PMI-ACP® Exam Prep, Premier Edition

1. Agile Methods Thrive on Value-Driven Delivery

To maximize value, we must also minimize risks, since risks can reduce value.

Value is the North Star. Agile projects are laser-focused on delivering business value. This means prioritizing features, making decisions, and even selecting project methodologies based on what will provide the most benefit to the customer or the business. It's not just about delivering something, but delivering the right thing, early and often.

Risk as Anti-Value. Think of risks as value destroyers. Negative risks (threats) have the potential to erode, remove, or reduce value. Therefore, effective risk management is not a separate activity, but an integral part of value-driven delivery. Techniques like risk-adjusted backlogs help prioritize work that reduces the biggest threats to value.

Early and Continuous Delivery. Agile methods champion delivering value early and continuously. This approach allows for early feedback, reduces the risk of building the wrong thing, and keeps stakeholders engaged. It's about getting valuable increments into the hands of users as quickly as possible, rather than waiting for a big-bang release at the end.

2. Stakeholder Engagement is Paramount

At the end of the day, a large part of the value of a certification is in the credibility of the organization offering it.

Collaboration is Key. Agile projects recognize that success hinges on strong stakeholder engagement. This means understanding their needs, involving them in the process, and keeping them informed. It's not just about gathering requirements upfront, but about continuous collaboration and communication throughout the project.

Communication is a Two-Way Street. Effective stakeholder engagement requires more than just broadcasting information. It's about actively listening to stakeholders, understanding their perspectives, and incorporating their feedback into the project. Techniques like active listening, facilitation, and participatory decision models help foster this two-way communication.

Managing Expectations. Agile projects thrive on transparency. Candidly discussing estimates, projections, and potential challenges with stakeholders helps manage expectations and build trust. It's about creating a shared understanding of the project's progress and potential roadblocks.

3. Empowered Teams Drive Performance

People work better when they are given the autonomy to organize and plan their own work.

Self-Organization is Essential. Agile methods promote self-organizing teams, where members are empowered to manage their own work and make decisions. This autonomy fosters ownership, pride, and higher rates of productivity. It's about trusting the team to get the job done, rather than micromanaging their every move.

Servant Leadership. Agile leaders adopt a servant leadership style, focusing on providing the team with the environment, support, and resources they need to succeed. This means removing impediments, facilitating communication, and promoting collaboration. It's about serving the team, rather than being served by them.

Team Dynamics Matter. Building high-performance teams requires attention to team dynamics. This includes fostering trust, promoting open communication, and creating a safe environment where team members feel comfortable sharing ideas and challenging assumptions. It's about creating a cohesive unit that works effectively together.

4. Adaptive Planning Embraces Change

Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage.

Planning is Iterative. Agile projects recognize that initial plans are often inadequate and that change is inevitable. Instead of rigidly adhering to a fixed plan, agile methods embrace change and use adaptive planning techniques to adjust to evolving requirements and priorities. It's about being flexible and responsive to new information.

Multiple Levels of Planning. Agile projects involve planning at multiple levels, from high-level release planning to detailed iteration planning. This allows for both long-term vision and short-term adaptability. It's about having a general direction while remaining agile enough to adjust the course as needed.

Estimates are Ranges. Agile estimation techniques, like wideband Delphi and planning poker, acknowledge the inherent uncertainty in knowledge work. Instead of striving for precise estimates, agile teams use ranges to reflect the level of uncertainty and manage stakeholder expectations. It's about being realistic and transparent about the potential variability in project timelines and costs.

5. Problem Detection and Resolution are Continuous

Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

Early Detection is Key. Agile methods emphasize early and continuous problem detection. Techniques like continuous integration, test-driven development, and frequent verification and validation help identify issues as soon as possible, before they escalate and become more costly to fix. It's about finding problems early, when they're easier to solve.

Team-Based Problem Solving. Agile projects encourage engaging the entire team in problem-solving. This approach leverages the collective knowledge and expertise of the team, leading to more innovative and practical solutions. It's about tapping into the wisdom of the crowd.

Root Cause Analysis. Agile teams use techniques like the "five whys" and fishbone diagrams to dig deep and identify the root causes of problems. This helps prevent recurring issues and promotes continuous improvement. It's about addressing the underlying causes, not just the symptoms.

6. Continuous Improvement is Key to Agility

At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly.

Retrospectives are Essential. Agile projects use retrospectives as a primary mechanism for continuous improvement. These meetings provide a dedicated space for the team to reflect on their processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes. It's about learning from the past and applying those lessons to the future.

Process Tailoring is Encouraged. Agile methods are not rigid prescriptions, but rather frameworks that can be tailored to fit the specific needs of the project and the organization. This means adapting processes, tools, and techniques to optimize performance and maximize value. It's about finding what works best for the team and the project.

Knowledge Sharing is Paramount. Agile projects thrive on knowledge sharing. Techniques like pair programming, code reviews, and information radiators promote the dissemination of information and expertise throughout the team. It's about creating a culture of learning and collaboration.

7. Agile Framework: Values, Principles, and Methods

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

The Agile Manifesto. The Agile Manifesto is the cornerstone of agile development, emphasizing values like individuals and interactions, working software, customer collaboration, and responding to change. These values guide decision-making and shape the overall approach to project management. It's about prioritizing people, collaboration, and adaptability.

Guiding Principles. The Agile Manifesto is supported by twelve guiding principles that provide further guidance on how to implement agile methods. These principles emphasize customer satisfaction, embracing change, delivering frequently, building motivated teams, and promoting sustainable development. It's about creating a framework for success.

Diverse Agile Methods. Agile is not a single methodology, but rather a collection of different methods, such as Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Feature-Driven Development (FDD), and Kanban. Each method has its own unique practices and techniques, but they all share a common set of values and principles. It's about choosing the right tool for the job.

Last updated: March 3, 2025