We may not have the course you’re looking for. If you enquire or give us a call on +353 12338944 and speak to our training experts, we may still be able to help with your training requirements.
Training Outcomes Within Your Budget!
We ensure quality, budget-alignment, and timely delivery by our expert instructors.
The software development process is incomplete without project management. It is an important step in making the product more efficient and successful.
According to a study, companies that employ project management practices tend to waste 28% less money and their projects tend to be 2.5 times more successful. Project Management helps developers finish a project successfully while staying within budget and delivering benefits.
A Project Management lifecycle usually involves five phases:
1) Initiation
2) Planning
3) Execution
4) Performance/monitoring
5) Closure
Over time, a bunch of Project Management methodologies have been developed. The traditional methodology works step-by-step through the Project Management lifecycle, starting with initiation and ending with closure. This approach includes internal steps within each phase that take place in a chronological order.
This method came to be known as the Waterfall model. It was initially used in the manufacturing industry and soon found its way into software development.
The Waterfall Model includes the following steps:
◙ Requirements specification
◙ Design
◙ Implementation
◙ Verification
◙ Maintenance
In this method, more than 40% of the time and budget is spent on planning and specification, the first step. Moreover, the order of the model has to be strictly adhered to. When working with properly structured projects in the case of just one product, the Waterfall Model almost never misses.
But employing the intensive planning, documentation and controlled environment of the model in software development doesn’t work all that well. It tends to be time-consuming, heavy on the pocket, and lacks flexibility. This, in turn, leads to the wastage of a lot of resources and eventually, project failure.
This is where the Agile approach to Project Management comes into the picture. Before discussing it in more detail, let’s take a look at the topics we’ll be talking about in this blog.
A) What is Agile methodology?
B) The different phases of Agile methodology
C) What are the benefits of Agile methodology?
D) Are there some drawbacks of Agile methodology?
E) Agile Project Management methodologies
F) Scrum
G) Kanban
H) Scrumban
I) Agile Project Management Certifications
What is Agile methodology?
The philosophy of Agile Project Management was introduced to help make software development a more flexible and efficient process. Approximately 94% of organizations have successfully adopted Agile, which has become the industry standard for Project Management.
Agile has its roots in 1957, when three software developers were trying out techniques for IBM and Motorola. They didn’t classify the approach they were taking but, they did acknowledge its dissimilarity to Waterfall. It took another few decades for the modern Agile approach to be introduced. In 2001, 17 software developers sat down to find alternative methods of Project Management. Their approach was properly explained in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development.
Agile Project Management is a repetitive approach to software development that works on continuous releases and includes customer feedback in every iteration. Teams using Agile Project Management have reported an increase in speed, collaboration, and responsiveness. In APM, the project is broken down into small cycles called sprints. This is known as a single development cycle. A project team composed of project stakeholders critiques each sprint and the next step in the project is based on their review.
Get trained in Agile Project Management! Join our Agile Training courses today!
The different phases of Agile methodology
There are five main phases in the Agile Project Management process:
A) Envision – The first phase of the model, this is where the project is first conceptualised. The team identifies what the customer needs are and who all will be working on it.
B) Speculate – In this phase, the first requirements are listed down. The team then brainstorms together to create a list of features for the product and then creates milestones for the timeline.
C) Explore – At this phase, the team members come up with alternatives to reach all project goals while staying within constraints. This phase works parallelly to the Adapt phase.
D) Adapt – Teams review the results delivered and then adapt as required. In this phase, corrections are implemented according to the customer’s perspective. Feedback is really important, and each part of the project needs to meet the customer requirements.
E) Close – In the final phase, all teams make sure that the project is completed. The deliverable is tested against the customer requirements. Whatever mistakes are pointed out, are mulled over and a contingency plan is put in place to avoid these mistakes in the future.
Become a certified Agile project manager. Find our more in our Agile Project Management Foundation & Practitioner (AgilePM) course today!
What are the benefits of Agile methodology?
Now that we know what it is, let’s talk about the advantages of Agile Project Management.
◙ Agile project managers choose designers to create models according to their strengths
◙ Resources are used efficiently, which reduces the deployment time
◙ Teams are more flexible and adaptable to the changing requirements
◙ Problems are identified and resolved quickly
◙ Better collaboration
◙ Goals and processes can be defined as the process goes on
Are there some drawbacks of Agile methodology?
