Scaling Agile Techniques using Nexus™

Duration: 2-days

About the course:

This two-day course will introduce participants to the best practices and techniques needed to utilize Scrum when multiple teams are working on a single project or product.

Course Objectives

• Understand how to scale Scrum to large projects.
• Provide an overview of the Nexus™ Framework as an approach for scaling
• Learn best practices and anti-patterns for scaling Agile projects
• Prepare participants to take the certification exam for Scaled Professional Scrum® (SPS) - Optional Fee

Audience:

• Functional Managers
• Project Managers
• Program Managers
• Scrum Masters
• Product Owners

Course Outline:

Introduction to Scaling Agile

• Why Agile?
• Why Scrum?
  • What Is a Product?
  • What Is Scrum?
• Comparison of Scaling Techniques: SaFe®, DaD, LeSS, Nexus
• Why Nexus?
• Simplicity Is the Key to Scaling

Introducing Nexus

• What Is Nexus?
• Nexus Extends Scrum
• The Nexus Integration Team
• Nexus Events
  • Refinement
  • Nexus Sprint Planning
  • The Nexus Daily Scrum
  • The Nexus Sprint Review
  • The Nexus Sprint Retrospective
• Nexus Artifacts
  • Product Backlog
  • Nexus Goal
  • Nexus Sprint Backlog
  • Integrated Increment
  • Artifact Transparency
  • Definition of “Done” in Nexus

Forming a Nexus

• Evolving a Cross-functional Team
  • Practice: Form Teams around Increments of Business Value
  • Practice: Form Self-Organizing Teams
• Growing a Nexus
  • Starting Small and Then Growing
  • Using Pairing and “Internship” to Grow Scrum Teams
  • Why Only Three to Nine Scrum Teams in a Nexus?
• Forming the Nexus Integration Team
• How Does a Nexus Work?

Planning for Scaled Projects

• Backlog Planning
  • Consolidating and Validating the Product Backlog
  • Refining the Product Backlog
  • Cross-Team Product Backlog Refinement
• Sprint Planning
  • Establishing the Nexus Goal
  • Estimation and Sizing Product Backlog Items
  • Connecting Product Backlog Items to Value Delivery
  • Building the Nexus Sprint Backlog and Scrum Team Backlogs

Running a Sprint in Nexus

• The Daily Scrum
• Providing Transparency Inside and Outside the Nexus
  • Product Backlog Treemap
  • Product Backlog Burndown and Velocity
• The Sprint Review
• The Sprint Retrospective

Evolving the Nexus

• Organizing Scrum Teams around Features
• Managing Code Like an Open-Source Project
• Organizing Teams around Personas
• Expanding the Nexus Integration Team
• Updating and Refining the Product Backlog
• Evolving the Nexus events
• The Challenges of Scaling Scrum

Implementing a Scaled Agile framework

• Implementing in  Emergency Mode
• Descaling
• Using a Health Checks
• Scrumbling
• Lessons Learned
• The Nexus Integration Team
• Release Frequency
• Productivity
• Self-organization
• Areas for Improvement
• Managing Technical Debt
• Scaling the Product Owner
• Skill Development
• Transparency and Trust

Participants receive a course workbook that covers the details of each topic to assist during the course and serve as a tool for future reference and taking action when returning to the workplace. Additionally, each participant will receive free 30-day access to a practice exam for the Scaled Professional Scrum® (SPS) certification from Scrum.org.

Note: Cape Project Management, Inc. is not affiliated with Scrum.org. Nexus™ and Scaled Professional Scrum® are trademarks of Scrum.org.

About the Instructor, Dan Tousignant, PMP, PMI-ACP

Dan is a lifelong project manager and trainer with extensive experience in managing software development projects. Based upon this experience, he has adopted Agile as the primary approach for developing and implementing software. Though the role of the professional project manager is changing dramatically through these approaches, Dan coaches organizations on how to transition project teams and leadership to an Agile environment.

Dan has over 20 years of experience providing world class project management for strategic projects, direct P& L experience managing up to 50 million dollar software development project budgets, experience managing multi-million dollar outsourced software development efforts and strong, demonstrated, results-driven leadership skills including ability to communicate a clear vision, build strong teams, and drive necessary change within organizations. With extensive experience providing coaching and training across industries and the ability to manage relationships at the executive level, Dan knows what it takes to succeed.

Dan holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Industrial Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is a Certified Project Management Professional, Professional Scrum Master, PMI Agile Certified Practitioner, Certified Scrum Product Owner, and Certified Professional Scrum Developer.