Delivering Value and Managing Stakeholders in Agile from Coursera

Unlock the secrets to delivering value and managing stakeholders effectively in Agile environments. This course will equip you with practical knowledge and tools to enhance your project outcomes by focusing on value-driven delivery and stakeholder engagement. Master the skills necessary to prioritize, adapt, and communicate for project success in today's dynamic Agile landscape.

Your journey begins by exploring Value Driven Delivery. Learn to define positive value, mitigate risks, and apply techniques like value stream mapping, story mapping, and Earned Value. Delve into prioritization, risk management, and Agile-specific tools such as burndown charts and velocity tracking. Additionally, gain insights into Agile contracting, Decision Tree Analysis, and the significance of William Deming’s PDCA cycle.

The next phase focuses on managing stakeholders. From defining stakeholders to leveraging personas, user stories, and wireframes, you’ll understand how to keep teams aligned. Discover the importance of communication techniques like face-to-face interaction, information radiators, and Agile soft skills, and uncover leadership principles like conflict resolution, servant leadership, and the distinction between management and leadership.

Designed for Agile practitioners, project managers, and team leaders, this course caters to anyone seeking to improve Agile practices. While no specific prerequisites are required, a basic understanding of Agile concepts will enhance your experience. Suitable for intermediate learners, it provides the right balance of theory and application.

What's inside

Syllabus

Delivering Value in Agile Projects

In this module, we will explore the core concepts of delivering value in Agile projects, emphasizing how to align project outcomes with stakeholder expectations. You’ll learn about prioritization, Value Stream Mapping, and risk management, alongside tools like Story Maps and Earned Value tracking. By the end, you’ll be equipped to understand and implement value-driven delivery practices effectively in Agile environments.

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Provides practical knowledge and tools to enhance project outcomes by focusing on value-driven delivery and stakeholder engagement, which are essential for career advancement

Explores value stream mapping, story mapping, and earned value tracking, which are techniques commonly used in Agile project management to optimize workflows and measure progress

Covers Agile-specific tools such as burndown charts and velocity tracking, which are essential for monitoring project progress and making data-driven decisions

Examines Agile soft skills and servant leadership, which are crucial for fostering collaboration and creating a positive team environment

Requires a basic understanding of Agile concepts, so learners without prior exposure to Agile methodologies may find it challenging to grasp the material

Teaches Agile modeling, which may not be as widely adopted as other Agile practices, potentially limiting its immediate applicability in some organizations

Reviews summary

Agile value delivery and stakeholder management

According to learners, this course provides practical insights and actionable tools for delivering value and managing stakeholders within an Agile framework. Students found the focus on value stream mapping, story mapping, and stakeholder communication techniques particularly beneficial, enabling them to immediately apply concepts to their work. While many felt the course offered new perspectives and reinforced existing knowledge for practitioners, a few reviews suggested some sections felt basic or lacked deep mastery, indicating suitability may depend on the learner's specific experience level. Overall, reviews are largely positive, highlighting the course's relevance and practical value.

Depends on prior Agile experience.

"Good course covering key aspects of value delivery and stakeholder engagement. Some parts felt a bit basic, especially the introductory Agile concepts..."

"I've been working in Agile for a few years, and this course still offered new perspectives."

"Disappointed. The course description said intermediate, but it felt too basic. ... Not for experienced practitioners."

"Seems best suited if you have some Agile background but aren't yet deeply experienced in these specific areas."

Strong emphasis on identifying value.

"The concepts like value stream mapping and story mapping were explained clearly and the practical examples were very helpful."

"The emphasis on understanding and prioritizing VALUE was a game changer."

"The focus on value is exactly what I needed. Learning how to map value streams and use story maps effectively has already improved my team's focus."

"The value-driven approach is key and the course explains it very well."

Techniques for engaging stakeholders.

"Good course covering key aspects of value delivery and stakeholder engagement. ... the sections on communication strategies and servant leadership were very valuable."

"The stakeholder management section gave me practical tools for dealing with challenging project dynamics. Highly recommend this."

"The stakeholder communication part was particularly insightful. I appreciated the focus on soft skills alongside the technical aspects."

"The stakeholder content provided excellent strategies. Well worth the time investment for any Agile professional."

Useful tools & strategies for work.

"This course provided actionable insights into delivering value and managing stakeholders in an agile environment. ... I can immediately apply these techniques at work. Great course for practitioners!"

"Very practical course. The examples were relatable and the frameworks presented are directly applicable. The stakeholder communication part was particularly insightful."

"Highly practical and relevant for anyone working in Agile. ... provided concrete methods for identifying and engaging stakeholders effectively. The balance of theory and practical examples is perfect."

"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."

Mixed views on content level.

"The course covers relevant topics, but I found the pace uneven. Some parts were too slow, others too fast. The explanations of some tools felt superficial."

