According to several of the authors of the Agile Manifesto, the word agile refers to adaptability and how quick a team or an organization is able to respond to changes. As a consequence, this means that the “Manifesto for Agile Software Development” might as well have been called the “Manifesto […]
An Agile Center of Excellence (CoE) is a centralized team or group within an organization that provides leadership, guidance, and support for the successful adoption and implementation of Agile practices. The Agile CoE serves as a hub of expertise, sharing best practices, providing training, and promoting consistency across Agile initiatives. […]
An Agile Framework is a structured approach to implementing Agile principles and practices within an organization. It provides a set of guidelines, roles, ceremonies, and artifacts that help teams and organizations adopt and scale Agile methodologies effectively. Agile Frameworks are designed to improve collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness, enabling teams to […]
The Agile Mindset is a set of beliefs, attitudes, and values that underpin the Agile approach to software development and project management. It is the foundation upon which Agile principles and practices are built. The Agile Mindset emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, customer-centricity, and continuous improvement. Key aspects of the Agile Mindset […]
Agile Principles are a set of guiding values and beliefs that underpin the Agile Manifesto, a foundational document for Agile software development. The principles provide a philosophical foundation for Agile methodologies and practices, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, customer focus, flexibility, and continuous improvement. The 12 Agile Principles, as stated […]
Agile Release Planning is a collaborative and iterative process in Agile software development that focuses on creating a high-level plan for delivering valuable increments of a product over multiple Sprints or iterations. The goal of Agile Release Planning is to align the development team, stakeholders, and business objectives, and to […]
An Agile Release Train (ART) is a key concept in the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and represents a long-lived team of agile teams that work together to deliver value in a coordinated and synchronized manner. It is a large, cross-functional group of Agile teams aligned to a common mission and […]
A Backlog Item, also known as a Product Backlog Item (PBI) or simply an item, refers to an individual unit of work or a specific task that is included in the Product Backlog. The Product Backlog is a prioritized and dynamic list of all the work that needs to be […]
Backlog Refinement, also known as Backlog Grooming, is an essential activity in Agile methodologies, particularly in Scrum. It involves regularly reviewing and refining the items in the product backlog to ensure that they are well-defined, prioritized, and ready for inclusion in future development iterations (Sprints). Key points about Backlog Refinement […]
Business Agility is the ability of an organization to respond rapidly and effectively to changes in the market, customer needs, technology, and other external and internal factors. It is about creating an adaptive and resilient organization that can continuously innovate, deliver value, and thrive in a dynamic and unpredictable business […]
A Business Agility Framework is a structured and flexible approach that organizations adopt to enhance their agility and adaptability in response to changing market conditions, customer needs, and competitive landscapes. It is designed to help organizations transform and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Key points about a Business […]
Business Value refers to the measurable benefit or worth that a product, project, or initiative brings to an organization. It represents the positive impact that the outcome or result of an activity has on achieving the organization’s strategic goals, meeting customer needs, or generating financial returns. Key points to understand […]
Continuous Improvement in the context of Business Agility refers to an ongoing process of making incremental enhancements and refinements to an organization’s products, services, processes, and practices. It is a fundamental principle of Agile methodologies and business agility, emphasizing the need for continuous learning, adaptation, and growth. Here’s an overview […]
The Daily Stand-up, also known as Daily Scrum, is a short and time-boxed meeting that takes place every day during a Sprint in Scrum. It is a key event for the Scrum team to synchronize activities, discuss progress, and plan for the day ahead. Key points about the Daily Stand-up […]
The Definition of Done (DoD) is a clear and agreed-upon set of criteria that outlines what must be accomplished for a product increment or a user story to be considered complete, fully developed, and ready for release. It is a vital concept in Agile development, particularly in Scrum, to ensure […]
The Definition of Ready (DoR) is a set of criteria that outlines the necessary conditions that a user story or product backlog item must meet before it can be accepted into a Sprint for development. It is a concept used in Agile methodologies, particularly in Scrum, to ensure that backlog […]
Empirical Process Control is a key principle in Agile methodologies and Lean practices. It is an approach to managing and improving processes based on observation, experimentation, and real-time data. The term “empirical” refers to a process of making decisions based on evidence and direct observation rather than relying solely on […]
