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Top seven agile training courses to boost skills

Melani French, Executive Head: Business Enablement at DVT

Johannesburg, 24 Jun 2019
Melani French, Executive Head: Business Enablement at DVT
Melani French, Executive Head: Business Enablement at DVT

There are many courses and workshops available today if you're looking to learn more about the theory of implementing agile. Google the words 'agile training' and you'll find reams of options for training courses and training providers. The challenge is knowing which courses to choose and why. We have done the hard work for you by selecting the top seven agile training courses you should consider in 2019 and beyond.

Where possible, and if your budget allows, consider an agile course that is internationally certified. Not only will it benefit your individual skills, but it will add to your career growth and resume. These seven courses come highly recommended in order to understand the benefits an agile methodology can bring to an organisation:

1. ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Fundamentals (ICP)

This course is a very good start for your agile journey. It covers the history of agile, the Agile Manifesto, agile principles, and a good introduction to some widely applied frameworks (such as Scrum, Kanban and SAFe) and practices. ICAgile fundamental learning objectives delve into key concepts such as adaptive planning, value-driven development, team collaboration and frequent feedback for continuous improvement. It also focuses on what it means to be agile and achieve organisational agility.

The ICP credential has the broadest target audience (even outside of IT) since it is appropriate for those new to agile, and for practitioners who recognise the need to focus on “being” agile in addition to “doing” agile. An ICP certification is internationally recognised.

2. Scrum Alliance – Certified Scrum Master (CSM)

The Certified Scrum Master’s course provides everything you need to get started with Scrum, today’s most widely used agile project management methodology. If you have the knowledge and experience developing or managing software delivery projects or teams, but do not have expertise in agile yet, this course is for you. The course is an introduction to Scrum and will foster a shared understanding of the topic. It is suited for all roles within the IT environment and is very popular among Scrum masters and project managers. (A non-certified, more affordable version of Scrum training is also available for those budget-sensitive organisations or individuals.)

3. Scrum Alliance – Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

The CSPO training course uses Scrum to teach product ownership (product management in agile) and provides a stimulating, experiential learning experience through the use of game-play, hands-on practical exercises, real-life case studies and in-depth discussions of the various parts of the Scrum framework and how the parts fit together.

On completing the course, delegates are designated as a Certified Scrum Product Owner by the Scrum Alliance. As noted by accredited Certified Scrum Trainer and DVT Academy trainer Iain McKenna: “A good product owner drives delivery of value to customers and users and therefore plays a critical role in a Scrum team.”

4. ICAgile Certified Professional in Agile Business Analysis (ICP-BVA)

The ICP-BVA's learning objectives focus on the need for value management, role scope and diversity. These include: how to change your thinking skills, value management behaviours, determine value in the initiative, communicate that value, analyse to determine value, explore the solution, manage artefacts and enable valuable delivery.

Deidre Forbay, trainer and senior business analyst at DVT, says: "Business value analysis is a crucial aspect of any agile project. Learn how to ensure that your agile project delivers business value to your clients and how to facilitate value-driven workshops with this course."

5. Agile for Executives

If you are a CEO, manager or in a role to drive value within the organisation, then this course is for you. This workshop offers clear, insightful guidance into the philosophies of agile, yet also provides an opportunity to understand the frameworks, secrets on how to support and structure teams within the solution design and delivery spaces. The Agile for Executives workshop will challenge you to think differently while explaining the technicalities around agile on a higher level. It focuses on the requirements from a leadership perspective, key roles to set you up for success, as well as roadmap and budgeting guidelines.

6. Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

Attendees will gain an understanding of the lean-agile mindset, why it’s so effective in today’s adapt-or-die marketplace, and what it means to lead a lean-agile transformation.

During this two-day course, you will gain the knowledge necessary to lead a lean-agile enterprise by leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe), and its underlying principles derived from lean, systems thinking, agile development, product development flow and DevOps. You will get to learn the five competencies needed to become a lean enterprise and practise the skills for supporting and executing PI Planning events, and co-ordinating multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs).

You will also get to learn how to build and support agile teams and programmes, empower a lean portfolio, build a continuous delivery pipeline and DevOps culture, and co-ordinate large solutions.

7. Team Strengths

Agile is all about people and how to best work together to achieve a goal. The individual CliftonStrengths workshop (developed by Gallup) is one of the most unique and reliable ways in which you can develop teams in fostering a self-organising culture.

This enriching session will take team collaboration to the next level. It is recommended for anybody who is looking for the next level in individual and team development. It is also recommended for new as well as advanced agile teams.

Develop a skill set that’s in demand worldwide — and empower your enterprises to succeed in a disruptive marketplace. By attending all or some of these courses and by gaining international certifications, you will be able to shape your agile career and benefit from the time invested in your future.

For more information, visit https://www.dvt.co.za/training.

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DVT

DVT aims to be South Africa’s favourite custom software solutions and services company, with a global footprint. Its services include custom software development for mobile, Web and traditional platforms, UX/UI design, cloud application services, BI and data analytics solutions, robotic process automation (RPA), project management, business analysis, DevOps and Agile consulting.

The DVT Academy, the company’s training division, provides agile related training courses, international agile certifications, a UX fundamentals course and soft-skills workshops and coaching.

Now in its 20th year of operation, DVT has grown to over 500 staff with regional offices in Johannesburg, Centurion, Cape Town, Durban and London. DVT is a company within the software and technology group Dynamic Technologies where skills development and training form an integral part of the group. www.dvt.co.za

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