There are a few disadvantages of Agile Project Management as well:
◙ Since goals and processes aren’t clearly defined at the start, the project could go off track. This would lead to the project not meeting requirements
◙ Agile Project Management is dependent on quick decisions and hence, it isn’t ideal for companies that like to dwell on their issues
◙ Communication hurdles could affect potential collaborations which can have a negative impact on the end product
Want to get certified in the Scaled Agile Framework? Check out our SAFe 5.1 Training!
Let’s talk about the Agile Project Management methodologies
Let’s delve deeper into Agile Project Management and discuss some of the most popular Agile Project Management methodologies
What is Scrum?
Scrum is frequently mentioned under the Agile Project Management methodologies but it’s actually a framework that utilizes intervals of fixed time and divides projects into sprints. The work is divided into four ceremonies or events that structure every sprint.
There are three fixed roles in Scrum:
◙ Product Owner
◙ Scrum Master
◙ Team
The customers and stakeholders are the Product Owners as they manage and organise the product backlog. A product backlog is a task list of all the work items required according to priority. The Scrum Master is the team leader who makes sure everyone understands and follows the rules. The Team is composed of cross-functional team members who get work done.
Work items are chosen from the product backlog and added to the sprint backlog. This process is repeated until the sprint capacity is reached.
The Four Ceremonies of Scrum
Sprint Planning |
Daily Scrum |
Sprint Review |
Sprint Retrospective |
The team collaborates and discusses the work priority and decides the goal for the sprint. |
The development team meets every day to check progress towards the sprint. |
After each sprint, the team meets to review the work they have done. |
The team meets to discuss what worked and what didn’t. |
The Scrum Master is responsible for making the meeting happen. The Product Owner defines the goal and attends to any questions the development team might have. |
The team evaluates each other’s work, extends helps, and monitors progress. The goal is to make sure the team is on track and adapts if needed. |
The stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback. The product backlog is adjusted as necessary and the Product Owners can choose to release any features they want. |
The team comes up with solutions to improve their processes. |
Duration: A maximum of eight hours. |
Duration: 15 minutes or less. |
Duration: A maximum of four hours. |
Duration: A maximum of three hours. |
Now, what is a Scrum Board?
Scrum teams use a Scrum Board to help visualise all the work in each sprint. The moving of items within backlogs is also done on the board. Scrum Boards usually have work items categorized into columns like To-Do, In Progress, and Done. It was introduced to increase transparency and collaboration in Agile Project Management.
Become a Scrum Master. Join our Scrum Master Certification course!
What is Kanban?
Kanban is an Agile Project Management Methodology that focuses on continuously improving processes and matching work to a team’s capacity. Kanban makes sure the work is done quicker so the teams can respond to changes faster.
Work in Kanban is always in the To-Do column and there are usually no backlogs. As soon as one work is done, the team is able to quickly move on to the next one. There are four main components:
List of work |
Columns or lanes |
Work in Progress Limits (WIP) |
Continuous Releases |
List of work lists out the work that needs to be done. |
Columns or lanes are used on Kanban boards to differentiate between users, projects, workstreams, etc. |
WIP Limits help limit the work according to a team’s capacity. |
Teams work according to the list of work staying with the WIP Limit, to facilitate a release anytime necessary. |
What is a Kanban Board now?
A Kanban Board is similar to a Scrum Board. It helps the team visualise their work and plan resources. The board is divided into columns the work passes through as it is done. Work stays in the To-Do column until the WIP Limit deems it feasible for it to be worked on.
Get your Kanban certification today! Check out our Certified Kanban Foundation and Practitioner Training!
Scrumban?
Scrumban is an effective and efficient amalgamation of Scrum and Kanban. It includes the philosophy and practices of Kanban and mixes it with Scrum.
The combined philosophy includes the following components:
◙ Work visualisation – The board stays, and helps teams visualise all the work.
◙ WIP Limits – Taking the best of Kanban, the WIP Limits helps shift the focus on finishing work.
◙ Extended Board – In Scrumban, more columns are added to the board. This helps increase transparency and everyone knows where things are.
◙ Priority List – Work is sorted according to the priority and is assigned in that order.
◙ Less Planning – Scrumban keeps the planning sessions short so people spend more time working instead of predicting results.
◙ Planning on Demand – In Scrumban, the team can plan for work if a need arises.
Become a certified professional in Agile Project Management! Enrol in our Certified Professional in Agile Project Management (CPAPM) training today!
Considering getting an Agile Project Management certification?
If reading everything about Agile Project Management has got you considering it as a career choice, we’ve got all the information you need! The best way to become an Agile Project Management professional is by obtaining certification. A certification will help validate your skills and your dedication to project management.
