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Alex Cowan
While agile has become the de facto standard for managing digital innovation teams, many wonder if they’re doing it ‘right’. Twitter is full of jokes about how teams say they do agile but don’t ‘really’ do it. The reality is that getting the most out of agile is less about observing specific procedures and more about how a team focuses and measures their progress.
Read more
While agile has become the de facto standard for managing digital innovation teams, many wonder if they’re doing it ‘right’. Twitter is full of jokes about how teams say they do agile but don’t ‘really’ do it. The reality is that getting the most out of agile is less about observing specific procedures and more about how a team focuses and measures their progress.
Read more
While agile has become the de facto standard for managing digital innovation teams, many wonder if they’re doing it ‘right’. Twitter is full of jokes about how teams say they do agile but don’t ‘really’ do it. The reality is that getting the most out of agile is less about observing specific procedures and more about how a team focuses and measures their progress.
Rather than just boring you with an accounting of agile methodologies, this course focuses on helping you better charter your team’s focus, definition of success, and practice of agile. While learning about agile mainstays like Scrum, XP, and kanban, you’ll also learn to help your team ask the right questions about how they’re working and facilitate good answers on how agile can help.
This course is supported by the Batten Institute at UVA’s Darden School of Business. The Batten Institute’s mission is to improve the world through entrepreneurship and innovation: www.batteninstitute.org.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/do28f4/managing
What's inside
Syllabus
The Agile Team
This week we’ll introduce the four fundamental jobs of software development to help you define what’s important to your team and, hence, which of the many agile practices might make the most sense for you to try out. Then we’ll talk about achieving alignment with your company while maintaining autonomy through an agile team charter. We’ll close by stepping through the leading agile methodologies--Scrum, XP, and kanban. You’ll finish the week with an understanding of how to pair what’s important to your team with the best of what agile has to offer.
Read more
Syllabus
The Agile Team
This week we’ll introduce the four fundamental jobs of software development to help you define what’s important to your team and, hence, which of the many agile practices might make the most sense for you to try out. Then we’ll talk about achieving alignment with your company while maintaining autonomy through an agile team charter. We’ll close by stepping through the leading agile methodologies--Scrum, XP, and kanban. You’ll finish the week with an understanding of how to pair what’s important to your team with the best of what agile has to offer.
Read more
Learning and Deciding
One of the most critical focal points for any team is facilitating a focus on outcomes over output. Without this, you’ll never graduate from responding to requests about your to-do list of output to driving better user outcomes that move the needle for your company. This week, you’ll learn how to define and prioritize what’s important to your team in the areas of learning and deciding, and to pair those with relevant agile practices from Scrum, XP, and kanban.
Building and Managing
This week we’ll dive into the jobs of building software and the core management jobs in running an agile team. Agile--and XP in particular--offers a rich body of work on specific coding practices. We’ll step through a few of the most prominent and discuss key linkages with the other concepts and practices you’ve learned. On the job of managing, we’ll dive deeper into what that means and what works in an agile context.
Practicing Agile
Now that you’ve learned about the four jobs of software development, you’ll have a chance to think through how they relate to your work in this week’s peer-reviewed assignment. You’ll finish the course with a clear plan to accomplish the jobs of learning, deciding, building, and managing for your project.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , and
possible dealbreakers
Provides a framework for understanding the four fundamental jobs of software development, helping learners define what's important to their team
Incorporates principles from Scrum, XP, and Kanban, providing a comprehensive understanding of agile methodologies
Teaches how to prioritize learning and focus on outcomes, enabling teams to drive better user outcomes
Covers specific coding practices from XP, offering guidance on how to incorporate these into agile development
Designed for teams with experience in digital innovation, requiring learners to have background knowledge in agile concepts
Emphasizes team charter and autonomy, fostering alignment with company goals while maintaining team independence
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Reviews summary
Weak agile team management
Learners say this Agile Team Management course has good course content, but there is concern about the difficulty of the content.
Content is good.
"Good coerce content."
Course content can be difficult to follow.
"concern about the difficulty of the content."
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 Managing an Agile Team with these
activities:
Review 'Agile Software Development with Scrum'
Show steps
Undertake a comprehensive review of 'Agile Software Development with Scrum' to solidify understanding of agile principles and practices.
Show steps
-
Read each chapter thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts and techniques.
-
Engage in group discussions or forums to share insights and clarify understanding.
-
Apply the concepts to a personal or work project to gain hands-on experience.
Explore Agile Case Studies and Best Practices
Show steps
Delve into real-world examples of agile implementation through guided tutorials, gaining valuable insights from industry leaders.
Show steps
-
Identify reputable sources for agile case studies.
-
Select a case study that aligns with your interests or industry.
-
Follow the tutorial and take notes on the key takeaways.
-
Discuss the case study with peers or mentors to exchange perspectives.
Develop a Presentation on Scaled Agile Frameworks
Show steps
Craft a captivating presentation on scaled agile frameworks, exploring their benefits and implementation strategies.
Browse courses on
Agile Management
Show steps
-
Research and gather information on various scaled agile frameworks.
-
Identify a specific framework to focus on.
