What is an Agile Project Management Certification, and Do You Need One?

Being agile means being able to move quickly and easily. This definition stays true when you apply Agile as a project management method, specifically for software development.

But getting an agile project management certification is not just for software developers. It is for any kind of professional who works on projects that are complex, uncertain, time-sensitive and that have high customer involvement.

What is agile project management (APM)?

The Association for Project Management defines it as an iterative approach to delivering a project throughout its life cycle.

Iterative or agile life cycles are composed of several versions or iterations ibn which incremental steps are made towards continuously improving and completing the project.

One of the aims of an agile or iterative approach is to benefit customers and end users throughout the process rather than only at the end. In turn, the team gets feedback to improve the project.

It started in the 1990s when software development teams were experiencing challenges with rigid and traditional approaches to project management. Fast forward to 2001, a few teamed up to establish the core tenets of agile, resulting in The Manifesto for Agile Software Development.

How does APM work?

What is the agile methodology in project management? Customers often ask what an agile team does and what guides them as they implement the methodology.

Teams that practice the agile project methodology focus on releasing a minimum viable product with the mission-critical elements, building rapid feedback systems and incorporating continuous adaptation and quality assurance into their iterations. These are guided by four core values and follow a life cycle with five phases.

The four core values of Agile project management

Agile teams keep these four core values in mind when delivering projects:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: One of the aims of an agile or iterative approach is to benefit customers and end users throughout the process rather than only at the end. In turn, the team gets feedback in order to improve the project.

2. Working software over comprehensive documentation: Teams need working software to create a functioning product. Detailed documentation can be done later when required.

3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: It is better to work with customers to get their input than to try to focus on the terms of the contract and keep the business. Focusing on the former will often ensure that the agreement is met.

4. Responding to change over following a plan: It is better to be flexible and to adapt to changes than to keep to a strict plan that may no longer be relevant.
   

What are the five phases of the APM life cycle?

There are five main phases or steps in APM.

1. Envision - Conceptualise the project and overall product, identify the needs of end customers and determine who will work on the project and stakeholders.

2. Speculate - Establish the initial requirements for the product, brainstorm a list of features and then identify project milestones.

3. Explore - This is the project's initial phase, where the team executes the minimum viable product while staying within project constraints and exploring alternatives to fulfil project requirements.

4. Adapt - Review delivered results and adapt as needed, making changes or corrections based on customer and staff feedback.

5. Close - The most recent iteration is reviewed based on updated requirements. The team discusses mistakes and roadblocks to avoid them in the future.
   

Do you need an Agile Certification?

If you work on complex, uncertain, time-sensitive projects with high customer involvement, we think you should get an Agile Project Management Certification.

Getting an Agile certification supports professionals - whether they specialise in project management, software, web development, or creative production. It validates their knowledge of Agile principles and their ability to work in and lead project teams. leaders. It also thrusts their career forward from a technical role into senior management.

Agile Project Management Certifications you can take with Lumify Work include:

Agile Business Analysis Certification
Completing these courses and passing these exams will enable participants to apply the Agile Business Analysis methodology.

Agile Programme Management Certification
Completing this course and passing this exam will enable participants to practice the Agile Programme Management methodology.

Agile Project Management Certification
Completing these courses and passing these exams will enable participants to apply the Agile Project Management methodology.

AgileSHIFT® Certification
Completing this course and passing this exam will enable participants to practice the AgileSHIFT methodology for projects geared towards organisational change.

PRINCE2 Agile® Certification
Completing this course and passing this exam will enable participants to apply the Agile methodology to PRINCE2 projects.

Agile Scrum Master

Agile Scrum Product Owner

Agile Certifications you can take with Lumify Work that are focused on ITSM and DevOps:

Certified Agile Service Manager (CASM) Certification
The Certified Agile Service Manager (CASM)® two-day course provides an introduction to Agile Service Management, the application, and integration of agile thinking into service management processes and process design projects.

DevOps Leader (DOL) Certification
Leading people through a DevOps evolution requires new skills, tools, innovative thinking, and transformational leadership in order to be successful.

Get an Agile Project Management Certification with Lumify Work

Christopher Millmore is one of our customers who gained his Agile Project Management certification. He works as a project manager for an Australian Veteran owned business providing professional services in the Defence sector. Here's what he had to say:

"(I) Attended the training in Agile PM Foundation and Practitioner with Lumify Work training and it was exceptional. The course as a 5-day package built a much stronger understanding than I had from any previous training. (I) Would recommend this #training if anyone is looking to upskill in #agile."

Lumify Work is the largest corporate IT and process training provider in Australia, with campuses in New Zealand, and the Philippines. We have been delivering Agile and Project Management training courses since 1999 for the IT industry and top 100 ASX corporations.

Lumify Work is an official partner of well-known names in Agile project management such as AXELOS and PeopleCert, the DevOps Institute, and APMG International.

Our interactive training and workshops will give you a solid foundation in the concepts, tools and techniques of Project Management. And with Lumify Anywhere, students can choose to undertake these studies on-site or online – allowing flexible delivery to suit their personal needs and schedule.

Access our guide to project management frameworks to learn about which one can support you as a leader in sustainability. You can also enquire with us about Agile & Scrum and Project & Programme Management courses today.