"Solid course overall. Good coverage of value delivery tools like EVM and prioritization techniques. ... Only minor complaint is some of the videos felt a bit dry."

"Disappointed. The course description said intermediate, but it felt too basic. Much of the material covered is fundamental Agile stuff. The 'deep dive' into tools wasn't that deep."

"Some modules felt rushed or didn't go into enough detail on complex techniques."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Delivering Value and Managing Stakeholders in Agile with these activities:

Review Agile Principles

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Solidify your understanding of the core Agile principles to better grasp the value-driven delivery and stakeholder management concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Agile Principles

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Read the Agile Manifesto and its principles.
Reflect on how these principles apply to project management.
Identify areas where your current understanding is weak.

Review 'Agile Project Management with Scrum'

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Gain a deeper understanding of Scrum, a key Agile framework, to enhance your ability to deliver value and manage stakeholders effectively.

View Agile Project Management with Scrum (Developer... on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on Scrum roles and ceremonies.
Take notes on key concepts and implementation strategies.
Consider how Scrum can be applied in your own projects.

Simulate an Agile Project

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Apply the concepts learned in the course by simulating an Agile project, focusing on value delivery and stakeholder engagement.

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Define a small project with clear objectives.
Identify key stakeholders and their needs.
Use Agile methodologies to plan and execute the project.
Track progress and adapt to changing requirements.

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Create a Stakeholder Communication Plan

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Practice stakeholder management by creating a detailed communication plan tailored to a specific Agile project.

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Identify all stakeholders for a hypothetical project.
Determine their communication preferences and needs.
Develop a plan outlining communication frequency and methods.
Present the plan to peers for feedback.

Review 'Stakeholder Management: A Guide to Stakeholder Engagement'

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Deepen your understanding of stakeholder management principles and practices to improve your ability to engage stakeholders effectively in Agile projects.

View Q & As for the PMBOK® Guide Sixth Edition on Amazon

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Read the book, focusing on stakeholder identification and analysis.
Take notes on key concepts and engagement strategies.
Consider how these strategies can be applied in your own projects.

Develop a Value Stream Map

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Reinforce your understanding of value stream mapping by creating a visual representation of a process and identifying areas for improvement.

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Select a process to map.
Identify all steps in the process.
Measure the time and resources required for each step.
Analyze the map to identify bottlenecks and waste.
Propose improvements to streamline the process.

Mentor Junior Agile Practitioners

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Solidify your knowledge by mentoring others in Agile principles and practices, reinforcing your understanding through teaching.

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Offer guidance to junior practitioners on Agile concepts.
Share your experiences and insights.
Answer questions and provide feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Delivering Value and Managing Stakeholders in Agile will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Agile Project Manager

Agile Project Managers are responsible for guiding Agile teams and ensuring projects are completed successfully. This course directly helps aspiring Agile Project Managers build a foundation in delivering value and managing stakeholders, two crucial aspects of the role. The course will allow one to explore value-driven delivery, risk mitigation, and Agile-specific tools like burndown charts, all essential for managing projects effectively. The segment on managing stakeholders will assist in keeping teams and stakeholders aligned through communication techniques, Agile soft skills, and servant leadership principles. An Agile Project Manager understands the importance of practices taught in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Project Manager

Agile Coach

An Agile Coach guides organizations in adopting and improving Agile practices. This course directly prepares individuals to become more effective Agile Coaches by providing a strong foundation in value delivery and stakeholder management. The course's exploration of Agile principles, tools, and communication techniques can empower Agile Coaches to mentor teams and organizations. Understanding of conflict resolution, servant leadership, and the distinction between management and leadership can further enhance an Agile Coach’s ability to drive organizational change and foster a culture of continuous improvement. An Agile Coach knows the value of this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Product Owner

A Product Owner defines and prioritizes the product backlog, ensuring the development team builds the right features to maximize value. This course can help Product Owners to better grasp value-driven delivery techniques such as value stream mapping and story mapping which are crucial for defining the product vision and roadmap. The understanding of stakeholder personas, user stories, and wireframes will allow Product Owners to effectively communicate requirements and gather feedback. Furthermore, the leadership skills emphasized in the course, such as servant leadership, can enable Product Owners to lead and inspire their teams to achieve common goals. A product owner must effectively manage value delivery.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Owner

Scrum Master

A Scrum Master facilitates Agile project development, ensuring the team adheres to Scrum principles and delivers value. This course may be particularly beneficial as it emphasizes both value delivery and stakeholder management, core responsibilities of a Scrum Master. The focus on Agile-specific tools like burndown charts and velocity tracking helps build a foundation for effective project monitoring and adaptation. Additionally, the skills in communication techniques and conflict resolution can assist a Scrum Master in fostering a collaborative and productive team environment. A Scrum Master can use the tools gained in this course to better perform their job.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Iteration Manager

