The Complete Agile Manager™ : A Workshop Exploring the Eight Competency Areas for Managing in the Agile Organization
Who Should Attend/Prerequisites
Prior to attending class, participants should be familiar with basic Agile principles, typically having managed one or more Agile projects (directly or through subordinates).
Class Size Limit: 20 (Minimum 8)
Course Overview
At the end of the workshop you will be capable of adding significant value to your Agile project teams and the supporting organization.
Specifically, you will gain the following:
- An overview of the eight competency areas needed as a manager to effectively contribute in an Agile environment
- An understanding of how these competencies play out in real life situations, both in general and in one or more of your own situations
- A grasp of how your own managerial values align-or conflict-with the Agile approach, and mitigations for when they do not align
- Experience in how an Agile process works in a real world situation beyond a software development team (e.g., the workshop will be run as an Agile backlog)
How can I make a real contribution, given that Agile teams tend to manage themselves? Ever since Agile became popular at the beginning of the decade, managers have been asking this question. A definitive role for managers is still nonexistent in the Agile literature. Agile team members have even been heard to jest that they don't need a manager anymore! Given the nature of self-organizing teams, this is may be an understandable perspective, but nothing could be further from the truth.
An Agile organization desperately needs managers, ones with new skills, alternate mindsets, and a fresh perspective on managing. The job of manager shifts from director / manager of the team's work, to a position of coach, boundary keeper, obstacle remover and organizational change driver. Also, exercising a few specialized skills from Lean and Agile thinking rounds out the list.
The Compleat Agile Manager™ comprehensively defines and explores these new competencies, so necessary for effective management in an organization adopting Agile. Participants will significantly increase their contribution as manager, moving beyond the basics of Agile to beginning mastery of these Agile management disciplines. The course combines mini-lectures, expert demonstrations, skill development exercises, scenario discussions (small groups), and a case study. (Yes, it will be a long day!)
Agenda
- The art of managing self-organized teams at the 'Agile team boundary'
- How Agile software economics differ from traditional waterfall approaches
- How is portfolio management different in the Agile world
- Managing suppliers and outsourced teams
- Working with internal providers and stakeholders
- Reporting and metrics from the managerial and executive perspective
- How manager's can act as organizational change agents
Cost:
$1,200 per attendee.