Leader

Introduction to Agile & Scrum

Network: 
ISA Software Skillnet
Duration 9.00am - 5.00pm.
Comment While agile has provided the solutions for many software development problems, it is not a silver bullet and has still to overcome issues that more traditional project development lifecycles handle. The role of the traditional project manager typically changes from managing a team with a sequential lifecycle to facilitating an empowered team working in an iterative and incremental manner. Traditional planning and estimating processes need to be adapted to handle this new environment. Different practices, tools, testing strategies, roles, etc. need to be defined/agreed to maximise the chances of success for agile projects. Agile methods such as Scrum typically need augmentation to work in specific contexts and roles such as ScrumMaster and Product Owner need interpretation to your environment.

This course will provide those looking to work on Agile/Scrum teams with the competencies and skills required to effectively combine the processes, people and technologies for a successful Agile/Scrum delivery. Exercises are used to get hands on experience with the practices presented. It focuses on the Scrum method but references practices from other agile methods such as eXtreme Programming (XP) and also from Lean Software Development and Kanban. It also introduces ways to apply Agile practices successfully and ensure a sustainable transition, so that Agile becomes the standard approach for projects.
Course Fee Non Members Fee: €450

Fee to Software Skillnet members after grant aid is €350 per person

Subjects Taught Overview of Agile Values/Principles
• Agile values, principles and practices
• Explain the essence of agile methods in terms of the significant mindset change required
• Exercise: discussion of participant’s issues/challenges with agile from pre-course questionnaires

Overview of agile methods
• Key concepts in agile and lean and how it differs from Waterfall/Plan driven
• Overview of Scrum, XP and Kanban
• Benefits of agile

Key elements of Scrum
• Overview of Scrum ceremonies and artifacts
• Roles and responsibilities in Scrum teams

Requirements in Scrum
• Customer/user involvement and managing requirements in agile
• Vision, themes, epics and stories
• User stories

Planning and estimation with Scrum
• The need for estimation with incremental development
• Estimation for user stories: story points
• Additional estimation options
• Project velocity and sustainable development
• Project and Release planning
• Iteration/Sprint planning – timeboxing and prioritisation
• Principles of team board design

Working as a Scrum team
• Daily scrums
• The implications of self-direction
• Monitoring and reporting
• Backlogs and burndowns
• Project reviews and retrospectives
• Metrics in agile

Agile Development and Testing Practices
• Continuous integration
• Emergent design
• Test Driven Development (TDD) and refactoring, structural coverage
• Coding standards, code reviews, static analysis
• Agile test strategies

Pitfalls and Lessons Learnt
• This module will discuss some of the risks and common pitfalls experienced in practice by Scrum teams and how these can be avoided.

Summary and next steps

Action planning and transitioning steps

Enrolment and Start Dates Comment Tuesday 30th and Wednesday 31st July 2013
Course Content Overview
While agile has provided the solutions for many software development problems, it is not a silver bullet and has still to overcome issues that more traditional project development lifecycles handle. The role of the traditional project manager typically changes from managing a team with a sequential lifecycle to facilitating an empowered team working in an iterative and incremental manner. Traditional planning and estimating processes need to be adapted to handle this new environment. Different practices, tools, testing strategies, roles, etc. need to be defined/agreed to maximise the chances of success for agile projects. Agile methods such as Scrum typically need augmentation to work in specific contexts and roles such as ScrumMaster and Product Owner need interpretation to your environment.

This course will provide those looking to work on Agile/Scrum teams with the competencies and skills required to effectively combine the processes, people and technologies for a successful Agile/Scrum delivery. Exercises are used to get hands on experience with the practices presented. It focuses on the Scrum method but references practices from other agile methods such as eXtreme Programming (XP) and also from Lean Software Development and Kanban. It also introduces ways to apply Agile practices successfully and ensure a sustainable transition, so that Agile becomes the standard approach for projects.

Entry Requirements This course is intended for Project Managers, Team Leaders as well as cross-functional team members such as Developers, Testers, DBAs, Business Analysts, etc. and project support personnel who will benefit from an understanding of Agile/Scrum.
Further Enquiries Susan Kelly
Tel: 086 806 7200
Email: susan@isa-skillnet.com
Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

•Describe and contrast the main agile/lean methods Scrum, XP and Kanban
•Describe SCRUM and how variations or hybrid approaches (utilising elements of agile with more traditional approaches) are sometimes implemented in practice
•Map appropriate roles for Scrum teams from your current teams
•Define and use user stories
•Perform planning and estimation in an agile environment
•Perform key Scrum ceremonies such as standups, retrospectives, etc.
•Define appropriate development and testing practices for agile projects, keeping control of quality in an Agile lifecycle and avoiding the common pitfalls
•Undertake steps needed to get started with Scrum on your project
•Use Scrum with distributed teams
•Use appropriate metrics for agile
•Avoid the common pitfalls with Agile/Scrum

Location of Course Monaghan, Member Premises, Location to be confirmed.
Course Web Page: 
http://www.isa-skillnet.com/Training_Programmes/88#ss640
Available to Job Seekers: 
No
Certified: 
No
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