About the course
This 1-day Agile introduction empowers participants to grasp the practical benefits of Agile Development and Product Management, focusing on Scrum and Kanban.
The workshop clarifies Agile fundamentals, dispels misconceptions, and uses team-based demonstrations, discussions, and exercises to explore essential Scrum and Kanban components (roles, tools, events, and artifacts) and their application in real-world scenarios.
Tailored for Agile newcomers, the session clarifies core concepts, addresses common misconceptions, and uses engaging activities and case studies to illustrate the key roles, tools, events, and artifacts of Scrum and Kanban.
You'll be guided by a seasoned practitioner who will bring their commercial experience of large-scale Agile transformations and working with Scrum and Kanban to bring value to your session.
Online and in-house face-to-face options are available - as part of a wider customised training programme, or as a standalone workshop, on-site at your offices or at one of many flexible meeting spaces in the UK and around the World.
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- Define Agile and differentiate between Agile principles and methodologies.
- Explain the core values and principles of the Agile Manifesto.
- Describe the Scrum framework, including roles, artifacts, and events.
- Describe the Kanban method and its core principles.
- Identify and apply common Agile techniques.
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This workshop is designed for individuals and teams exploring Agile methodologies, including:
Managers and Project Managers
Business Owners and Product Managers
Team Leaders
Developers and Testers
Business Analysts
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Participants should have a general understanding of how software / digital products are developed and the business context in which it is delivered. No prior Agile experience is required.
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This Intro to Agile course is available for private / custom delivery for your team - as an in-house face-to-face workshop at your location of choice, or as online instructor-led training via MS Teams (or your own preferred platform).
Get in touch to find out how we can deliver tailored training which focuses on your project requirements and learning goals.
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Introductions
Facilitator and participant introductions.
Brief overview of the day's agenda and learning objectives.
What do you want from the training?
Interactive session to gather participant expectations and goals.
Identifying specific challenges or pain points that you hope Agile can address.
Ensuring the workshop is tailored to the audience's needs.
Clustering the requirements
Group activity to categorise participant needs and expectations.
Identifying common themes and challenges related to current ways of working.
Connecting these themes to potential Agile solutions.
Overview of what “Agile” really means
Defining Agile: Beyond a methodology, a mindset and a set of principles.
The Agile Umbrella: Exploring various Agile frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, XP, etc.).
Agile Principles vs. Methodologies: Understanding the difference.
When Agile is a good fit (and when it might not be).
Discussing the history of Agile and the context in which it emerged.
Agile Manifesto
Exploration of the four values and twelve principles of the Agile Manifesto.
Relating the manifesto to practical application in software development and other contexts.
Delivering Business Value
Customer-centricity and value-driven development.
How Agile prioritises delivering valuable increments frequently.
Minimum Viable Product (MVP).
How Agile helps organisations respond to change and market demands.
Introduction to Kanban
Overview of the Kanban Method: Visualising workflow and limiting work in progress.
Key Kanban principles: Visualise workflow, limit WIP, manage flow, make process policies explicit, improve collaboratively.
Kanban board basics: Columns, swimlanes, and cards.
Basic Kanban metrics: Cycle time, Throughput.
Scrum Fundamentals (Roles, Artifacts, Events)
In-depth explanation of Scrum roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team.
Detailed look at Scrum artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment.
Comprehensive overview of Scrum events: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective.
Success Stories - Scrum Case Studies
Real-world examples of successful Scrum implementations in various industries.
Highlighting the benefits and outcomes achieved through Scrum.
Discussing challenges and how they were overcome.
Using Scrum
A practical walk-through of a typical Scrum workflow.
From product backlog to sprint planning, execution, and review.
Iterative and incremental delivery.
Agile Techniques
Overview of common Agile techniques and practices.
Detailed explanation of:
User Stories: Writing effective user stories.
Backlogs: Managing and prioritising product backlogs.
Burndown Charts: Tracking progress within a sprint.
Acceptance Criteria: Defining clear criteria for "Done."
Agile Estimation and Velocity
Introduction to Agile estimation techniques: Planning Poker, relative sizing.
Understanding the concept of story points.
Defining and tracking team velocity.
Using velocity for sprint planning and forecasting.
Continuous Improvement – Culture Change and Overcoming Dysfunction
The importance of a culture of continuous improvement in Agile.
The role of retrospectives in identifying and addressing issues.
Strategies for overcoming common dysfunctions in teams and organisations.
Discussing the Agile mindset and its impact on organisational culture.
Next Steps
Summarising key takeaways and action items.
Providing resources for further learning (books, websites, training).
Encouraging participants to apply Agile principles in their own contexts.
Q&A
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https://agilemanifesto.org/ - read the original Agile Manifesto
https://scrumguides.org/ - read the Scrum Guide over a nice cup of tea
https://kanbanize.com/kanban-resources/getting-started/what-is-kanban - A practical guide to understanding and implementing Kanban.
...Look for these Books too:"Agile Estimating and Planning" by Mike Cohn: - A highly recommended book for those wanting to learn more about Agile estimation.
"Kanban" by David J. Anderson: - A comprehensive guide to the Kanban method.
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