An Iteration Manager facilitates and manages the workflow of an Agile team during each iteration or sprint. The course can be valuable for Iteration Managers to optimize their processes. The focus on value-driven delivery, risk management, and Agile-specific tools such as burndown charts helps Iteration Managers build successful sprints. Also, the emphasis on communication techniques and Agile soft skills enables Iteration Managers to foster a more collaborative and productive team environment. An Iteration Manager is expected to be proficient in the skills this course teaches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Iteration Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the strategy, roadmap, and feature definition of a product. This course can allow Product Managers to improve communication. The skills in communication techniques and conflict resolution can assist a Product Manager in fostering a collaborative and productive team environment. A Product Manager must effectively manage value delivery. This course helps develop the skills to do so.

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Change Manager

Change Managers guide organizations through transitions by managing the people side of change. This course can be particularly beneficial for Change Managers working in Agile environments. The focus on stakeholder management and communication techniques can enable Change Managers to effectively engage stakeholders and facilitate buy-in during organizational changes. The understanding of Agile principles and practices can help Change Managers adapt their change management strategies to align with Agile methodologies. A Change Manager must be skilled at negotiating change.

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Team Lead

Team Leads guide and support their team members, ensuring project tasks are completed effectively. This course may be helpful for Team Leads to enhance their leadership skills within an Agile environment. The emphasis on communication techniques, conflict resolution, and servant leadership can enable Team Leads to build a cohesive and productive team. By understanding stakeholder management, Team Leads can also improve their ability to align team efforts with project goals. Team Leads need to know how to lead their team.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst identifies business needs and translates them into actionable requirements for development teams. This course may be helpful for Business Analysts looking to enhance their Agile skillset. The module on value-driven delivery can empower Business Analysts to prioritize features that align with business objectives, maximizing project value. The section on managing stakeholders can allow Business Analysts to improve their communication and collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring everyone is aligned on project goals. A Business Analyst can greatly benefit from having the skills taught in this course.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Coordinator

Project Coordinators assist project managers in organizing and managing project activities. This course may be useful for Project Coordinators seeking to enhance their Agile project management skills. By understanding value-driven delivery practices and stakeholder management techniques, Project Coordinators can better support project managers in achieving project goals. The course provides a high-level view of communications and best practices in Agile projects. Project Coordinators can use this knowledge to improve communication and collaboration within the project team. This course teaches the skills needed to be a better coordinator.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Coordinator

Program Manager

Program Managers oversee multiple related projects to achieve strategic business goals. This course may be helpful for Program Managers who work in Agile environments or wish to incorporate Agile practices into their programs. The focus on value-driven delivery can enable Program Managers to ensure that projects align with strategic objectives and deliver maximum value. By learning how to manage stakeholders effectively, Program Managers can improve communication and collaboration across multiple project teams. Program Managers are often required to be experts at stakeholder management.

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Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers oversee a collection of projects and programs to achieve organizational objectives. This course may be valuable for Portfolio Managers who wish to enhance their understanding of Agile methodologies and apply them to portfolio management. By understanding value-driven delivery, Portfolio Managers can prioritize investments and projects to maximize return on investment. Learning how to manage stakeholders effectively can enable Portfolio Managers to align portfolio activities with stakeholder expectations. A Portfolio Manager must know how to guide their stakeholders.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants advise organizations on improving their performance and efficiency. Organizations often seek Management Consultants with expertise in Agile methodologies. This course can help Management Consultants build a foundation in Agile principles and practices, particularly in the areas of value delivery and stakeholder management. The course's teachings can enhance a Management Consultant's ability to assess organizational needs, design solutions, and guide clients in adopting Agile methodologies. Management Consultants need hard skills and people skills.

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Chief Technology Officer

A Chief Technology Officer is responsible for overseeing an organization's technology strategy and ensuring that its technological resources are aligned with its business goals. This course may be helpful for a Chief Technology Officer, as it focuses on Agile project management and stakeholder management, which are crucial for aligning technology initiatives with business value. The emphasis on communication techniques and conflict resolution can enable a Chief Technology Officer to effectively lead and manage technology teams. The CTO knows the value of communication.

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Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officers are responsible for the overall strategic direction and success of an organization. This course may be helpful for Chief Executive Officers, as it focuses on stakeholder management and value-driven delivery, which are crucial for aligning organizational goals with stakeholder expectations. The emphasis on communication techniques and conflict resolution can enable Chief Executive Officers to effectively lead and manage diverse teams. The CEO uses these skills to ensure their success.

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Delivering Value and Managing Stakeholders in Agile

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Reviews summary

Agile value delivery and stakeholder management

Activities

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