Overview

This five-day accredited course provides participants with a thorough grounding in the DSDM Agile Project Management framework. It is comprised of a Foundation-level introduction to the framework, and an in-depth Practitioner-level examination of how a project manager applies the framework.

Presented by skilled lecturers with extensive experience in the practical application of project management, the course includes examination coaching and practice using sample questions.

This course does not cover the Scrum Framework.

Delegates should be prepared to set aside time to revise for the Foundation and Practitioner exams, in the evenings after the course lecture finishes. This includes studying the course Handbook, and working through sample exam questions.

Target Audience

The Practitioner course is intended for anyone who expects to have a management or leadership role in an Agile project and is specifically built to support anyone who needs to apply the DSDM Project Management framework in a business environment. Delegates are expected to have experience of team leading, project management, or project assurance/support.

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Prerequisites

Proof of identity

Delegates must bring signed photo ID on any APMG exam (passport, driving license, student card) as they will be asked by the invigilator to produce it prior to the exam. Delegates must also be familiar with the APMG Terms and Conditions of Certification which can be found on the APMG International website.

Pre-Course Reading

While not required, delegates are encouraged to visit the DSDM Consortium's website and start to become familiar with the framework, at www.agilebusiness.org. It is advised that this could take between 2 - 4 hours.

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Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course you will be able to:

  • Set up an Agile project
  • Identify appropriate people for Agile roles
  • Define Increments and Timeboxes to keep a project on track
  • Manage a Solution Development Team
  • Communicate with business stakeholders in a project environment
  • Use Agile techniques, including prioritisation of requirements, to ensure on-time project delivery
  • Present the benefits of Agile approaches to senior management
  • Identify risks to delivery of projects managed using the DSDM Agile approach
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Course Outline

Foundation Preparation

  • What is Agile? And why use DSDM?
  • Philosophy, Principles, and Project Variables
  • Preparing for Success
  • Preparing for Agile Project Management
  • The DSDM Process
  • The People - DSDM Roles and Responsibilities
  • The DSDM Products
  • Key Practices - Prioritisation and Timeboxing
  • Planning and Control Throughout the Lifecycle
  • Other Practices - Iterative Development, Facilitated Workshops, Modeling and Prototyping

Practitioner Preparation

  • Roles and Responsibilities - the project manager's view
  • Agile Project Management through the Lifecycle
  • The Effective Use of the Products
  • Deliver on Time - Combining MoSCoW and Timeboxing
  • People, Teams, and Interactions
  • Requirements and User Stories
  • Estimating - How and When
  • Project Planning throughout the Lifecycle
  • Quality - Never Compromise Quality
  • Risk Management
  • Tailoring the Approach

Agile Foundation and Practitioner Examinations

All delegates will sit the APMG Agile Foundation examination (a multiple choice paper) in the late afternoon of the second day of the course. Successful candidates will then be eligible to sit the Practitioner exam in the afternoon of the fifth day. Photo ID is required to take these exams.

Exam timing

The Foundation examination is taken at 15:00 during the afternoon on Day 2 and candidates may take 40 minutes to complete it

The Practitioner examination takes place at 13:00 on the afternoon of Day 5 and will last for up to 2.5 hours

Exam Format: Foundation

  • Multiple choice format
  • 50 questions per paper
  • 25 marks required to pass (out of 50 available) - 50%
  • 40 minutes duration
  • Closed book

Exam Format: Practitioner

  • Objective examination. 4 questions (20 points per question).
  • 40/80 points required to pass the exam (50%).
  • Duration 2.5 hours.
  • Open book (only the official AgilePM manual is allowed).

Please Note: The last day (Day 5) will finish by 15:30 after the conclusion of the Practitioner exam.

APMG-International Agile Project Management is a trademark of The APM Group Limited.

QA reserves the right to improve the specification and format of its courses for the benefit of its customers without notice to the customer.

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Why choose QA

Special Notices

Please note: Due to the current situation with Covid 19 the APMG are enabling your exam to be taken virtually. Your exam will therefore be scheduled for the same day and time as it would for a classroom event. QA’s exam administration team will place the booking with APMG. APMG will then email delegates directly confirming the details of the exam session and provide the relevant information the delegates will require in order to access their exam on the day.

Please note: to support your learning this course features digital assets and may also feature digital courseware that require a MyQA login in order to access. All the relevant links and sign-up details will be sent to you in the course joining instructions email. During the in-centre training we provide laptops to access these digital assets and courseware, but you will need your own internet-connected device in order to access any evening homework. If you foresee any problems please get in touch with QA as soon as possible.

This course has been updated to version 2.0 of the Agile Project Management Handbook.

Dates & Locations

Agile learning paths

Want to boost your career in agile? Click on the roles below to see QA‘s learning pathways, specially designed to give you the skills to succeed.

Required Star = Required
Certification = Certification
Agile Product Owner
Agile Scrum Master
Agile Leadership
Agile Team Member
Agile Coach
Agile Business Agility Practitioner
Agile Business Analyst
Agile Project & Change Management Leadership
Agile Testing
Agile Programmers & Engineers

Frequently asked questions

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How can I create an account on myQA.com?

There are a number of ways to create an account. If you are a self-funder, simply select the "Create account" option on the login page.

If you have been booked onto a course by your company, you will receive a confirmation email. From this email, select "Sign into myQA" and you will be taken to the "Create account" page. Complete all of the details and select "Create account".

If you have the booking number you can also go here and select the "I have a booking number" option. Enter the booking reference and your surname. If the details match, you will be taken to the "Create account" page from where you can enter your details and confirm your account.

Find more answers to frequently asked questions in our FAQs: Bookings & Cancellations page.

How do QA’s virtual classroom courses work?

Our virtual classroom courses allow you to access award-winning classroom training, without leaving your home or office. Our learning professionals are specially trained on how to interact with remote attendees and our remote labs ensure all participants can take part in hands-on exercises wherever they are.

We use the WebEx video conferencing platform by Cisco. Before you book, check that you meet the WebEx system requirements and run a test meeting (more details in the link below) to ensure the software is compatible with your firewall settings. If it doesn’t work, try adjusting your settings or contact your IT department about permitting the website.

Learn more about our Virtual Classrooms.

How do QA’s online courses work?

QA online courses, also commonly known as distance learning courses or elearning courses, take the form of interactive software designed for individual learning, but you will also have access to full support from our subject-matter experts for the duration of your course. When you book a QA online learning course you will receive immediate access to it through our e-learning platform and you can start to learn straight away, from any compatible device. Access to the online learning platform is valid for one year from the booking date.

All courses are built around case studies and presented in an engaging format, which includes storytelling elements, video, audio and humour. Every case study is supported by sample documents and a collection of Knowledge Nuggets that provide more in-depth detail on the wider processes.

Learn more about QA’s online courses.

When will I receive my joining instructions?

Joining instructions for QA courses are sent two weeks prior to the course start date, or immediately if the booking is confirmed within this timeframe. For course bookings made via QA but delivered by a third-party supplier, joining instructions are sent to attendees prior to the training course, but timescales vary depending on each supplier’s terms. Read more FAQs.

When will I receive my certificate?

Certificates of Achievement are issued at the end the course, either as a hard copy or via email. Read more here.

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