Agile Project Management: A Vital Tool for Modern-day IT Industry
In today’s fast-paced world of information technology or IT, where change and the capacity to adapt in a fast-paced manner are constant, it can be said that conventional project management approaches often fall short. Nowadays, business entities need to acclimate themselves with evolving technological advancements, shifting market demands, and consumer preferences, among others.
Putting the said factors into consideration, additional a project management course in the mold of an Agile project management comes in handy. It offers an extensively robust and dynamic approach that can empower project managers and other personnel who perform a project management job and the like.
A Closer Look at the Agile Project Management Programs
In simple terms, Agile project management all boils down to embracing change and prioritizing versatility. Because of its right mix of reduced complexity and improved efficiency, it is arguably the perfect tool for an IT project manager since it can play a key role in minimizing the risk of project failure. Along the way, it can also improve delivery times, resource utilization, and so forth.
On top of the said benefits, the said management approach ensures that final products align with the expectations of stakeholders.
Key Agile Methodologies
There are a number of methodologies that fall under the Agile Certification umbrella, each delivering unique tools and practices that can be handy in the IT industry. Some of the most notable ones are elaborated below.
Scrum
Scrum incorporates small teams working in sprints or time-boxed periods of one week to one month. Here, the product owner, Agile scrum master, and scrum teamwork to complete a product. He or she handles the important procedures and ensures that team members adhere to Agile principles and, in the process, guarantees that impediments to progress are removed.
Kanban
In its core, Kanban emphasizes visualizing tasks, cutting down work in progress, improving flow, and so on. It utilizes a Kanban board in an effort to track tasks by means of different stages of completion.
This particular methodology is ideal for teams that require continuous management of deliverables since it allows business entities to make changes in an instant. All these are achieved without compromising effectiveness, efficiency, accuracy, and everything in between.
Lean
Lean is all about maximizing overall value by minimizing waste. In IT projects, this can drastically aid in IT project manager responsibilities since it can reduce unnecessary documentation, get rid of redundant procedures, and encourage continuous improvement, among others.
Extreme Programming (XP)
Extreme Programming or XP is specifically designed to encourage technical excellence that is coupled with customer satisfaction by means of test-driven development as well as frequent releases.
This is ideal for an agile IT project manager who handles projects that require high levels of code quality because corrections can be performed in the fastest way possible even with small incremental steps.
What Does an IT Project Manager do in Agile
What does it mean to be a project manager in an Agile environment? Here, IT project manager responsibilities Include but are not limited to facilitating communication, managing stakeholder expectations, removing roadblocks, and promoting continuous improvement.
It can be said that project manager tasks in the said environment are quite different from those that are performed in conventional project management. This is because here, he or she, in a way, acts as a facilitator and servant leader.
Summing up
In the end, in today’s competitive business world, it can be said that undergoing conventional IT project management training and a project management course may not be enough. That said, IT project management personnel should seriously consider taking supplementary courses, especially if they want to deliver high-quality output in an ever-changing environment.
So take the first step towards a more efficient as well as collaborative approach to project management. Apply for the NTUC Learning Hub’s Agile IT Project Manager Transition Program. It is a worthwhile move that can help you tap your potential and accelerate success.
