Agile Methodology

What’s the one thing all Agile software development projects have in common? Answer: Goals. Goals set the foundation of Agile projects, the objectives to be achieved by the end date. But goals also form a core part of each 2-week sprint. Each project has its own requirements: Achieving results by a certain date Working within …

Continue reading “Agile Iron Triangle: What It Is and How It Works”

Before agile methodology, most teams took a pretty linear approach to project management. Gather resources. Design. Build. Test. Deliver. However, one major problem with traditional project management is that without regular iterations, the final product is built without user feedback. In agile methodology, a user story sets out to solve this. But what happens when …

Continue reading “Let’s talk about agile spikes – what they are and how you can use them to make better project decisions.”

Understanding the Agile Mindset: More Than Just a Buzzword You’ve probably heard the term “agile mindset” thrown around in business meetings or seen it splashed across LinkedIn posts. But what does it really mean? And why should you care? At its core, the agile mindset is a way of thinking, a philosophy if you will. …

Continue reading “Agile Mindset Unraveled: Meaning, Benefits, and How-to-guide”

Imagine this if you will. You attend a two hour work meeting, and do nothing the entire time but sit in the back and scribble into a notepad. A few hours later, you participate in the daily standup, where you observe that the team is poised to make a big, expensive mistake. But you mention …

Continue reading “Scrum Master vs Project Manager: 5 Major Differences, Plus Tactics for Code-Switching Between the Two Roles”

Born out of a need to break free from traditional, rigid project management methodologies, Agile offers a flexible, collaborative approach to the work environment. It’s not just a methodology, however; it’s a mindset that emphasizes rapid iterations, continuous feedback, and a relentless focus on delivering value. Within Agile there’s a term that often surfaces, especially …

Continue reading “What Is Pi Planning in Agile? A Guide to Synchronized Success”

In the midst of your hectic workday, how often do you give yourself a golden stop to reflect and look inward? Yes, in a world where we’re constantly moving forward, pausing and reflecting might seem counterintuitive. But here’s what we need to acknowledge. In Agile methodology, a retrospective is a vital practice that has the …

Continue reading “Six Inspiring Ideas for Agile Retrospectives (Plus Best Tools and An Agenda)”

Has your team ever felt overwhelmed by the rigidity of conventional project management methods? Agile methodology might be the breath of fresh air you need. Originating from the software development world, Agile offers a flexible, iterative approach that values people, collaboration, and adaptability. In Agile, the values hold center stage, steering the way teams work …

Continue reading “The Beginners Guide to Agile Values and Principles”

Do you ever have those days where you don’t even check one task off the to-do list, because the first item ends up being so (dang) complicated? For most of us, it happens all the time. Take a car repair, a visit to the doctor’s office, or the first day using a new software. These …

Continue reading “Swishing the Three Pointers: How Story Points Allow Agile Teams to Nail Work Estimates, Every Time”

Are you tired of unproductive and tedious meetings that drain your energy and waste your time? Say goodbye to those endless, dull gatherings, and discover the secrets to effective agile meetings in this comprehensive guide. We’ll explore the fundamental principles of agile methodology and how it revolutionizes the way we collaborate. We’ll also introduce you …

Continue reading “Mastering Agile Meetings: The Ultimate Guide to Efficiency and Collaboration”

A complex project can derail in so many ways. The software team might hunker down and develop an innovative product, only to discover that it’s not what the user wants. At the other extreme, the team might set out to solve the client’s problem, only to realize mid-way that it doesn’t have the capacity to …

Continue reading “The Role of Epics in Agile Project Management”

Software releases are seeped with dramatic tension. After slogging away over several development sprints, the agile team passes the beta test or completed software on for presentation. How will it be received? Will the team’s hard work end in tragedy, with glitches and malfunctions galore, or in rousing success, with an evening of hearty pats …

Continue reading “5 Tips for a Top-Notch Agile Release”

You’ve probably heard the expression that “the best things in life aren’t things at all.” Some of our favorite things, such as nights out at the movies, evening walks in the snow and road trips to national parks, wouldn’t mean a whole lot if they didn’t include “things” like laughter, connection, friendship and love. What …

Continue reading “Catching a Cloud, Pinning it Down: How to Capture Non Functional Requirements in Agile”

The Agile methodology is quickly gaining in popularity due to its ability to adapt to changing requirements and fast-paced work environments. Agile SDLC, or Agile Software Development Life Cycle, is a variation of the Agile methodology that is specifically tailored for software development projects. As with any new methodology, there can be a bit of …

Continue reading “How to Make the Most Out of Agile SDLC For Your Project Management Workflow”

It would be to the benefit of you and your team to get acquainted with using Agile and the underlying concepts behind it. Ultimately, it will help you optimize your project process by ensuring that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal. The goal of this article is to clear …

Continue reading “The 12 Agile Principles: Optimizing Your Project Process”

Remember your essays for English class back in high school? What about the nerve-racking assignment to compose an outline before writing the essay? Your English teacher perhaps knew nothing about agile project management, but it turns out she was well aware of the fundamental rule – without a thorough outline, your essay is doomed. The …

Continue reading “A Snapshot of How Agile Teams Maintain Requirements”

Have you ever tried to fix something and found your efforts didn’t do any good at all? Maybe you tried to remove a stain from a carpet, but it only made it worse, or fixed a cupboard in your home, only to have your kids break it again the next day. Sometimes we don’t fix …

Continue reading “Is Scrumban Really Scrum 2.0?”

