Planning and Managing Agile Projects

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Section 1 – Introduction – Fundamentals of Agility
* Section Learning Objectives
* Exercise 1a – Waterfall – Lean – Agile Simulation
* Simulation 1 – Waterfall
* Simulation 2 – Lean
* Simulation 3 – Agile
* What is Agile?
* The Agile Manifesto – Statement of Values
* The Agile Way
* Agile Principles
* Exercise 1b: Review the Scrum terms and Concepts Cheat Sheet
* High Level Agile Scrum Framework
* Scrum Roles – High Level
* Agile Product Life Cycle (Scrum)
* Agile Scrum in Less than 100 words
* Waterfall vs. Agile
* Exercise 1c: Challenges to Building End-to-end Systems
* Introducing Agile Scrum to the Organization
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 2 – Value Driven Delivery – Identify Case study and Agile Team
* Section Learning Objectives
* Value-Driven Development
* Agile Scrum Characteristic
* Application Lifecycle Management
* Exercise 2a: Select the Case Study
* Assemble the Agile Team
* Committed and Non-Committed
* Product Owner
* Who is the Product Owner
* Identify the Product Owner
* Role of the Product Owner
* Exercise 2b: Select the Product Owner
* Build the Scrum Team
* The Scrum Master
* The Committed Team
* Team Collaboration
* Redefine Traditional Roles
* Exercise 2c: Agile PM and BA
* Exercise 2d: Build the Scrum Team
* Contrast with Waterfall
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 3 – Stakeholder Engagement – Envision the Product
* Section Learning Objectives
* Exercise 3a: Review Agile Checklist
* Stakeholder Engagement
* Stakeholder Needs
* Stakeholder Involvement
* Stakeholder Expectations
* Business Motivation Model
* Product Envisioning – An Agile Best Practice
* Envision Current Operations
* Envision the Product
* Product Vision and Scope
* Articulate Business Functionality
* Articulate Technical Functionality
* Exercise 3b: Product Vision – Goals, Strategies, and Stakeholders
* Agile Realization
* Section Summary and Conclusions
* Exercise 3c – Post-Session Activity: Conduct a Review and Retrospective
Section 4 – the Agile Product Development Life Cycle – Release Planning
* Section Learning Objectives
* Exercise 4a: Adapting to a Change-Driven Project Plan
* Initiate an Agile Project
* Planning in the Agile Product Development Life Cycle
* Initial Release Plan
* Planning Releases – Levels of Planning
* Product-Level Planning
* Prioritize Releases
* Group Initial Product Backlog Items
* Exercise 4b: Create Release Plan
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 5 – Coarse-Grain and Time-Boxed Iterations
* Section Learning Objectives
* Embrace high-Level Vision and Release Plan
* Develop the Product Backlog
* Guidelines for the Product Backlog
* Establish Decision and Acceptance Criteria for User Stories
* Exercise 5a: Decompose Business Functionality
* Estimate Complexity Using Story Points
* Coarse-Grain Estimates
* Planning Poker (Also Scrum Poker)
* Exercise 5b: Estimate Complexity (Coarse-Grain)
* Agile (Scrum) is Time-Boxed
* Project Time-Boxed Considerations
* Establish Core Hours
* Team Velocity
* Project Time-Box
* Exercise 5c: Establish Project Time-Box
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 6 – Plan the Iteration (Part 1)
* Section Learning Objectives
* Sprint Planning
* Sequential vs. Iterative Development
* Iteration planning in context of Agile Unified Process
* Iteration Planning in Context of Business Analysis
* Exercise 6a: Sprint ‘Zero’ Activities
* Spikes
* Master Test
* Backlog Accuracy
* 1st Half of Sprint Planning Meeting
* Sprint Goal and Scope
* Sprint Goal Statements
* Identify PBIs (Product Backlog Items) for the Sprint
* Prioritize User Stories
* User Stories – Start Dialog with Committed Team
* Story Size and Sprint Capacity
* Exercise 6b: Confirm and Refine high-Priority Product Backlog Items
* Section Summary and Conclusions

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Section 7 – Plan the Iteration (Part II)
* Section Learning Objectives
* 2nd Half of Sprint Planning Meeting
* Example of Detail Sprint Planning
* Story Size and Task Size
* Estimate Relative Effort (Fine Grain)
* Planning Poker with Ideal Days
* Sprint Backlog Example
* Exercise 7a: Identify and Estimate Sprint Backlog Tasks
* Commit Backlog Items to the Sprint
* Committing to the Sprint Backlog Alternate Approach
* Finalize the Sprint Plan
* Exercise 7b: Commit to Sprint Plan
* Section Summary and Conclusions
* Exercise 7c: Post-Session Activity: Conduct a Review and Retrospective
Section 8 – Tools and Techniques for Managing Scrums
* Section Learning Objectives
* Manage the Scrum
* Information Radiators
* Manage the Sprint Backlog – Key Points
* Communicate Project Status
* Daily Scrum Meeting
* Scrum Task Board
* Example #2 – Scrum Task Board
* Examples of Task Board Applications
* Burndown Chart
* Sprint Burndown Chart Example
* Product/Release Burndown Chart
* Exercise 8b: Create Information Radiators
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 9 – Running the Sprint – Discovering and Satisfying Requirements
* Section Learning Objectives
* Paradigm Shift in Requirements
* Select ‘Next Priority’ Task
* Elaborate Requirements Details
* Facilitate Team Activities
* Validate Agile Requirements
* Agile Non-Functional Requirements
* Create Test Scenarios and Test Cases from User Stories
* Gaining Customer Acceptance
* Challenges and Opportunities in a Distributed Environment
* Managing Scrums with Daily Stand-Up
* Daily Scrum Rules
* Review: Committed vs. Non-Committed
* Removing Impediments to Progress
* No outside Changes during a Sprint
* Authority to Change Sprint Backlog
* Techniques to Manage Change during Sprint
* Exercise 9b: Hold Daily Scrum and Update Task Board
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 10 – Sprint Review and Retrospective
* Section Learning Objectives
* Traditional Acceptance and Sign-Off
* Exercise 10a: Discuss Iteration Review Checklist
* Sprint Review: Working Product is Showing Progress
* Prepare for Sprint Review
* Verify vs. Validate
* Organizational Readiness
* Definition of Done (DoD)
* Update the Product Backlog
* Input for the Next Sprint
* Exercise 10b: Conduct a Sprint Review
* Sprint Retrospective
* Key Process Indicators
* Continuous Improvement
* Measuring PDLC (Program Development Life Cycle) Maturity
* Sprint Retrospective Guidelines
* Exercise 10c: Conduct a Sprint Retrospective
* Exercise 10d: Pop Quiz!
* Section Summary and Conclusions
Section 11 – Issues with Introducing Agile, Scaling Projects and Boosting Performance
* Section Learning Objectives
* Waterfall Cultural Roots
* Agile Value Proposition
* Is the Organization Ready for Agile? Preconditions
* Scaling with Larger Teams
* The Dangers of Agile Scrum
* Begin with Stakeholder Engagement
* Agile Certified Professional
* Exercise 11a: Review Transitioning Issues
* Section Summary and Conclusions
* Exercise 11b: Conduct a Review and Retrospective
Section 12 – Wrap Up and Additional Information
* Course Learning Objectives Summary
* Agile Product Life Cycle (Scrum)
* Daily Agendas
* Daily Agendas
* Agile Reading List
* Useful Books on Agile
* Useful Books on Agile (Continued)
* Sites
* Questions