-
Develop a clear and engaging presentation outline.
-
Design and create visually appealing slides.
-
Practice and refine the presentation to enhance delivery skills.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Kanban Board Management
Show steps
Engage in repetitive exercises to master the techniques of Kanban board management, improving workflow efficiency.
Browse courses on
Kanban
Show steps
-
Set up a Kanban board for a personal or work project.
-
Create cards and assign them to different columns based on status.
-
Practice moving cards through the workflow stages.
-
Monitor the board and identify areas for improvement.
-
Experiment with different Kanban techniques and tools.
Attend a Workshop on Agile Estimation Techniques
Show steps
Develop proficiency in agile estimation techniques through a practical workshop, improving your ability to accurately forecast project timelines.
Browse courses on
Agile Estimation
Show steps
-
Research and select a reputable workshop on agile estimation.
-
Attend the workshop and actively participate in exercises.
-
Apply the techniques to real-world projects to refine your skills.
-
Share your knowledge with team members to improve estimation practices.
Build a Personal Agile Management Platform
Show steps
Initiate a practical project involving the creation of an agile management platform, providing a tangible application of course concepts.
Browse courses on
Agile Management
Show steps
-
Define the scope and requirements for the platform.
-
Research and select suitable tools and technologies.
-
Design and develop the platform, incorporating agile principles.
-
Test and iterate on the platform to ensure functionality and user-friendliness.
-
Deploy the platform and monitor its usage to identify areas for improvement.
Contribute to Open-Source Agile Tools
Show steps
Engage in the open-source community by contributing to agile tools, gaining hands-on experience and enhancing your understanding of agile principles.
Browse courses on
Agile Development
Show steps
-
Identify a reputable open-source agile tool to contribute to.
-
Review the project documentation and codebase.
-
Identify areas where you can make valuable contributions.
-
Create and submit pull requests with your contributions.
-
Collaborate with other contributors to improve the tool.
Review 'Agile Software Development with Scrum'
Show steps
Undertake a comprehensive review of 'Agile Software Development with Scrum' to solidify understanding of agile principles and practices.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Read each chapter thoroughly, taking notes on key concepts and techniques.
- Engage in group discussions or forums to share insights and clarify understanding.
- Apply the concepts to a personal or work project to gain hands-on experience.
Explore Agile Case Studies and Best Practices
Show steps
Delve into real-world examples of agile implementation through guided tutorials, gaining valuable insights from industry leaders.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify reputable sources for agile case studies.
- Select a case study that aligns with your interests or industry.
- Follow the tutorial and take notes on the key takeaways.
- Discuss the case study with peers or mentors to exchange perspectives.
Develop a Presentation on Scaled Agile Frameworks
Show steps
Craft a captivating presentation on scaled agile frameworks, exploring their benefits and implementation strategies.
Browse courses on
Agile Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and gather information on various scaled agile frameworks.
- Identify a specific framework to focus on.
- Develop a clear and engaging presentation outline.
- Design and create visually appealing slides.
- Practice and refine the presentation to enhance delivery skills.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Kanban Board Management
Show steps
Engage in repetitive exercises to master the techniques of Kanban board management, improving workflow efficiency.
Browse courses on
Kanban
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Set up a Kanban board for a personal or work project.
- Create cards and assign them to different columns based on status.
- Practice moving cards through the workflow stages.
- Monitor the board and identify areas for improvement.
- Experiment with different Kanban techniques and tools.
Attend a Workshop on Agile Estimation Techniques
Show steps
Develop proficiency in agile estimation techniques through a practical workshop, improving your ability to accurately forecast project timelines.
Browse courses on
Agile Estimation
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Research and select a reputable workshop on agile estimation.
- Attend the workshop and actively participate in exercises.
- Apply the techniques to real-world projects to refine your skills.
- Share your knowledge with team members to improve estimation practices.
Build a Personal Agile Management Platform
Show steps
Initiate a practical project involving the creation of an agile management platform, providing a tangible application of course concepts.
Browse courses on
Agile Management
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Define the scope and requirements for the platform.
- Research and select suitable tools and technologies.
- Design and develop the platform, incorporating agile principles.
- Test and iterate on the platform to ensure functionality and user-friendliness.
- Deploy the platform and monitor its usage to identify areas for improvement.
Contribute to Open-Source Agile Tools
Show steps
Engage in the open-source community by contributing to agile tools, gaining hands-on experience and enhancing your understanding of agile principles.
Browse courses on
Agile Development
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a reputable open-source agile tool to contribute to.
- Review the project documentation and codebase.
- Identify areas where you can make valuable contributions.
- Create and submit pull requests with your contributions.
- Collaborate with other contributors to improve the tool.