Have you ever laid out a precise plan for a big project, only to have everything fall apart? Maybe weather threw the timeline off, or resources didn’t arrive in time. Or a critical team member suddenly left. And all your careful plans came to naught. Or else, as it sometimes happens, a team completes a …

Continue reading “A Complete Summary of the Roles and Responsibilities of a Scrum Team”

When starting a new project, it’s important to consider the type of methodology you will use. There are many different options, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. Two of the most popular approaches are Agile and Unified Process. This article will compare and contrast these two methods to help you decide which is right …

Continue reading “What is The Difference Between Agile and Unified Process Methodology?”

Have you ever tried to make dinner for people with two very different tastes? That’s a delicate tightrope to walk. Managing costs on an agile team can feel similar. Between the team and the leadership, it’s like you’re trying to appeal to two very different palates. First there’s the preferences of leadership (and accounting). Particularly …

Continue reading “Effective Ways to Manage Cost in Agile Project Management”

The objective of any project is to successfully deliver a product within the given scope, budget, and timeline. Quality is a central component as well. While working within these constraints, every project manager aims to meet, or even exceed, the client’s expectations. To some, the agile method of project management looks like chaos, and spells …

Continue reading “Surefire Ways to Ensure Quality in Agile Projects”

Did you ever get your car repaired, and it ended up taking WAY longer than the person on the phone told you it would? What’s to account for this sort of inaccuracy? Sometimes the job is too huge and complicated to make an accurate estimate. Or else, the person making the estimate isn’t the same …

Continue reading “Mapping Out the Daily Grind: Iteration Planning in Agile”

Charting a course for a distributed agile team is no small feat. Practicing agile fundamentals like face-to-face communication is totally outside the realm of possibility. And it’s pretty tough for teams to feel cohesive when most people haven’t even met one another. Any sense of “team” easily breaks down when everyone works from separate locations. …

Continue reading “7 Common Challenges Faced by Distributed Agile Teams…With Solutions to Boot!”

Are you new to agile? Just learning the ropes? There’s a whole lot of lingo, huh? Yep, with its own ceremonies, frameworks, artifacts, and even a Manifesto, agile certainly is a world of its own. For someone unfamiliar to the terminology, listening to people throw around phrases like failing-fast, kanban boards, mental agility, and scrum …

Continue reading “Who Wants to Improve Their Agile Fluency? 45 Important Terms Every Team Should Know”

Team velocity is a metric that upper management and CEOs often want to increase—and that’s totally understandable. Why wouldn’t you want a more productive and efficient team of professionals? Unfortunately, there’s a massive difference between increasing and improving sprint velocity. The former predominantly focuses on growing the amount of work that is executed within a …

Continue reading “4 Steps Towards Improving Team Velocity in Agile”

If you’re taking a trip and you know the destination, packing is pretty simple. A tropical location means you’ll bring shorts, a swimsuit and sandals. Whereas traveling to a wintery climate means you’ll be sure to bring boots and a heavy coat. But what about packing for a trip when the destination is unclear? And …

Continue reading “Going Agile? 8 Tips for a Successful Transformation (And 4 Pitfalls to Look Out For)”

Being in charge of a project can be as exciting as it is challenging. If you’re brand new to taking ownership of a project you may be wondering how to even start. Or maybe you’re looking to expand your skillset and get certified in project management so you’ll be first in line for a promotion. …

Continue reading “The Beginners Guide to Agile Project Management and PMP Certification”

Have you ever had the experience of turning your back on a toddler, and in the space of thirty seconds, they’d managed to dump out an entire bag of flour, or spill a gallon of milk across the floor? After one episode like this, you learn to watch them like a hawk. It’s easy to …

Continue reading “How an Agile Coach Creates a Killer Team”

You know that wiggly inflatable guy who floats above car dealerships? One moment, he’s straight as an arrow, then when the wind shifts a moment later, he collapses in half. Then he’s back up again. And he’s smiling the whole time, as though he really enjoys the wild, jerky ride. Flexibility is central to agile …

Continue reading “How To Make a Project Buzz: 7 Qualities of A Good Agile Team”