Build an Agile Team from edX

Explore Agile practices with the University of Adelaide

Agile methodology is a mindset that enables managers and teams to continuously learn and improve what they do and how they do it, driving performance and innovation through iterative practices.

On this four-week course from the University of Adelaide, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to elevate the performance of your teams through improved collaboration, efficiency, and adaptation to change.

You’ll transform your management style as you explore how to take your team from your current state through to an Agile state by building roadmaps for change.

Understand the purpose of Agile methodology

You’ll learn to define Agile as you explore how it differs from other methodologies.

With this deep dive, you’ll understand the benefits of Agile, what this might look like in practice, and the key terminology to help you communicate with your team.

Unpack Agile values and principles

Next, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the values and principles of Agile as you learn to apply these to a workplace scenario.

With this knowledge, you’ll learn how you can apply Agile to diverse team contexts. You’ll also understand how the different Agile tools could work for your team as you unpack diverse examples.

Develop your Agile roadmap

Finally, you’ll learn how to set your team up for success as you outline your Agile roadmap.

You’ll learn key techniques to apply Agile specifically to your context and work to ensure a smooth transition into Agile teams.

This course is designed for new or emerging managers, or team leaders from any industry.

You may also have been in management for a longer period of time and you’re looking to upskill and update your approach to management.

What you'll learn

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Describe the nature, role and benefits of Agile Teams.
Identify the principles and values of Agile ways of working.
Explain the use case for Agile Teams in diverse contexts.
Critique a roadmap for transitioning to Agile Teams.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores Agile practices, which are standard in the software industry

Examines the benefits of applying Agile to your team, which may increase performance and innovation

Applies Agile to diverse team contexts, which may enhance understanding and application for learners with various backgrounds

Equips learners with techniques to set up and guide their teams successfully in adopting Agile methodologies

Develops key skills in Agile roadmapping, which are highly sought after in today's competitive job market

Taught by Stephan Hitchins, an experienced instructor in the field

Reviews summary

Foundational guide to agile team transformation

According to learners, this course offers a solid and practical introduction to Agile methodology, particularly beneficial for new or emerging managers. Students frequently highlight the course's ability to demystify Agile concepts and provide a clear understanding of principles and values. A key strength is the focus on developing a tangible Agile roadmap, with many finding the content immediately applicable to their teams, leading to positive shifts in collaboration and efficiency. While praised for its well-structured content and knowledgeable instructors, some more experienced learners felt the course was too high-level or lacked deeper insights into complex real-world implementation challenges, suggesting it is best suited for beginners. It provides a strong theoretical foundation, though some wished for more hands-on activities.

Well-structured content and knowledgeable instructors.

"The instructors were knowledgeable and the pacing was just right. Highly recommend for any new manager."

"The content is well-structured and easy to follow. Perfect for managers transitioning to Agile."

"The instructors do a great job explaining complex ideas in an understandable way."

"The structure is logical, building from basic concepts to practical application. The instructors are engaging."

Provides a strong, understandable foundation in Agile.

"This course was exactly what I needed to kickstart my team's Agile transformation. The concepts were presented clearly..."

"A solid introduction to Agile for those unfamiliar... It covers the basics well – values, principles, and common tools."

"It truly demystified Agile for me and provided actionable steps."

"I gained a much clearer understanding of Agile values."

Offers practical tools for team transformation.

"I particularly enjoyed the roadmap development section, which gave me a tangible plan to implement."

"The focus on building a roadmap for change was incredibly useful. I've already started applying several techniques..."

"This isn't just theory; it's about making Agile work for *your* team. It's incredibly practical and immediately applicable."

"The step-by-step guidance on creating an Agile roadmap was invaluable. It gave me the confidence and tools to start my team's Agile journey."

Could benefit from more advanced topics and hands-on scenarios.

"My only minor critique is that some parts could have gone a bit deeper into real-world challenges of implementation."

"I was hoping for more hands-on scenarios or case studies to really dig into complex team dynamics."

"It felt like a generic overview... I was hoping for more tools and techniques to apply immediately, but it was mostly theory."

"I feel more detailed case studies could have enhanced the learning experience even further."

Excellent for novices, but basic for experienced learners.

"For someone with some prior knowledge, it felt a bit basic at times. Don't expect advanced strategies."