In the context of agile project management and software development, an Epic is a large, high-level user story or initiative that represents a significant piece of work. Epics are used to capture and manage large-scale features or requirements that cannot be easily implemented within a single iteration or sprint. They […]
In the context of agile project management and software development, a Feature is a distinct piece of functionality that delivers value to users or customers. It represents a higher-level user story and is larger in scope than individual user stories, but smaller than an Epic. Features are used to group […]
In the context of Business Agility, “Flow” refers to the smooth and efficient movement of work, information, and value across an organization’s entire value stream. It extends beyond the software development process and encompasses the end-to-end flow of activities, from ideation and customer engagement to product delivery and support. Flow […]
Inspect and Adapt is a fundamental practice in Agile methodologies, particularly in the Scrum framework. It is a continuous improvement process that involves regularly reviewing and assessing the work done in a project or iteration (Sprint) to identify areas for improvement and make adaptations for future iterations. Key aspects of […]
INVEST is an acronym used in Agile software development to define a set of criteria that help ensure that user stories or requirements are well-defined and ready for implementation. It was introduced by Bill Wake as a mnemonic for remembering these essential characteristics of good user stories. Each letter in […]
An iteration, in the context of software development and Agile methodologies, refers to a time-boxed development cycle during which a team works on a specific set of tasks or user stories. It is a fundamental concept used in various Agile frameworks, including Scrum and Kanban, to manage and deliver work […]
Kaizen is a Japanese term that means “change for better” or “continuous improvement.” In the context of business management and Lean methodologies, Kaizen refers to the philosophy and practice of making small, incremental improvements to processes, products, or services over time. Key points about Kaizen include: Kaizen is a cornerstone […]
A Lean-Agile PMO (Project Management Office) is a Project Management Office that operates in alignment with Lean and Agile principles. It plays a critical role in supporting the successful implementation of Lean and Agile practices across the organization’s projects and initiatives. Key characteristics and functions of a Lean-Agile PMO include: […]
Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) is an Agile approach to managing a portfolio of projects, initiatives, and products within an organization. It aims to align the organization’s strategy, investment decisions, and execution with Lean-Agile principles to deliver valuable products and services efficiently. Key components and principles of Lean Portfolio Management include: […]
PDCA stands for Plan-Do-Check-Act, and it is a four-step iterative management cycle used for continuous improvement and problem-solving. PDCA is also known as the Deming Cycle or the Shewhart Cycle, named after its creator, Dr. W. Edwards Deming, who is considered one of the fathers of modern quality management. The […]
A Product Backlog is a prioritized and dynamic list of all the work items, features, enhancements, and bug fixes that need to be addressed to create and maintain a product. It serves as the single source of truth for the development team, product owner, and other stakeholders regarding what needs […]
A Product Increment is a tangible, coherent, and usable portion of a product that is developed and delivered during an Agile development iteration, commonly known as a Sprint in Scrum. It represents the sum of all the work completed during the iteration, including new features, enhancements, and bug fixes, that […]
A Product Manager is a professional responsible for the strategic planning, development, and management of a product or product portfolio throughout its lifecycle. They play a critical role in bridging the gap between the customer’s needs, the business goals, and the development teams. Key responsibilities of a Product Manager include: […]
The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. How this is done may vary widely across organizations, Scrum Teams, and individuals. The Product Owner is also accountable for effective Product Backlog management, which includes: The Product Owner may […]
SAFe stands for “Scaled Agile Framework,” and it is a widely-used framework for implementing agile practices at scale in large organizations. SAFe provides a structured approach to scaling agile principles and methodologies to address the challenges of coordinating work across multiple teams, business units, and departments. The main objectives of […]
The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness. They do this by enabling the Scrum […]
Scrum of Scrums (SoS) is a technique used in large-scale Agile projects to coordinate and integrate the work of multiple Scrum teams. It facilitates communication, collaboration, and alignment among these teams to ensure they are working effectively toward the common goal of delivering a complex product. Key points about Scrum […]
Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is a visual tool and Lean management technique used to analyze, optimize, and improve the flow of materials, information, and activities required to deliver a product or service to customers. It provides a holistic view of the end-to-end process, from the initial request to the final […]