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Eralp is working as a Scrum Master at Realdolmen-Inetum and cooperates with other Scrum Masters to work wonders with our teams.  

What is your current job title? What is it you actually do?

I am a Scrum Master supporting a number of teams to improve their working processes and optimize their inter-team interactions.  

How did you arrive to follow a project management career?

Quite by chance, actually. During the first years of my career, I had the opportunity to be part of a significant restructuring effort of a bank. It showed me the importance of clear organizational structures with fluid communication channels and a strong emphasis on transparent responsibility definitions. Many years after I left the bank and while walking on an entirely different career path, a friend of mine asked me to join him in his startup for online project management training. Considering my earlier experience and readiness to make another career change, I joined him. This was about 9 years ago.  

You have an AgilePM Certificate, how did that help you reach your goals?

In the beginning, its value was very apparent in theory but highly obscure in its practical application. The reason for that was mainly because there were no documented examples out there to give an idea of how best to start implementing the AgilePM processes and structures. At the time that I got certified for AgilePM, I was already an accredited PRINCE2 trainer and I already had my PSM I certification. So I could say I knew my way around two potentially complementary frameworks and AgilePM was sort of the missing link between them. For many years, I didn’t have the opportunity to apply to AgilePM. But about two years ago, this changed and I started working in a development project as a Scrum Master / Scrum Coach for a corporate client with multiple Scrum teams. In this project, the application of Agility was paramount and the idea of teams working as Scrum Teams received complete agreement from both sides. On the team level, it was working but as Scrum does not provide a framework on the project governance side their engagement had to be coordinated. Especially because this particular project enjoyed multiple technical and business stakeholders. Fortunately, the company I was working for at the time, used AgilePM as one of its primary Agile frameworks and we applied the organizational structure of AgilePM to our project. This helped significantly to ensure alignment among the stakeholders and helped build a common vision. To summarize, we used the AgilePM organizational structure to improve the stakeholder engagement and applied the Nexus framework to organize multiple Scrum Teams.  

AgilePM is considered to be IT-oriented however we know it’s possible it can be applied for any kind of project. Could you share an experience with AgilePM outside IT?

My experience using AgilePM is limited to IT projects. However, all Agile frameworks and concepts are applicable for any kind of project. In another project, our team used the Scrum framework to transform a marketing team into a kanban-using team. On a personal level, I used Agile concepts to manage the renovation of my house. Do you think AgilePM is easy to apply for a PM Team? What would it take to do so? Actually, the structure of the AgilePM framework is very simple and straightforward. However, the mindset behind this structure is different from the traditional management mindset. For that reason, an AgilePM coach is a must, as the framework also points out.  

Did Agility offer guidance during the changes in 2020? If so, how?

Changes in 2020 forced organizations to become more Agile. Remote working removed the individuals from environments that are potentially designed for control. Now that everyone works out of those environments, both the individuals and organizations are learning to trust each other. Agile systems are great tools to build productivity on trust.  

I know that you also have a wide knowledge of using other Project Management methodologies like PRINCE2. How would you compare PRINCE2 with AgilePM?

AgilePM is an Agile version of PRINCE2. In fact, in an article, I read it was mentioned that the AgilePM was originally designed to be compatible with PRINCE2 so that the transition from one to the other could be easy. I think it is also one of the earliest Agile methods. AgilePM comes as scalable. Additional methods are not required to make it applicable to single team projects or for multiple team projects. It is very flexible and that makes it very powerful.  

How do you choose the right methodology for your project, are there projects that benefit more from PRINCE2 or AgilePM?

Now that I have at least one experience using AgilePM, I would aim to build a project based on its structure. However, methods such as PRINCE2 or AgilePM aim to optimize the information flows and decision-making mechanisms within the project. In the end, once these concepts are internalized, you tend to use whatever aspects of these methods are useful to solve your existing problems without thinking too much about which aspect belongs to which method. You end up building a custom method for the specific project you are working in and these methods change with each new project.  

How do you see your future in Project Management and what are the things you like to learn to keep on developing yourself as a professional?

There are many aspects of project management and project delivery. On the management side, I am planning to improve myself further on portfolio management and Agile leadership. On the delivery side, learning more about DevOps would be a great benefit.  

Eralp Tezcan

Scrum Master Eralp is working as a Scrum Master at Realdolmen-Inetum and cooperates with other Scrum Masters to work wonders with our teams.

The AgilePM Foundation Qualification is a professional qualification in the field of Agile Project Management. This qualification provides you with advice, supported by Hints and Tips based on the DSDM approach, on how to manage a project in an Agile way. There are no mandatory prerequisites. Work experience in project management is recommended.  

Examination Target

• Practicing project managers
• Agile team members who wish to become Agile Project Managers.

