PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® Boot Camp

Overview

As an ever-growing movement across a broad array of industries, Agile is widely viewed as the new era of productivity. Executing organizational strategies now demands competency in leading and managing outcomes in a dynamic and rapidly changing world. Today’s product development and project management is adapting to embrace Agile, therefore, practitioners who are looking to stay relevant in a highly competitive profession now have resources and expertise to guide them.

The Project Management Institute's Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® certification is an industry hallmark that demonstrates that one’s readiness to lead in this new age of product development, management and delivery. Completing this course not only prepares you to lead your next Agile project effort but ensures that you're prepared for the PMI-ACP certification exam.

Who Should Attend

This PMI-ACP course is intended for anyone who wants to learn the principles and practices of Agile and meet the educational requirements for the PMI-ACP Certification.

PMI-ACP Certification Process

The PMI-ACP Certification is NOT INCLUDED with the course, and those who wish to continue with the certification process please read the PMI-ACP certification requirements found on the PMI-ACP Application Process page. PMI governs the certification process, pre-requisites and exam, and requires it's own fee for certification.

Class Format and Duration

This course is delivered over 4 8-hour days with live instructor-led PMI-ACP certified trainers. Additional resources will be incorporated and available to you offline.

Course Content

The following outline will aid in understanding how the course will be structed and the objectives of each section.

Introduction

• Trainer Introductions
• Class Methodology and Materials
• Learning Objectives Orientation
• Agile Relevancy and Context
• PMI-ACP Exam Overview

Lesson 1: Mindset

Agile is a ‘mindset’, not a ‘methodology’. Principals of Agile require cultural adaptations to bring about the necessary environment for teams to thrive. Effectiveness of Agile teams and leadership is core to the survival of Agile organizations.

• Experiment Early
• Embrace the Agile Mindset
• Promote a Collaborative Team Environment
• Build Transparency
• Foster Psychological Safety
• Shorten Feedback Loops
• Embrace Change

Lesson 2: Leadership

Leading in an Agile environment not only requires a commitment to building and supporting the Agile mindset but broadening levels of authority and autonomy at the team level.

• Empower Teams
• Facilitate Problem Resolution
• Promote Knowledge Sharing
• Promote Agile Mindset, Principles, and Practices
• Promote Shared Vision and Purpose
• Facilitate Conflict Management

Lesson 3: Product

Product Ownership and Management are key to setting the stage for effective execution and delivery on an organization’s strategies.

• Refine the Product Backlog
• Manage Increments
• Visualize Work
• Manage Value Delivery

Lesson 4: Delivery

Leveraging the direction and priorities set for Product development, Agile teams need to be equipped to execute and continuously adapt as they progress through development. Agile teams have bet set up with the autonomy and self-efficacy to drive success.

• Seek Early Feedback
• Manage Agile Metrics
• Manage Impediments and Risk
• Recognize and Eliminate Waste
• Perform Continuous Improvements
• Engage Customers
• Optimize Flow

Lesson 5: Preparing For The PMI-ACP Exam

• Application Process Overview
• Advice For Preparing Once Your Leave Class
• Tips for Exam Day Success
• Post-Course Support Resources
• Certification Maintenance

Meet Your Instructors

Anu Smalley the President and Founder of Capala Consulting Group, LLC where she specializes in Executive coaching and Agile Transformations. She is also an Enterprise Agile Coach and Certified Scrum Trainer® - providing education and coaching, consulting services to clients across the United States. An IT professional with over 25 years of industry experience, Anu holds a Master’s degree in Psychology from Osmania University in India and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Bowling Green State University, Ohio.

Anu has extensive experience with large scale agile transformations, integral to the success of the likes of Capital One through her training and coaching expertise. She has specialized in leadership coaching and large group facilitation. Anu has established internal agile coaching Centers of Excellence for several clients to allow self-sustained coaching of their agile transformations. She has developed a coaching program specifically designed for evolving organizational leaders. Anu speaks frequently at conferences both nationally and internationally on Agile Leadership, Product Ownership, Coaching, and Group Facilitation Techniques.

Kate Megaw is passionate about coaching and training others, dedicated to helping to achieve professional and personal success. She has also committed to improving the agile community through several activities. She is an active member of the larger Scrum and Agile community and enjoys giving back via volunteering at various conferences.

Kate Megaw is the Founder and CEO of ARCLight Agile where she specializes in working with organizations on their #JourneytoAgility. She helps teams on their journey to empowerment and collaboration, to achieve faster decision making and therefore a focus on customers and their rapidly changing needs. Kate works with leaders throughout the organization, regardless of department, to create a more agile approach to leadership that encourages innovation, flexibility, and empowered teams, allowing organizations to achieve their purpose.

Kate is a dynamic Certified Scrum Trainer (CST), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Team Coach (CTC), with over 20 years working in Education, Operations, Project Management, IT, and Consulting.

With her finely honed communication and presentation abilities, complemented by strong planning, organizational and people management skills, Kate is a popular speaker at events. She is a motivator and encourager and is happiest when she breaks through to a client and leads them to the ‘aha’ moment.

Before moving to the United States, Kate received her bachelor’s degree in Information Management from the Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland.

Dave Prior, PMP, PMI-ACP, CSM, CSPO, CSP, CST, has been leading technology projects and teaching individuals and teams how to manage their work for over 20 years. He has managed projects, programs, PMOs, and portfolios, and has been focused on Agile since 1999. Dave's approach focuses heavily on finding a better way to help those who are making the journey from a traditional approach (waterfall) over to Agile.

Each week, Dave’s podcasts appear on LeadingAgile and ProjectManagement.com. The podcasts focus on best practices for transitioning from waterfall to Agile, as well as guidance and advice from other Agile practitioners.

Dave is a Certified Scrum Trainer and he works as the Chief Experience Officer for The Agile Network. He leads CSM, CSPO, and Advanced CSPO classes, and he is also an instructor for The Modus Institute where he teaches classes in Personal Kanban and The Art of War for Collaboration.