Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management from edX

Scrum and Agile are often considered synonymous, and there is a good reason. Scrum embodies the simplest and most pure approach to managing project work at the team level. Scrum is employed by over half of all Agile practitioners across all industries. While agile may have started in software development, many industries now use an agile methodology to deliver their work. The basis for agile, the agile manifesto, extends well beyond its origins in extreme programming and agile software development. Development teams around the world are now using kanban boards and assigning strong product owners to direct self-organizing teams to deliver on prioritized product backlogs. And nearly every new product has some sort of IT component and goes through an agile development lifecycle.

Today nearly 100% of IT organizations use Agile and many other industries are quickly following;
The likelihood of being on a Scrum or Scrum-like project is quickly approaching 50/50 or better over time.

While the Mastering Agile Professional Certificate program emphasizes principles at the heart of all Agile frameworks, in this course we start by learning the key project management processes, roles, mechanics, and philosophies behind Scrum. This will provide the basis for all understanding Agile in its purest form over four weeks exploring Why, Who, How, and finally What Scrum looks like applied in the real world. From understanding the agile team members, like scrum master and product owner, to the important differences in lean and agile processes.

While this course will not make you an agile certified practitioner (PMI-ACP), or certified scrum master (CSM), it offers a more fundamental agile certification based on agile principles and how scaled agile is applied in industry today. You'll finish this course more than ready to begin your agile journey, which we hope takes you to the next course in the series on “Sprint Planning for Faster Agile Team Delivery.”

Upon successful completion of this course, learners can earn 10 Professional Development Unit (PDU) credits, which are recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI). PDU credits are essential to those looking to maintain certification as a Project Management Professional (PMP).

What's inside

Learning objectives

Why agile is taking over: history, case studies, and proof agile works better
Who uses agile based on industry scale, stakeholders, and engineering
How to run a successful scrum team for speed, innovation, leadership, and control

Scrum team makeup, user story writing, sprint planning, execution, and retro tools
What scrum looks like at scale, its alternatives, and how to avoid pitfalls over time

Why agile is taking over: history, case studies, and proof agile works better
Who uses agile based on industry scale, stakeholders, and engineering
How to run a successful scrum team for speed, innovation, leadership, and control
Scrum team makeup, user story writing, sprint planning, execution, and retro tools
What scrum looks like at scale, its alternatives, and how to avoid pitfalls over time

Syllabus

Week 1: The first week starts with Why agile methods are used - based on case studies that prove its effectiveness and the history of getting to Scrum.

Week 2: The second week explores Who uses agile across industries, exploring the types of work management and how Scrum Agile fits into the world of work.

Week 3: The third week gets into the mechanics of Scrum and How Scrum is performed and executed. Here you'll learn team formation, planning and retro games, and how to effectively manage work to meet Sprint objectives.

Week 4: The last week pivots to look at what Scrum looks like at Scale, and how it differs from other Agile frameworksin terms ofscale, program and portfolio management, risk management, and pitfalls of Agile

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Supports learners who work across industries

Ideal for current or aspiring Scrum team members

Focuses on Scrum, which is the simplest and most pure approach to managing project work at the team level

Introduces Scrum in its purest form and explores its methodology, roles, mechanics, and philosophies

Provides practical knowledge for running a successful Scrum team in various contexts, including speed, innovation, leadership, and control

Offers PDU credits recognized by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which are essential for maintaining PMP certification

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 Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management with these activities:

Agile Resource Library

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Gather and organize valuable resources, including articles, videos, and templates, for quick reference and ongoing learning.

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Create a central repository using tools like Evernote or OneNote.
Collect relevant materials from reputable sources, including industry blogs, whitepapers, and online forums.
Categorize and tag resources for easy retrieval.
Regularly review and update the library to ensure its relevance.

Review Scrum Fundamentals

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Recall the basic principles and terminologies of Scrum to strengthen your understanding of its applications.

Browse courses on Scrum

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Revisit your notes from previous courses or resources on Scrum.
Attend a Scrum webinar or online workshop to refresh your memory.
Read a Scrum guide or article to stay up-to-date with the latest practices.

Daily Scrum Simulations

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Consistently conduct daily Scrum simulations to enhance your facilitation skills and improve team communication.