 

Exam Format

• Language: English (please add the relevant languages for your markets)
• Duration: 40 minutes
  • 25% extra time if you take the exam in a language that is not your native language
• Materials: No materials
  • No books or notes are permitted
• Questions: 50
  • All 50 questions are Objective Test Questions (OTQs)
• Pass Mark: 25 marks or above
• Exam Format: Online or Paper
• Certificate Format: Online
  • THE online certificate is usually included in the exam fee, you can ask for a paper certificate to the Exam institute after your exam

 

The AgilePM Foundation Exam Questions examples

The questions are all ‘multiple-choice’. Standard, Negative, Missing word, List, Evaluate

Example ‘standard’ OTQ:

What DSDM role ensures that the Solution Development Team functions as a whole and meets its objectives? a) Business Analyst b) Project Manager c) Team Leader d) Solution Tester

Example ‘negative’ standard OTQ:

Which characteristic does NOT relate to the Solution Development Team? a) Each role empowered to make decisions b) Flexibility to swap team members in and out of the team c) Desire and authority to make day-to-day decisions d) Business knowledge and technical expertise

Example ‘missing word’ OTQ

Identify the missing words in the following sentence. An organization amenable to incremental delivery of solutions [?] will benefit from early return on investment. a) at the lowest possible cost b) into live use c) for testing in the deployment d) with minimum effort

Example ‘list’ OTQ:

Which of the following elements make up common sense? 1. Sound judgment 2. Practical judgment 3. Normal native intelligence 4. Specialized knowledge a) 1,2,3 b) 2,3,4 c) 1,2,4 d) 1,3,4

Example ‘evaluate’ OTQ

Which of the following statements about the Solution Architecture Definition is true? 1. The Solution Architecture Definition contains the strategy for testing and review of the solution. 2. The Solution Architecture Definition contains both business and technical aspects of the solution. a) Only 1 is true b) Only 2 is true c) Both 1 and 2 are true d) Neither 1 or 2 is true  

The AgilePM Foundation Objectives 

The AgilePM Foundation level qualification aims to measure whether the candidate has sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Agile Project Management Foundation guidance to be able to recognize and distinguish between the key elements of the approach. The Agile PM Foundation qualification is also a pre-requisite for the Practitioner qualification. As a candidate you need to demonstrate the achievement of these learning outcomes:

• Understand the underpinning philosophy and principles of Agile.
• Understand the lifecycle of an Agile project, including alternative configurations.
• Understand the products produced during an Agile project and its purpose.
• Understand the techniques used and their benefits and limitations.
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of an Agile project.

 

The AgilePM Foundation Certificate

The validity of the AgilePM Foundation certificate is a lifetime. This certificate will never expire. QRP International is an AgilePM Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) by APMG International and is authorized to deliver AgilePM Foundation courses and can prepare you for the examination leading to the AgilePM Foundation Certificate in Project Management.

When it comes to DevOps, you will often hear people saying that certifications do not have any value. “DevOps cannot be codified”, “it is more a philosophy than a framework” and other similar explanations. Jane Groll, the founder of the DevOps Institute, said:

“We test young children on their ability to spell, we test drivers on their ability to operate a vehicle, and we test university students until they prove they are worthy of a degree. Auto mechanics, hospital technicians, and insurance salespeople all get certified. Why is an IT certification any different?”

Holding a certification doesn’t mean that you have a real-life experience. Certification is proof that you demonstrated enough knowledge to be trusted with doing something. In order to obtain a certification, you have to study the core principles of a method, framework, or philosophy. And this demonstrates dedication and motivation to your professional development. Especially in the IT sector, which is always evolving, having a certification is becoming more and more important. Recruiters cannot know all the frameworks or development methodologies they have to deal with. So they often rely on third parties - and certifications - to understand whether candidates are qualified or not. IT professionals who have been in the industry for a long time can also benefit from certifications, because they can guarantee modern and up-to-date knowledge, without any gaps between their skills and the ones requested by the ever-changing IT sector.  

DevOps Certifications

Continuous learning is one of the core principles of the DevOps philosophy. In a DevOps environment, the principles and practices around DevOps must be taught and kept up to date. DevOps is a competence so if there is no resistance to training, why is there such a resistance to testing and certification? DevOps certifications include general knowledge, tool-specific, and related processes and emerging practices. The goal of the certification is to educate not to certify, to learn, and not to pass the test. As Jane Groll declared:

“if the entire IT community became certified in DevOps practices and processes, we would have trained a capable workforce that has a shared mindset, can be cross-functional, understands the “rules of the road” and can continue their learning journey through practice and experience.”

At a time such as this, when there is a recognized talent gap, upskilling programs are fundamentals and should be encouraged by organizations. Professionals need to continuously enhance their knowledge and their careers. Of course, experience counts, but the experience is limited to the environment from which it was gained. Certification is the way of proving professionals who have studied their craft enough to pass an exam.  