"As someone with a few years of management experience, I was looking for more advanced insights and strategies... It felt more like a theoretical introduction."

"The course felt a little slow-paced for me. I think it's probably best suited for complete beginners to Agile."

"I found this course somewhat superficial... Not what I expected for 'building' an Agile team."

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 Build an Agile Team with these activities:

Review principles of Agile

Show steps

Start by reviewing core Agile concepts and terminology to establish a solid foundation for the course.

Browse courses on Agile

Show steps

Review the Agile Manifesto and its principles
Familiarize yourself with common Agile frameworks like Scrum and Kanban
Explore different Agile tools and techniques

Join an Agile community or forum

Show steps

Connect with other Agile practitioners, share experiences, and learn from their insights.

Show steps

Identify and join relevant Agile online communities or forums
Actively participate in discussions and ask questions

Read 'Agile Project Management with Scrum'

Show steps

Gain practical insights and best practices for Agile project management by reading this seminal book.

View Melania on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book and take notes on key concepts
Identify examples of Agile practices in the book that you can apply to your own work

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Attend an online workshop on Agile coaching

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of Agile principles and best practices by learning from experienced Agile coaches.

Browse courses on Agile Coaching

Show steps

Research and identify reputable online workshops on Agile coaching
Register and actively participate in the workshop

Practice using an Agile planning tool

Show steps

Gain hands-on experience with Agile tools and techniques by using them in a simulated project.

Show steps

Choose an Agile planning tool (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello)
Create a backlog and prioritize tasks
Track progress and make adjustments as needed

Implement Agile practices in a personal project

Show steps

Solidify your understanding of Agile principles by applying them to a real-world project of your choosing.

Show steps

Select a personal project that you can complete within the course duration
Plan and execute the project using Agile principles and techniques
Reflect on your experience and identify areas for improvement

Develop an Agile roadmap for your team

Show steps

Apply your knowledge of Agile principles to create a practical roadmap for your team's transition to Agile.

Show steps

Gather input from team members on their current processes and challenges
Identify areas for improvement and develop a vision for the future Agile state
Create a detailed roadmap with milestones and timelines

Contribute to an open-source Agile software project

Show steps

Contribute to the Agile community by participating in open-source projects and enhancing your technical skills.

Browse courses on Agile Development

Show steps

Identify open-source Agile software projects that align with your interests
Contribute code, documentation, or bug fixes to the project

Career center

Learners who complete Build an Agile Team will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Project Manager

Project Managers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to project management. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Project Managers to learn how to use Agile methodology to plan, execute, and track projects, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Software Engineer

Software Engineers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to software development. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Software Engineers to learn how to use Agile methodology to develop software, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to product development. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Product Managers to learn how to use Agile methodology to develop products, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Business Analyst

Business Analysts would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to business analysis. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Business Analysts to learn how to use Agile methodology to analyze business needs, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Scrum Master

Scrum Masters would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to project management. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Scrum Masters to learn how to use Agile methodology to facilitate Scrum teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Agile Coach

Agile Coaches would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to coaching teams. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Agile Coaches to learn how to use Agile methodology to coach teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Team Leader

Team Leaders would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to team leadership. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Team Leaders to learn how to use Agile methodology to lead teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Team Leader

Change Manager

Change Managers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to change management. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Change Managers to learn how to use Agile methodology to manage change, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Change Manager

Consultant

Consultants would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to consulting. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Consultants to learn how to use Agile methodology to consult with clients, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Trainer

Trainers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to training. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Trainers to learn how to use Agile methodology to train teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Trainer

Coach

Coaches would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to coaching. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Coaches to learn how to use Agile methodology to coach teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Coach

Teacher

Teachers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to teaching. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Teachers to learn how to use Agile methodology to teach students, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Mentor

Mentors would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to mentoring. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Mentors to learn how to use Agile methodology to mentor individuals, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mentor

Manager

Managers would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to management. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Managers to learn how to use Agile methodology to manage teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Manager

Leader

Leaders would benefit from taking this course because it teaches the fundamentals of Agile methodology, which is a popular approach to leadership. Agile methodology helps teams to be more efficient and productive by breaking down projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. This course would help Leaders to learn how to use Agile methodology to lead teams, which would lead to success in their role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Leader