The Agile Principles
Agile software development – or Agile – is a collection of software development methodologies that emphasizes adaptive planning, continuous improvement, evolutionary progress and encourages quick, flexible response to change.
In theory, if you are a product owner, your responsibilities within the agile framework are simple: “maximize the value of the product and the work of the Development Team”. In reality, product owners do more than just that. They bridge the gap between what a customer wants, stakeholder’s interests and the development team’s work on the project. A product owner needs to understand a customer’s needs in the context of the market it is in, as well as the needs of the development team and stakeholders. Applying the 12 principles of Agile to project management brings a team back to basics and helps product owners fulfil their role.
Agile History
During a meeting of 17 software developers in Utah, the Agile Manifesto was born out of a need to change the way software development took place. The manifesto developed is comprised of 12 principles and each of these principles makes up the foundation of the agile movement we use today. Its emphasis on lean manufacturing, communication, collaboration, flexibility, and customer focus has lead other industries to utilize its principles to manage projects and increase production.
Principles
1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through the early and continuous delivery of valuable software.
Customers are happier when they don’t have to wait long periods of time for a working product. They have problems that need solutions, that is why they are having you do something for them. By understanding what the customer’s needs are, a Product Owner can keep customers happy by shortening the time between gathering requirements and feedback. As a Product Owner, this allows for more opportunities to steer the product in a direction that is agreeable to the customer.
Recommended Further Reading
The following materials may assist you in order to get the most out of this course:
Course Contents
Section 1: Agile Project Management
Section 2: Using the Agile Manifesto to Deliver Change
Section 3: The 12 Agile Principles
Section 4: The Agile Fundamentals
Section 5: The Declaration of Interdependence
Section 6: Agile Development Frameworks
Section 7: Introduction to Scrum
Section 8: Scrum Projects
Section 9: Scrum Project Roles
Section 10: Meet the Scrum Team
Section 11: Building the Scrum Team
Section 12: Scrum in Projects, Programs & Portfolios
Section 13: How to Manage an Agile Project
Section 14: Leadership Styles
Section 15: The Agile Project Life-cycle
Section 16: Business Justification with Agile
Section 17: Calculating the Benefits With Agile
Section 18: Quality in Agile
Section 19: Acceptance Criteria and the Prioritised Product Backlog
Section 20: Quality Management in Scrum
Section 21: Change in Scrum
Section 22: Integrating Change in Scrum
Section 23: Managing Change in Scrum
Section 24: Risk in Scrum
Section 25: Risk Assessment Techniques
Section 26: Initiating an Agile Project
Section 27: Forming the Scrum Team
Section 28: Epics and Personas
Section 29: Creating the Prioritised Product Backlog
Section 30: Conduct Release Planning
Section 31: The Project Business Case
Section 32: Planning in Scrum
Section 33: Scrum Boards
Section 34: Sprint Planning
Section 35: User Stories
Section 36: User Stories and Tasks
Section 37: The Sprint Backlog
Section 38: Implementation of Scrum
Section 39: The Daily Scrum
Section 40: The Product Backlog
Section 41: Scrum Charts
Section 42: Review and Retrospective
Section 43: Scrum of Scrums
Section 44: Validating a Sprint
Section 45: Retrospective Sprint
Section 46: Releasing the Product
Section 47: Project Retrospective
Section 48: The Communication Plan
Section 49: Formal Business Sign-off
Section 50: Scaling Scrum
Section 51: Stakeholders
Section 52: Programs and Portfolios