Software Processes and Agile Practices from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Module 1: Introduction to Processes

Are you someone who likes to see the big-picture? Being a forward thinker who knows what’s coming next is an invaluable trait as a software product manager. This module will prepare you to become this asset for your team. A software process organizes development from beginning to end. We are going to walk through each step of the development process. This will allow you to become familiar with the entire development process so that you can effectively organize product development and foresee upcoming steps--even if you’ve never worked in software development before!

Module 2: Process Models

Ready to dive a little deeper? This module will familiarize you with a wide variety of software process models from throughout history. You will learn about basic software process models, like the Waterfall model and The Unified Process. These fundamental processes will set the stage for the knowledge you will gain later in the course, where more complex processes will be introduced.

Module 3: Agile Practices

Do you want to help developers reach their full potential? Do you want to impress clients by delivering a great product on-schedule and on-budget? Then this module is the place for you! In this module, you will learn some Agile methodologies that are practiced in the industry today. This module will cover the Scrum and Extreme Programming methodologies. The practices in these methodologies are some of the most popular practices in the industry today. They provide practices that will help to maintain organized and effective development. These methodologies will help you to know the exact state of your product and deliver successfully!

Module 4: Other Practices

Almost there! In this last module, we will dive into Lean Software Development and Kanban. Being the most complex tools which we will cover in this course makes them the “spike-driving machines” from our railroad-building analogy. Lean and Kanban are a cumulation of many lessons learned, and are widely used in some form in the industry today.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines Agile practices, which include popular industry practices

Taught by Kenny Wong, who is an expert in Agile practices

Explores various software process models from throughout history

Develops foundational knowledge of software development processes

Teaches Lean Software Development and Kanban, which are widely used in industry

Reviews summary

Agile know how

students say this course largely positive, well received, with engaging assignments and difficult exams. Learners describe lectures as informative, easy to understand, detailed, and well explained. They find the course to be well structured, and well organized. Some students find the course to be too basic or difficult. There are some outdated or broken links to resources, and questions on quizzes are difficult and not explained well. However, students largely positive about the course overall, and find it to be well worth their time.

challenging quizzes and exams

"The exams are difficult but don't know anyone who applies Unified and XP."

"Good course overall - very nicely presented and presented.Supplemental URLs did not always work."

"The training is very interesting, the material you uploaded and the lecturer video all are very good. but add more Quizzes after each chapter. Thanks"

interesting course with engaging assignments

"Very good overview of the processes and practices following in the industry."

"Engaging and specific material that I can make use of immediately! Thank you."

"I am too lazy to write a review. But the quality of the course has compelled me to write. In one word, mind-blowing course!"

well-structured, easy to understand

"The course is well structured, useful and very well presented information about Software Processes and Agile Practices"

"This course is well designed and make it easy to learn for beginner in software management."

"The concepts were explained in simplicity and in a way that enhanced comprehension. It has enhanced my knowledge on the subject."

experienced and knowledgeable instructors

"Good instructors will excellent knowledge of the subject matter and easily understandable materials."

"Excellent instructors and resources."

"The course is perfect and fun , the instructors are amazing and the videos and examples and popup quiz's are good"

some resources and links are outdated

"Visual resources to support course explanations are lacking."

"I'd strongly recommend a review to the linked materials as some links are broken or completely unavailable."

"There is a lot of overdued link in Course Resourses sections."

difficult, especially final exam

"Good course, but the final test is way too long."

"Quite difficult course but informative."

"Final module of this course is so absurd that you must not waste your time with the previous ones is you want a certificate."

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 Software Processes and Agile Practices with these activities:

Review basic software development concepts

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Refreshing your understanding of basic software development concepts will provide a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Software Development

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Review online resources on software development concepts.
Complete practice exercises on software development concepts.

Complete practice exercises on Agile principles

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Practice exercises will reinforce your understanding of the fundamental principles of Agile development.

Browse courses on Agile Principles

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Find practice exercises online.
Complete the exercises.

Watch video tutorials on Agile methodologies

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Video tutorials will provide another perspective on Agile methodologies, helping you to better grasp the concepts.

Browse courses on Agile Methodologies

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Find video tutorials on Agile methodologies.
Watch the tutorials.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Read 'Agile Software Development: Principles, Patterns, and Practices'

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This book will provide a comprehensive overview of Agile software development methodologies, providing a strong foundation for understanding the course material.

View Clean Architecture on Amazon

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Read the book in its entirety.
Take notes on key concepts and principles.
Identify areas where you need further clarification.

Create a blog post summarizing an Agile practice

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Writing a blog post will help you synthesize and reinforce your understanding of the Agile practices covered in the course.

Browse courses on Extreme Programming

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Choose an Agile practice to focus on.
Research and gather information about the practice.
Write a clear and concise summary of the practice.

Participate in a study group with other students

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Study groups will provide an opportunity to discuss and reinforce the course material with peers.

Browse courses on Agile Development

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Find a study group or create your own.
Discuss the course material with your group.

Volunteer on an Agile software development project

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Volunteering on a real-world project will provide practical experience with Agile methodologies.

Browse courses on Agile Development

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Find a volunteer opportunity on an Agile software development project.
Apply for the opportunity.

Contribute to an open-source Agile software development project

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Contributing to an open-source project will allow you to apply your Agile skills and knowledge in a real-world setting.

Browse courses on Agile Development

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Find an open-source Agile software development project to contribute to.
Contribute to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Software Processes and Agile Practices will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Engineer

Software Engineers apply engineering principles to the design, development, and maintenance of software systems. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Software Project Manager

Software Project Managers are responsible for planning, executing, and controlling software development projects. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Project Manager

Software Developer

Software Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Developer

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for managing the development of software products. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Software Quality Assurance Analyst

Software Quality Assurance Analysts are responsible for ensuring that software meets quality standards. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Quality Assurance Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts are responsible for gathering and analyzing business requirements for software systems. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts are responsible for designing and developing software systems. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that software is developed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that data is processed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that databases are managed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

User Experience (UX) Designer

UX Designers are responsible for designing the user interface of software products. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that the user interface is designed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Agile Coach

Agile Coaches help organizations to adopt and implement Agile practices. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that Agile practices are adopted and implemented efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Scrum Master

Scrum Masters are responsible for facilitating Agile software development projects. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that Agile projects are managed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Technical Writer

Technical Writers are responsible for writing documentation for software products. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that documentation is written efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

IT Manager

IT Managers are responsible for managing the IT department of an organization. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that IT systems are managed efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

IT Consultant

IT Consultants provide advice and assistance to organizations on IT matters. This course provides a foundation in software processes and Agile practices, which are essential for success in this role. The course covers topics such as process models, Agile methodologies, and other practices that help to ensure that IT systems are implemented efficiently and effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Consultant