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Gather a group of colleagues or peers.
Take turns playing the roles of Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers.
Conduct daily stand-up meetings, focusing on progress, challenges, and action items.
Provide feedback and reflect on the effectiveness of the simulations.

Four other activities

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Scrum Simulation Role-play

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Engage in a simulated Scrum environment to gyakorlatilag experience the roles, ceremonies, and challenges of agile development.

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Form teams and assign roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, Developers).
Define a project goal and create a product backlog.
Conduct a sprint planning session, including backlog grooming and sprint goal definition.
Facilitate a daily stand-up meeting and track progress on the sprint backlog.
Hold a sprint review and retrospective to evaluate outcomes and identify areas for improvement.

Agile Project Plan Template

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Create a customizable template for agile project plans, ensuring effective and efficient project execution.

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Identify essential sections and elements for an agile project plan.
Develop a structured template using a tool like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
Include sections for project definition, backlog, sprints, and retrospectives.
Make the template accessible and share it with your team for feedback and implementation.

Scrum Certification Preparation

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Enroll in an online or in-person course to prepare for the Scrum Master or Agile Certified Practitioner certification, enhancing your credibility and expertise.

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Identify reputable certification providers and training programs.
Enroll in the chosen program and allocate dedicated study time.
Attend live sessions, complete assignments, and engage in discussions.
Utilize practice tests and simulations to assess your understanding.
Take the certification exam and achieve the desired credential.

Agile Transformation Workshop

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Attend an industry-led workshop to gain insights into real-world applications of agile methodologies, best practices, and potential pitfalls.

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Research and identify reputable agile transformation workshops.
Register and prepare for the workshop by reviewing relevant materials.
Actively participate in the workshop, engage in discussions, and take notes.
Network with other professionals and exchange experiences.
Implement the learnings from the workshop in your own agile projects.

Career center

Learners who complete Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Owner

Product Owners are responsible for defining the vision and goals of Agile Scrum projects. They work with the Agile team to create and prioritize the product backlog, and to ensure that the product is meeting the needs of its users. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Product Owner. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to create and manage Agile Scrum product backlogs, and how to work with Agile Scrum teams.

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Scrum Master

Scrum Masters are responsible for facilitating Agile Scrum projects. They work with the Agile team to ensure that the team is following the Agile Scrum process and that the project is on track to meet its goals. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Scrum Master. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to facilitate Agile Scrum teams, and how to track and measure Agile Scrum project progress.

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Agile Project Manager

Agile Project Managers plan and manage Agile software development projects. They are responsible for ensuring that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Agile Project Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to create and manage Agile teams, and how to track and measure Agile project progress.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and test software applications. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Software Developer. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to design, develop, and test software applications.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts gather and analyze business requirements to ensure that software applications meet the needs of their users. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Business Analyst. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to gather and analyze business requirements.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts test software applications to ensure that they meet the required quality standards. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Quality Assurance Analyst. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to test software applications.

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Agile Coach

Agile Coaches help organizations to adopt and implement Agile Scrum. They work with teams and individuals to improve their Agile Scrum practices and to achieve their Agile Scrum goals. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Agile Coach. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to coach Agile Scrum teams, and how to help organizations to adopt and implement Agile Scrum.

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Project Manager

Project Managers plan and manage projects of all types. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Project Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to plan and manage projects.

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Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers plan and manage portfolios of projects and programs. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Portfolio Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to plan and manage portfolios.

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Risk Manager

Risk Managers help organizations to identify, assess, and manage risks. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Risk Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to identify, assess, and manage risks.

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Program Manager

Program Managers plan and manage programs of projects. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Program Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to plan and manage programs.

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Change Manager

Change Managers help organizations to adopt and implement change. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Change Manager. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to help organizations to adopt and implement change.

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Writer

Writers create content for a variety of purposes. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Writer. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to create content for a variety of purposes.

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Consultant

Consultants help organizations to improve their performance. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Consultant. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to help organizations to improve their performance.

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Trainer

Trainers teach individuals and groups about new technologies and processes. They work with Agile teams to implement Agile Scrum projects. This course may help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to be a successful Trainer. You will learn about the Agile Scrum framework, how to work with Agile Scrum teams, and how to teach individuals and groups about new technologies and processes.

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