Career center
Learners who complete Managing an Agile Team will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Agile Project Manager
Agile Project Manager
Agile methodologies are essential to the work of an Agile Project Manager, who is tasked with planning, organizing, and managing software development projects. This course will introduce you to agile methodologies such as Scrum, XP, and Kanban, and help you learn how to apply them to your work. You will also learn how to facilitate team collaboration and communication, and how to track and measure progress. If you are interested in a career as an Agile Project Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Scrum Master
Scrum Master
Scrum Masters are responsible for facilitating agile software development teams. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to facilitate team meetings, how to track and measure progress, and how to remove obstacles to team success. You will also learn about the latest agile trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Scrum Master, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Software Development Manager
Software Development Manager
Software Development Managers are responsible for leading and managing software development teams. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to create and manage agile teams, how to track and measure progress, and how to communicate effectively with stakeholders. You will also learn about the latest software development trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Software Development Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Product Manager
Product Manager
Product Managers are responsible for defining and managing the development of software products. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to define product requirements, how to prioritize features, and how to track and measure product success. You will also learn about the latest product development trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Product Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineer
DevOps Engineers are responsible for bridging the gap between software development and IT operations. This course will introduce you to DevOps principles and practices, and help you learn how to apply them to your work. You will also learn about the latest DevOps tools and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a DevOps Engineer, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Software Engineer
Software Engineer
Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn about the latest software development trends and technologies, and you will gain experience in agile software development practices. If you are interested in a career as a Software Engineer, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Business Analyst
Business Analyst
Business Analysts are responsible for understanding business requirements and translating them into technical specifications. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to gather and analyze requirements, how to create user stories, and how to communicate with stakeholders. You will also learn about the latest business analysis trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Business Analyst, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for ensuring that software products meet quality standards. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to test software applications, how to identify and report defects, and how to work with development teams to improve product quality. You will also learn about the latest quality assurance trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Quality Assurance Analyst, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Data Analyst
Data Analyst
Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to help businesses make better decisions. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to gather and clean data, how to perform data analysis, and how to communicate your findings to stakeholders. You will also learn about the latest data analysis trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Data Analyst, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designer
User Experience Designers are responsible for designing and developing user interfaces for software products. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to conduct user research, how to create user personas, and how to design user interfaces that are both usable and aesthetically pleasing. You will also learn about the latest user experience trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a User Experience Designer, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Technical Writer
Technical Writer
Technical Writers are responsible for creating documentation for software products. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to write clear and concise documentation, how to use technical writing tools, and how to work with development teams to produce high-quality documentation. You will also learn about the latest technical writing trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Technical Writer, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and executing marketing campaigns for software products. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to create marketing plans, how to conduct market research, and how to measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns. You will also learn about the latest marketing trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Marketing Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Sales Manager
Sales Manager
Sales Managers are responsible for leading and managing sales teams for software products. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to create sales plans, how to motivate sales teams, and how to track and measure sales performance. You will also learn about the latest sales trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Sales Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing software development projects. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful in this role. You will learn how to create project plans, how to manage project budgets, and how to track and measure project progress. You will also learn about the latest project management trends and technologies. If you are interested in a career as a Project Manager, this course can help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be successful.
IT Manager
IT Manager
IT Managers are responsible for planning, organizing, and managing IT departments for software companies. This course may be useful if you are interested in a career as an IT Manager. You will learn about the latest IT trends and technologies, and you will gain experience in agile software development practices.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/do28f4/managing
Reading list
We've selected 11 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Managing an Agile Team.
Provides a practical guide to building a successful startup. It introduces the Lean Startup methodology, which is based on the idea of testing ideas quickly and cheaply, and then iterating based on the results.
Explains why large companies often fail to innovate. It argues that large companies are too focused on protecting their existing businesses, and that they are therefore unable to see the potential of new technologies and business models.
Save
Novel that tells the story of a team of IT professionals who are trying to save their company from disaster. It provides a practical guide to implementing DevOps, a set of practices that can help companies improve their software development and delivery processes.
Save
Provides a new understanding of what motivates people. It argues that the old carrots and sticks approach to motivation is no longer effective, and that companies need to find new ways to engage their employees.
Practical guide to agile development. It covers all aspects of agile development, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement. It valuable resource for anyone who is looking to learn more about agile development.
Save
Provides a practical guide to Scrum. It covers all aspects of Scrum, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
Save
Provides a practical guide to Kanban. It covers all aspects of Kanban, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
Save
Provides a practical guide to agile development using C#. It covers all aspects of agile development, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
Save
Provides a practical guide to agile development in large enterprises. It covers all aspects of agile development, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
Save
Provides a practical guide to DevOps. It covers all aspects of DevOps, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
Save
Provides a practical guide to agile project management. It covers all aspects of agile project management, from planning and estimation to sprint retrospectives and continuous improvement.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/do28f4/managing
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Effort
4 weeks of study, 2-5 hours/week
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Virginia
Instructor
Alex Cowan
Language
English
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Good to know
Provides a framework for understanding the four fundamental jobs of software development, helping learners define what's important to their team
Incorporates principles from Scrum, XP, and Kanban, providing a comprehensive understanding of agile methodologies
Teaches how to prioritize learning and focus on outcomes, enabling teams to drive better user outcomes
Covers specific coding practices from XP, offering guidance on how to incorporate these into agile development
Designed for teams with experience in digital innovation, requiring learners to have background knowledge in agile concepts
Emphasizes team charter and autonomy, fostering alignment with company goals while maintaining team independence
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