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2016 | Book

Domain I: Agile Principles and Mindset Read chapter Read first chapter

Ace the PMI-ACP® exam

A Quick Reference Guide for the Busy Professional

Author: Sumanta Boral

Publisher: Apress

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

Prepare for the Project Management Institute’s (PMI®) Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP®) exam. Augment your professional experience with the necessary knowledge of the skills, tools, and techniques that are required for passing the examination. This is a comprehensive and one-stop guide with 100% coverage of the exam topics detailed in the PMI-ACP® Exam content outline. Rehearse and test your knowledge and understanding of the subject using the practice quizzes after each chapter, three full-length mock exams, and practical tips and advice.

You will be able to understand the Agile manifesto, its principles and many facets of Agile project management such as planning, prioritization, estimation, releases, retrospectives, risk management, and continuous improvement. The book covers Agile metrics and means of demonstrating progress. People management aspects such as behavioral traits, servant leadership, negotiation, conflict management, team building, and Agile coaching are explained.

Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned practitioner, this book also serves as a practical reference for key concepts in Agile and Agile methodologies such as Scrum, XP, Lean, and Kanban.

What you will learn:

•The necessary knowledge of the skills, tools, and techniques that are required for passing the PMI-ACP examination•To understand the scope and objectives of the PMI-ACP exam, and gain confidence by taking practice quizzes provided in each chapter and three full-length mock exams•To gain exposure to Agile methodologies such as Scrum, XP, Lean, and Kanban plus various tools and techniques required to conduct Agile projects•The focus is to "Be Agile", rather than "Do Agile"

Who this book is for:

The audience for this book primarily includes IT professionals who wish to prepare for and pass the Agile Certified Professional (ACP) exam from the Project Management Institute (PMI). The book also is a practical reference book for Agile Practioners.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. Domain I: Agile Principles and Mindset
Abstract
The PMI-ACP certification recognizes an individual's expertize in Agile practices by putting equal focus on knowledge and skills as well as Agile tools and techniques. The Tools and Techniques area that spans 50% of the exam covers topics like estimation, planning, adapting, quality, metrics, communication, value-based analysis, and prioritization to name but a few. The other 50% is dedicated to knowledge and skills that have been organized into levels of importance. The discussion around these topics will constitute this book. But first, and foremost, we need to understand the foundation concepts of the Agile framework; its contrasts with traditional (waterfall-based) project management; and most important, the Agile Manifesto and its guiding principles.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 2. Domain I Continued: Agile Methodologies
Abstract
In this chapter, we will discuss some of the popular Agile methodologies. For the PMI-ACP exam, the first four methods, namely, Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Lean, and Kanban are very important. Awareness of some of the other methodologies like Feature-Driven Development (FDD), Dynamic system development method (DSDM), and the Crystal Family of methodologies is required since they embody some unique Agile practices that are commonly used in other methodologies.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 3. Domain II: Value-Driven Delivery
Abstract
The concept of value-driven delivery manifests in every stage of an Agile project – initiation where the business case of projects are justified, incremental planning where customer values and risks are balanced and prioritized, monitoring and tracking with deliberate emphasis on real-time customer feedback, and reporting value through a variety of visual indicators.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 4. Domain III: Stakeholder Engagement
Abstract
We have spoken about stakeholders dozens of times since the beginning of this book, and we will continue to do so in the following chapters. Such is the relevance and significance of stakeholders that this whole chapter is dedicated to aspects of stakeholder engagement as it pertains to Agile projects. Since projects are commissioned for the benefit of stakeholders, stakeholder satisfaction is a key objective for the project team. Irrespective of whether the other project constraints are met or not, stakeholder (e.g., customer) satisfaction or lack of it could translate into success or failure of a project. The most dominating stakeholder is the customer or the user of the software product being built by the Agile professionals, so a majority of the chapter is devoted to understanding how to engage them in project affairs from start to finish.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 5. Domain IV: Team Performance
Abstract
This chapter is a continuation of the last chapter on stakeholder management. After all, team members and their leaders are very critical stakeholders for a project team. So almost all of the concepts, theories, practices, tools, and techniques that were discussed are relevant to the content of this chapter, too. We recommend that you read this chapter after completing the previous one and then be at your liberty to flip back and forth between chapters to relate to interdependent concepts.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 6. Domain V: Adaptive Planning
Abstract
This is one of the most important chapters as far as the PMI-ACP exam is concerned. The chapter is fairly exhaustive in terms of coverage of many terms and key concepts that are required for Agile projects. Also the position of this chapter is apt, almost in the middle of the book, which reflects that planning takes the center stage in Agile projects and other domains revolve around it.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 7. Domain VI: Problem Detection and Resolution
Abstract
Agile teams are self-organized. At the beginning of every iteration, they collectively commit to deliver a certain scope within the timebox based on their capacity. However, even with the best of intentions, surprises do crop up in projects. A characteristics of self-organization involves dealing with problems, identifying them proactively, and responding appropriately by taking either preventive or corrective actions. In the two main sections of this chapter we look at two dimensions of problems – first, which are uncertain and called risks. The other one is about the methods that Agile teams use to assure quality of their incremental deliverables.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 8. Domain VII: Continuous Improvement (Product, Process, People)
Abstract
From the name of this chapter, it appears that this is a repetition of what has already been covered so far in the book. In fact, that is indeed right. Almost everywhere we have seen how feedback and continuous improvement is an integral part of all Agile practices. This is the seventh and last domain from the PMI-ACP course outline.
Sumanta Boral
Chapter 9. PMI® Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
Abstract
This is the final chapter on the course for the PMI-ACP exam. One can expect up to four or five questions on the topic of ethics and professional conduct as it relates to the Agile practitioner. Questions are most likely blended with other topics, so it might be hard to pinpoint the chapter from where it is originating; and as such, that is unnecessary to know as well.
Sumanta Boral
Appendix. Appendix
Abstract
In the following section I will give you some do’s and don’ts, based on my personal experience that you might consider helpful. This is the risky part, since every exam taker has his or her own individual style of approaching a goal. So, read it and absorb only the part that you personally connect to it. If it strikes a chord, great! If it doesn’t, don’t bother.
Sumanta Boral
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
Ace the PMI-ACP® exam
Author
Sumanta Boral
Copyright Year
2016
Publisher
Apress
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4842-2526-4
Print ISBN
978-1-4842-2525-7
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-2526-4

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