Other important certifications for IT professionals

IT is one of the most dynamic sectors ever and keeping up with all updates, new skills, and emerging practices could really become a full-time job. What are the other important certifications for IT professionals?

ITIL

With the launch of ITIL4, the most widely accepted approach to IT management experienced an important update. ITIL 4 addresses the new processes and methods used in modern IT, such as DevOps, Agile, and Lean IT development. ITIL focuses on the intersection of IT and the needs of the business and it’s one of the 15 top-paying IT certifications. Find out more about ITIL.  

Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect

This certification is associated with the highest salaries in IT in the US. The certification demonstrates the ability to design, develop, and manage secure, scalable, and reliable cloud architecture. It’s an important IT certification given that cloud skills are critical for any organization operating in the cloud.

PMP

PMP is a project management certification, probably the most important industry-recognized certification for project managers. It could make the difference when deciding on who to entrust with important organizational project initiatives. PMP is the 5th top-paying certifications in IT according to the “2020 IT Skills and Salary Survey” by Global Knowledge. Read here to find out what PMP is all about. Finally, it’s not just the IT employees who can benefit from this kind of certification. Developers and consultants can use certifications to establish trust between themselves and their clients. Do you want to know which certification is the best fit for your needs? Contact us!   Sources: DevOps Institute, IT Certifications Are Important — Particularly for DevOps, by Jayne Groll © 2020 DevOps Institute. All Rights Reserved.

Stand-up meetings are the heart of an Agile project. During a stand-up meeting, the most important information is shared and roadblocks are removed. This makes the stand-up meeting essential for the success of the project. What happens during these meetings? Each team member shares what they did yesterday, what they intend to do/achieve today and discuss potential obstacles that could help them get on with their work.  

What is a stand-up meeting

A stand-up meeting is a team meeting held in a standing position at the start of each working day. All technical and business specialist team members should attend along with the project manager, sometimes called the Scrum Master. The stand-up meeting gives you the basics to stay in control of the project: tracking progress based on the features planned for each sprint is your control mechanism. The stand-up meeting is made to align the team and to share the progress made. Completed features are reported in stand-up meetings, as well as on the feature board, in the team room.  

Five important rules for stand-up meetings

1. Duration,
2. Focus,
3. The team leads,
4. Listen attentively,
5. Use the information.

1. Duration

The duration should be about 15 minutes, max 30: the stand-up meeting must be short and to the point. Participants remain standing so that the meeting is fast, optimistic, and active.

2. Focus

The stand-up meeting is not to resolve problems. If there are any problems they should be reported and discussed after the stand-up meeting, and reported to the group the following day. Not to solve problems, might be the most difficult habit to break. The idea however is that if you manage the problems after the meeting, you make sure that only the necessary team members are part of the discussion.

3. The team leads

The project manager takes the role of an observer, leaving space for the team to lead. As a project manager, you should look at the problems that have not been solved and remove the roadblocks for the team. Additionally, you should ensure that the risks are diminishing and after the stand-ups, you should communicate the status to key stakeholders, so that they are informed of the progress of the project.

4. Listen attentively

The project manager’s job during the explore phase is to protect and increase the productivity of each team member by leaving them to manage the distractions that can slow down their work. If features are lagging behind, find out why to try to make changes as fast as possible and take note so that lessons learned can be applied. Here are some things to observe during daily meetings:

• is the team collaborating or is there tension in the air?
• Are there any risks that may impact future sprints?
• Is there a common problem that you can help solve (after the meeting of course)?

There is a lot of valuable information you can get from your stand-up meetings if you are careful and take action when needed. Stand-up meetings help you figure out how to do this by giving you a visual of what the team faces each day.

5. Use the information

Make sure that issues mentioned in the stand-up meeting are resolved in a timely manner: your issue log will give you the mechanism to determine if issues are growing in volume. As in non-Agile projects, keeping a record of issues is necessary. This can be an indication that something is going wrong and that you should consider changes.  

How to improve your stand-up meeting

1. Change the presentation order every day,
2. Assign a person on the team the role of "timekeeper",
3. Hold the meeting at the same time every day,
4. Make sure that the meeting always ends on a positive note,
5. Include your colleagues working from remote.

1. Change the presentation order every day

Always changing the order adds energy to meetings;

2. Assign a person on the team the role of "timekeeper"

In this way to have the group well concentrated. 30 to 60 seconds per person is enough. For each sprint, the timekeeper must change.

3. Hold the meeting at the same time every day

4. Make sure that the meeting always ends on a positive note

Let the team share the victories achieved after the last meeting. For example:

• did the business really like what it saw in the last product review?
• Was a resource on the technical team able to overcome an issue the team is particularly proud of?

Sharing victories is a great way to keep your spirits high and show progress is being made.