Let’s look at some of the best Agile Project Management Certifications you can consider:
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) certification is recommended for managers who have extensive experience in Agile. This certification can help you make better decisions about choosing the right methods for projects, increasing productivity, and therefore finishing projects quicker.
The average annual salary for someone with this certification is £49,000 according to Payscale.
Become a PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)! Enrol in our PMI-ACP Certification Training today!
AgilePM Foundation
The AgilePM Foundation certification is meant for people who want to become Agile project managers. It will help you develop your decision-making skills and teach you how to manage projects. You will also learn how to properly assign roles and responsibilities to members in different departments.
According to Glassdoor, individuals with an AgilePM Foundation certification can earn a £50,943 average annual salary.
Want to become an Agile Project Manager? Join our AgilePM Foundation certification course today!
SAFe Agilist
The SAFe Agilist certification is best suited for individuals who have some experience in Scrum and professionals who want to advance their careers. This certification will help you learn the scaled fundamentals of Agile so you can develop workflow patterns.
The average annual salary of a SAFe Agilist is £57,000 according to Payscale.
Check out our SAFe Agilist certification course and take the first step towards a better future!
PRINCE2 Agile Project Management
The PRINCE2 Agile Project Management certification combines Agile methodologies with PRINCE2 (Projects in Controlled Environments 2). This certification will teach you how to better manage projects in Agile.
According to Payscale, the average annual salary for individuals with a PRINCE2 Agile Project Management certification is £47,000.
Prepare for the PRINCE2 Agile certification exam with our PRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner course!
Certified Scrum Master
The Certified Scrum Master certification is meant for team leads who want to become Scrum Masters. This certification will teach you how to assign tasks, manage them, and use flexibility to your advantage.
The average annual salary for a Certified Scrum Master is £59,000.
Take the next step in your career, check out our Scrum Master Certification course today!
Conclusion
Agile Project Management and its methodologies offer flexibility and adaptability to companies. With Agile, companies are better equipped to handle changes. The methodology a company decides to go with depends on its specific needs and what they want to achieve. If you want to know more about Agile Project Management, check out our Agile Project Management courses!
Frequently Asked Questions
Upcoming Project Management Resources Batches & Dates
Date
Mon 6th Jan 2025
Sat 11th Jan 2025, Sun 12th Jan 2025
Mon 13th Jan 2025
Mon 20th Jan 2025
Mon 27th Jan 2025
Mon 3rd Feb 2025
Sat 8th Feb 2025, Sun 9th Feb 2025
Mon 10th Feb 2025
Mon 17th Feb 2025
Mon 24th Feb 2025
Mon 3rd Mar 2025
Sat 8th Mar 2025, Sun 9th Mar 2025
Mon 10th Mar 2025
Mon 17th Mar 2025
Mon 24th Mar 2025
Mon 31st Mar 2025
Sat 5th Apr 2025, Sun 6th Apr 2025
Mon 7th Apr 2025
Mon 14th Apr 2025
Tue 22nd Apr 2025
Mon 28th Apr 2025
Sat 3rd May 2025, Sun 4th May 2025
Tue 6th May 2025
Mon 12th May 2025
Mon 19th May 2025
Tue 27th May 2025
Mon 2nd Jun 2025
Sat 7th Jun 2025, Sun 8th Jun 2025
Mon 9th Jun 2025
Mon 16th Jun 2025
Mon 23rd Jun 2025
Mon 30th Jun 2025
Sat 5th Jul 2025, Sun 6th Jul 2025
Mon 7th Jul 2025
Mon 14th Jul 2025
Mon 21st Jul 2025
Mon 28th Jul 2025
Sat 2nd Aug 2025, Sun 3rd Aug 2025
Mon 4th Aug 2025
Mon 11th Aug 2025
Mon 18th Aug 2025
Tue 26th Aug 2025
Mon 1st Sep 2025
Sat 6th Sep 2025, Sun 7th Sep 2025
Mon 8th Sep 2025
Mon 15th Sep 2025
Mon 22nd Sep 2025
Mon 29th Sep 2025
Mon 6th Oct 2025
Sat 11th Oct 2025, Sun 12th Oct 2025
Mon 13th Oct 2025
Mon 20th Oct 2025
Mon 27th Oct 2025
Sat 1st Nov 2025, Sun 2nd Nov 2025
Mon 3rd Nov 2025
Mon 10th Nov 2025
Mon 17th Nov 2025
Mon 24th Nov 2025
Mon 1st Dec 2025
Sat 6th Dec 2025, Sun 7th Dec 2025
Mon 8th Dec 2025
Mon 15th Dec 2025