Delve into Agile methodologies, compare them with Waterfall, explore planning techniques, and discover tools like SCRUM and Kanban. Gain insights into solving common problems with Agile.

This course is designed to help learners build an understanding of Agile’s process model and its different approaches and techniques.

To understand the advantages of implementing Agile techniques, the course begins with a comparison of Agile methods and the traditional Waterfall model. Then, you’ll get to know about different planning approaches to help users effectively adjust deadlines. Next, there’s a discussion on backlogs and different visual techniques, such as burn-down charts and burn-up charts, that help increase the efficiency of projects.

You will also learn Agile methodologies including SCRUM, eXtreme Programming, DSDM, Smart and Kanban, as well as the differences and similarities between these approaches. Finally, you’ll look at some common problems and learn ways to solve them using Agile methodologies.

Learn Agile Methodologies from Scratch

## When to give estimates?

Estimation is vital to projects. At the start of a project, a plan is drafted for the project, including how many people will be on the team, based on a good estimate. Estimation is used to determine whether the customer’s intended deadlines are achievable. During a project, estimation is used to determine the impact of new and changed work items in order to monitor the growth of the scope and re-planning.

Estimation is, therefore, a continuous process in Agile and is employed in the following steps:


### Start of the project

   An initial estimate is needed to provide a quote for a project. In lightweight Agile approaches, this isn’t always described. This applies to Scrum or Extreme Programming. These projects start with the first iteration in which work items are already realized. Other Agile approaches, such as Smart, DSDM, and Feature Driven Development (FDD), contain initial iterations in which the work items for the backlog will be determined, an estimate will be completed and a quotation and project plan created.

### During iterations

   During iterations, the chosen work items are further detailed. User stories are split into tasks, Smart use cases are elaborated. With this new knowledge, an estimate is made to determine whether the amount of work fits into the iteration. The total estimate often also changes due to this, which has an effect on the expected duration.

Unfortunately, not all Agile projects establish an initial estimate, a quote, and a project plan.



# When to give estimates?

Estimation is vital to projects. At the start of a project, a plan is drafted for the project, including how many people will be on the team, based on a good estimate. Estimation is used to determine whether the customer’s intended deadlines are achievable. During a project, estimation is used to determine the impact of new and changed work items in order to monitor the growth of the scope and re-planning.

Estimation is, therefore, a continuous process in Agile and is employed in the following steps:


## Start of the project

   An initial estimate is needed to provide a quote for a project. In lightweight Agile approaches, this isn’t always described. This applies to Scrum or Extreme Programming. These projects start with the first iteration in which work items are already realized. Other Agile approaches, such as Smart, DSDM, and Feature Driven Development (FDD), contain initial iterations in which the work items for the backlog will be determined, an estimate will be completed and a quotation and project plan created.

## During iterations

   During iterations, the chosen work items are further detailed. User stories are split into tasks, Smart use cases are elaborated. With this new knowledge, an estimate is made to determine whether the amount of work fits into the iteration. The total estimate often also changes due to this, which has an effect on the expected duration.

Unfortunately, not all Agile projects establish an initial estimate, a quote, and a project plan.



Learn about the process of giving project estimates in Agile.

Getting Started

Why does the Waterfall Process model not work?

What is Agile?

Short Iterations in Agile

Collaboration in Teams

Collaborating Roles

Agile Requirements

Estimating

Planning

Implementing Agile

Issues in Using Agile

Choosing the Most Appropriate Process Model

Conclusion

Timing of Estimates

When to give estimates?

Start of the project