Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students should be able to understand what agile is, how they might apply it, and whether a time-boxed (Scrum) or flow based (Kanban) led approach might be most suitable.

Attendees will understand the basic lean and agile concepts, how these counter intuitive ideas differ from traditional work management approaches, and how the two predominant frameworks, Scrum and Kanban, deliver more effective, faster and predictable delivery of value.

Who is the course for?

Schedule

• Foundations of Agile
o The nature of complexity, and complex adaptive systems
o Lean Principles applied to Product Development
o Managing Work in Progress to attain Product Development Flow
o A systems approach to product development – balancing efficiency,
predictability and agility to maximise value

• Kanban – Visualising and Synchronising work
o How Kanban Boards work
o Kanban Metrics
o Classes of Service
o Managing Work in Progress using WIP limits

• The Scrum Framework – an Introduction
o Feature Team Oriented Organisations – The Scrum Team
o Scrum Roles – ScrumMaster, Product Owner and Developer
o Time-boxed Events – Sprint Planning, Scrum, Review and Retrospective
o Backlog Refinement/Grooming – a continuous activity
o Artefacts – Including Backlogs, Definition of Done and Product Increments

• Estimation and Planning
o Estimation with Story Points, Relative Estimation and Velocity
o Planning Poker for reliable, team based estimates

Practical exercises will be used throughout such as creating and estimating user stories, as well as performing realistic simulations of key aspects of agile

Trainer Profile

Fran O’Hara has over 30 years’ experience in the software industry having worked as a researcher, developer, tester, project manager, software development manager, quality management consultant and agile coach. In 2002 he co-founded and successfully grew Insight Test Services – a company that was subsequently acquired by Sogeti/Cap Gemini. Fran has worked with over 50 companies, delivering Agile and Test management training and consultancy. Some recent clients include AIB, Axway, Planet and Ocuco.

Fran specialises in pragmatic approaches to lean/agile, quality/test and associated practices. For the last 15 years, a key element of his work has been providing agile/lean coaching, training and advisory support to organisations transitioning to agile/Scrum.

Fran is recognised as a thought leader in Quality and Agile and consults with clients in these areas particularly around Scrum/Kanban. He is a regular speaker at agile, process improvement and quality/testing conferences. Fran is a Certified and Professional ScrumMaster and Professional Product Owner, an ISTQB testing tutor at advanced level, a fellow of the Irish Computer Society, a director of the TMMi Foundation, and co-founder of the Irish SIG in Software Testing – SoftTest. He co-organises the annual non-profit ‘Agile Tour’ Irish conference. His tutorial, ‘Metamorphosis – Moving to Agile and Staying Agile’, was voted best tutorial at EuroSTAR in Stockholm, a conference for which he is currently programme chair.