Agile product development: an introduction

A one-day workshop

The aim of this course is to provide an overview of Agile approaches to product development. It explains what Agile is and when and why to use it.

The scope of the programme includes:

  • Background to Agile
  • Benefits of using Agile
  • A selection of Agile methods
  • How to structure an Agile team
  • A range of Agile techniques

The course emphasises the collaborative nature of Agile and the flexibility it offers to customers.

Learning objectives

The principal training objectives for this programme are to help participants understand:

  • Why and when to use Agile
  • How to use Agile
  • The roles involved in Agile development
  • The cultural factors to take into account
  • How to manage Agile developments

Who should attend?

This programme is designed for managers, project managers, team leaders and other people interested in knowing about Agile. While Agile has seen its greatest take-up in IT, this event covers the generic use of Agile. No Agile experience is necessary.

Format

A practical one-day course involving exercises, case studies, formal presentations and tutor-facilitated discussions.

Expert trainer

Steve is a highly experienced and qualified consultant. He first used Agile in the 1990s and has used it in fields as diverse as retail and medical devices.

Steve started as a computer programmer, working for a subsidiary of Nat West bank, before taking on a role in pre-sales consultancy and client training both in the UK and internationally. He became involved in project management in the 1980s while working for a services company. Two spells as a company director saw Steve develop a strong interest in formal methods. A return to full time project management included a series of increasingly complex projects and led to programme and portfolio management roles. He has worked with both on-shore and off-shore teams to deliver change on behalf of his clients. He has been a full time trainer since 2008, predominantly delivering PRINCE2, APMP, PMP and Agile Project Management courses.

Steve has worked for a broad range of clients including Nationwide Building Society, The Post Office, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Environment Agency, Hoover, Corus, British Airways and bmi British Midland as well as a number of banks, local authorities and housing associations.

A highly experienced, popular and professional trainer, Steve’s courses are always much appreciated by the participants.

1 Introduction (Course sponsor and trainer)

  • Why this programme has been developed
  • Review of participants’ needs and objectives

2 Background to Agile

  • Issues with traditional approaches to product development
  • How Agile helps
  • Roots of Agile
  • Agile lifecycles
  • Product v project

3 How Agile works

  • The Agile Manifesto
  • Agile principles
  • Process control: defined v empirical
  • Different Agile methods
  • The Scrum framework
  • DSDM Atern

4 Managing Agile

  • When to use Agile
  • Managing Agile projects
  • Team organisation

5 Agile techniques

  • Daily stand-ups
  • User stories
  • Estimating
  • MoSCoW prioritisation

6 Course review and action planning (Course sponsor present)

  • Are there opportunities to use Agile?
  • What actions should be implemented to adopt Agile?
  • Conclusion

Any questions? Please just give us a call on 01582 463463 – we’re here to help!