APMG Agile Project Management (AgilePM) (R) Foundation – Version 3

Overview

The APMG AgilePM Foundation course provides a comprehensive introduction to both the Scrum framework and Agile Project Management (AgilePM). Participants will gain the essential knowledge needed to work effectively within Scrum teams while also understanding how to manage projects using AgilePM. This course is ideal for those looking to apply Agile principles across both product development and project management environments.

The course covers the roles, principles, events, and artefacts of Scrum, along with AgilePM’s broader project lifecycle and management techniques, offering a complete toolkit for Agile professionals.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this combined course. However, participants with prior exposure to project management concepts or basic Agile principles may benefit more from the content.

Target audience

This course is suitable for:

• Scrum team members, Product Owners, and Scrum Masters seeking foundational Scrum knowledge
• Project managers looking to adopt AgilePM methodologies
• Business leaders and stakeholders responsible for supporting Agile transformation initiatives
• Individuals looking to gain dual competency in both Scrum product development and Agile project management

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

• Understand the key principles and roles of the Scrum framework
• Be able to work effectively as part of a Scrum team, applying Scrum events and artefacts
• Learn to apply AgilePM principles to manage entire projects, from initiation to delivery
• Develop skills in backlog management, sprint planning, and prioritisation using MoSCoW
• Manage project risks, governance, and stakeholder communication in Agile environments

Outline

Introduction to Agile and Scrum

• Overview of Agile principles and the Agile Manifesto
• Scrum framework: Values, pillars (Transparency, Inspection, Adaptation), and empirical process control

Scrum roles and responsibilities

• Scrum roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Developers
• Self-management and cross-functionality in Scrum teams
• Accountabilities in Scrum and Agile teams

Scrum events and artefacts

• The five Scrum events: Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective
• Scrum artefacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment
• Defining 'Done' in Scrum and Agile projects

AgilePM fundamentals

• The AgilePM lifecycle: Phases from Pre-Project to Post-Deployment
• Key concepts: Increments, products, and prioritisation using MoSCoW
• AgilePM’s eight principles and their practical application

Planning, prioritisation, and control

• User stories and backlog management in Scrum and AgilePM
• Using MoSCoW to prioritise features and guarantee delivery
• Planning in AgilePM: Balancing time, cost, quality, and scope in projects
• Visualising progress through burn-down charts, velocity tracking, and sprint reports

Risk management and governance

• Managing risks in AgilePM projects
• Agile governance: Ensuring flexibility while maintaining control
• Tailoring project approaches to mitigate risks using AgilePM and Scrum

Collaboration and communication

• Effective stakeholder engagement across Scrum and AgilePM environments
• Building collaborative, cross-functional teams and ensuring transparent communication
• Managing multi-team dependencies in larger Agile projects

Exams

Participants will take the following exam at the end of the course:

• AgilePM Foundation Exam: This exam tests participants on their knowledge of the AgilePM framework, lifecycle phases, and principles, focusing on recall and understanding of core project management concepts. Format is as follows:
• 50 multiple choice questions
• Pass mark is 30/50 (60%)
• 40 minute time limit