead and manage agile IT projects.
• Improve their organization's project delivery efficiency and effectiveness.
• Contribute to improved team collaboration and communication.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in agile project management.
• Become a more knowledgeable and effective agile project manager.
• Understand ethical considerations in agile project management.
• Learn how to use agile project management tools effectively.

DURATION

10 Days

COURSE CONTENT

Module 1: Introduction to Agile Project Management

• Understanding the limitations of traditional project management.
• Exploring the Agile Manifesto and its principles.
• Introduction to different agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, XP, Lean).
• Understanding the benefits of agile methodologies for IT projects.
• Setting the stage for successful agile adoption.

Module 2: Scrum Framework Fundamentals

• Understanding the Scrum roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team).
• Exploring the Scrum artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment).
• Understanding the Scrum events (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective).
• Understanding the concept of sprints and iterations.
• Understanding the importance of empirical process control.

Module 3: Scrum Roles and Responsibilities

• Deep dive into the Product Owner role: managing the Product Backlog, defining acceptance criteria.
• Deep dive into the Scrum Master role: facilitating Scrum events, removing impediments.
• Deep dive into the Development Team role: self-organization, cross-functionality.
• Understanding the importance of collaboration and communication.
• Building high-performing Scrum teams.

Module 4: Product Backlog Management

• Creating and refining the Product Backlog.
• Writing effective user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Prioritizing the Product Backlog using various techniques.
• Understanding the concept of product backlog refinement.
• Estimating user stories using story points and other methods.

Module 5: Sprint Planning and Execution

• Conducting effective Sprint Planning meetings.
• Creating the Sprint Backlog and defining the Sprint Goal.
• Understanding the concept of sprint commitment.
• Executing the Sprint Backlog and tracking progress.
• Managing scope changes during the sprint.

Module 6: Daily Scrum and Sprint Review

• Facilitating effective Daily Scrum meetings.
• Understanding the purpose of the Daily Scrum.
• Conducting effective Sprint Review meetings.
• Demonstrating the Increment and gathering feedback.
• Understanding the importance of stakeholder engagement.

Module 7: Sprint Retrospective and Continuous Improvement

• Conducting effective Sprint Retrospective meetings.
• Identifying areas for improvement and action items.
• Implementing continuous improvement practices.
• Understanding the importance of psychological safety.
• Fostering a culture of learning and adaptation.

Module 8: Kanban Framework Fundamentals

• Understanding the principles of Kanban.
• Visualizing the workflow with a Kanban board.
• Limiting Work in Progress (WIP).
• Managing flow and lead time.
• Implementing continuous delivery and feedback loops.

Module 9: Kanban Board and Workflow Management

• Designing effective Kanban boards.
• Customizing Kanban boards for specific workflows.
• Utilizing different Kanban metrics (lead time, cycle time, throughput).
• Managing bottlenecks and impediments.
• Implementing pull systems and flow optimization.

Module 10: Agile Estimation and Planning

• Understanding different agile estimation techniques (story points, planning poker, t-shirt sizing).
• Implementing release planning and roadmapping.
• Understanding the concept of velocity and throughput.
• Utilizing agile planning tools and techniques.
• Understanding the importance of transparency and predictability.

Module 11: Agile Metrics and Reporting

• Understanding key agile metrics (velocity, lead time, cycle time, burndown charts).
• Utilizing agile dashboards and reporting tools.
• Tracking progress and identifying trends.
• Communicating project status to stakeholders.
• Understanding the importance of data-driven decision-making.

Module 12: Scaling Agile in Larger Organizations

• Understanding the challenges of scaling agile.
• Exploring different scaling frameworks (SAFe, LeSS, Scrum@Scale).
• Implementing agile portfolio management.
• Understanding the role of agile program management.
• Implementing agile in distributed teams.

Module 13: Agile Tools and Technologies

• Utilizing agile project management tools (Jira, Azure DevOps, Trello).
• Implementing collaboration tools (Slack, Microsoft Teams).
• Understanding the role of automation in agile.
• Integrating agile with DevOps practices.
• Selecting the right tools for your agile team.

Module 14: Agile Leadership and Change Management

• Understanding the role of agile leadership.
• Fostering a culture of collaboration and empowerment.
• Managing organizational change and resistance.
• Implementing agile coaching and mentoring.
• Understanding the importance of servant leadership.

Module 15: Agile Best Practices and Future Trends

• Understanding best practices for agile adoption and implementation.
• Exploring emerging trends in agile project management.
• Implementing agile in non-software development teams.
• Understanding the impact of agile on business agility.
• Continuous learning and professional development in agile.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 5 working days before commencement of the training.