Agile Project Management

Introduction: The practice of Iterative and Incremental Development (IID) is central to agile software development. The practice requires creating software in a series of small releases (an increment) and revising and improving previous deliverables in each subsequent release (an iteration). Iterative and Incremental Development contrasts itself with a conventional “Waterfall” process which has directional workflow and one large release at the end of development.

Agile methodologies prescribe IID and teams who master these principles are demonstrably more successful. Unfortunately, many attempts to implement IID have failed. Why? Because actually implementing an IID practice requires changing the way the entire organization relates to development.

Course Description: This class teaches how to manage an IID process by simulating all of the activities found in a typical iteration. It also teaches how to change the development team, and how that team interfaces to the rest of the organization. Take this course to achieve the full benefits of an agile IID team; flexible software, responsive teams, and timely software releases.

Topics Include:

• Learn how to successfully manage an agile IID process.
• Practice planning, tracking and controlling the process.
• Improve communication between team members and business customers; delivering software successfully every time.

Audience: This class is specifically targeted to software project managers and other interested executives.

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisite: Agile Explained highly recommended.

Course Outline:

Introductions

1. Agile Process Change

1.1. Management Expectations

1.2. Developer Expectations

2. Capturing Requirements

2.1. Use Cases and Story Cards

2.2. Splitting Story Cards

2.3. Merging Story Cards

3. Other Requirement Forms

3.1. Sample Screens

3.2. Usability Matrices

4. Agile Interactive Planning

4.1. Reviewing Story Cards

4.2. Estimating Story Cards

4.3. Estimating and Preferencing Records

4.4. Sorting and Ordering Story Cards

4.5. The Planning Table

5. Creating Teams

5.1. Assigning Story Cards

5.2. Building Teams

6. Tracking Progress

6.1. The Planning Board

6.2. Progress Records

6.3. Project Plans

6.4. Unit Tests

6.5. Functional Tests

6.6. Stand-up Meetings

7. Public Progress

7.1. Show and Tell

7.2. Outside Visitors

8. Formal Deliverables

8.1. Business Vision

8.2. Use Cases

8.3. Supplemental Requirements

8.4. Release Plan

8.5. Iteration Plan

8.6. Risk Mitigation Plan

9. Pulling it all Together

10. Questions and Answers