Month: September 2011

Agile Project Management, Books, Estimating, Events, Lean, Metrics, Planning, PMI-ACP, Travel

PMI-ACP Value Stream Mapping

I have been away attending the excellent “Agile on The Beach” conference recently, but when I returned I had an email waiting requesting some PMI-ACP study help on Value Stream Mapping. So here is quick outline of the topic. Value Stream Mapping – is a lean manufacturing technique that has been adopted by agile methods. It is used to analyze the flow of information (or materials) required to complete a process and to determine elements of waste that may be removed to improve the efficiency of the process. Value stream mapping usually involves creating visual maps of the process (value stream maps) and progresses through these stages:1)    Identify the product or service that you are analyzing2)    Create a value stream […]

Read more
Agile Project Management, Books, Planning, PMI-ACP, Risk Management

Value Driven Delivery

(This post, a draft sample from my upcoming PMI-ACP Prep book, takes a look at the “Value Driven Delivery” domain.) Value, specifically the delivery of business value, is a core component of agile methods. This concept is woven into the agile DNA with its inclusion in the Agile Values (“Working software over comprehensive documentation”) and the Agile Principles (“Working software is delivered frequently” and “Working software is the principal measure of progress”). The focus on delivering value drives much of the agile activities and decision making on a project, and it manifests itself in many of the Tools and Techniques (T&T) and Knowledge and Skills (K&S) used. The focus on value is such an essential component of agile methods that […]

Read more
Uncategorized

The New “Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide”

I was in Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago for the kick-off meeting for the “Software Extension to the PMBOK Guide”. This initiative sponsored by the PMI and IEEE is developing additional guidance for project managers on software projects. The PMBOK Guide is generic, intended for all kinds of projects. When it comes to Execution guidance, it effectively says “go do the stuff in the project plan, based on your industry good practices” and this is the only all-purpose advice to safely give. It would be foolish to mandate construction projects be undertaken the same way as biotech projects, or software, or aerospace R&D projects. This is why there is already a “Construction Extension to the PMBOK Guide” for […]

Read more
Agile Project Management, Books, Events, PMI-ACP

RMC’s PMI-ACP Exam Prep Book

I am excited to announce I will be working with RMC to create a PMI-ACP Study Guide book for the upcoming PMI Agile Certified Practitioner exam. When I was studying for my PMP exam many years ago, I used Rita Mulcahy’s PMP Prep Study Guide and was very grateful for the plain English explanations, exam guidance, and sample questions. So it feels right and a bit of a privilege to be working with the same company to help guide people for this new exam. Working with the other PMI-ACP Steering Committee members over the last couple of years on the Agile Community of Practice and to define the exam has been a great experience, but the hundreds of hours of […]

Read more