5. Include your colleagues working from remote

Do not see remote working as a hindrance but change the format of the stand-up meeting by using an online meeting tool! Stand-up meetings of just 15 minutes can be important and useful - now all that remains is to commit to making your stand-up meetings focused, short, and flawless. Cause commitment is the real key factor to success!

Maddy is a staff member of the Process and Project Management of the Quality and Strategy department of AZ Sint-Maarten, a hospital in Belgium. Over the years she gained lots of hands-on experience with Project Management and is currently responsible for the PMO.  

What's your current job title? What is it you actually do?

I am a staff member of Process and Project management. My position is part of the Quality and Strategy department within AZ Sint-Maarten (hospital) in Mechelen. Within my position, I have different roles and responsibilities, of which:

• Responsible for PMO, which includes the following:
• • Follow up all current projects in preparation of the Project Management Committee (the decision-making body).
  • Capture all project ideas and convert (translate) them into a concrete project definition in preparation for PMC (depending on the go / no go decision of the project).
  • Prepare the agenda for PMO + PMC.
  • Project coaching this can differ from refining a project definition to coaching during the entire project planning/execution.
  • Providing all documentation regarding project work within the hospital.
  • Provide training on project management, both group and one-on-one training.

• Project manager for larger cross-departmental projects (often hospital-wide projects).
  • I filled in this role during the run-up of the relocation to the new hospital, currently, I am involved in less cross-departmental projects.
  • Project leader of the project and development of our new mission and vision (starting from 2021).

• Lean coach / lean expert, we recently started implementing a lean philosophy which includes continuous improvement. My role is to guide the entire process of cultural change, partly by supplying methodologies and coaching.

• Supervisor process optimization, using the lean methodology.

• Strategic preparations of all kinds aimed at the whole range of "quality".

 

How did you arrive at your current position?

I started at AZ Sint Maarten as main responsible / coordinator of reception services and patient administration. Within this role, I started an optimization process and this led to my new role within the Quality and Strategy department in 2011. While working at the Quality and Strategy department, the organisation decided to put a separate organ in place solely focused on project management. AZ Sint Maarten started this service in 2012 and I got the position as 'project employee'. At this point in time, we started our PMO and I have been actively involved with this. To further develop myself I started a Master in Management and Policy of Healthcare and partly due to this in 2016 I got promoted to my current position. From my current position, I have been appointed as Project Leader of various projects related to the relocation to the new hospital. I managed the ‘telephone’ project, which included the process, number plan, devices, different types of calls etc. But also worked in the project regarding waiting room management (including tools), communication screens, implementation of SmartAIM (application for identity and access control) & badges. Another crucial project I have been part of is the moving of patients to the new structure.  

You work in a hospital, you think the hospital sector approaches PM differently than other sectors? If so, how?

Yes, I am sure about it. Within the Hospital sector, it is very difficult to be able to appoint "dedicated project managers". Operationality and BAU (business as usual) are always given priority, as the main responsibility of the hospital is to provide care. Project management and change always come at a second place and it is difficult to fully assume the role as Project Manager. As a result, Project Leadership must often (usually) be taken up within the hours of another position and has become a very sensitive topic in terms of financing.  

What are the types of challenges that you face in Project Management and how do you overcome these challenges?

The biggest challenge is to keep everyone aware of the structures that we set in place, the fixed agreements that must be followed before a project can and has the approval to start. This calls for persistence and a certain "stubbornness". I realized that I have to push others to see the importance of the structure. This is a delicate process and I noticed that sometimes it is wise to let the topic rest for some time. Only to push again after! The organisation needs a certain structure, but this cannot be enforced. You have to systematically make this visible and show that the structure does contribute to efficiency and success. On the other hand, there is the challenge of the constant trade-off that has to be made between theory and practice within Project Management. Within Project Management, you must invest sufficient time in the "administrative" part, such as project definition, project progress, planning, documentation of decisions, etc. Often that documentation is considered "too much" / "too bureaucratic", but it has to be done nonetheless. We always approach this from a pragmatic approach and do not take it to the extreme, but we advocate minimal processing of the Project because this is the only way to ensure that Projects can be followed up, supported and lead to success.  

I know that the hospital you work for just merged with two other hospitals. How was that handled?

Between 2016 and 2018 we had a slightly different project approach than the "normal PMO" as we were in the middle of the relocation. This "temporary PMO" concerned a whole programme of projects with a clear structure.     The structure was followed very strictly. All other projects were discontinued/postponed. During that period we were guided by consultants, 1 of whom acted as 'PMO' as I was active within the projects themselves. In 2019, after we moved in, we took a close look at the entire operation of the PMO and we have been working on the new operative PMO since 2020.  

What are the benefits of the PMO and how can you measure these?

The PMO provides a clear overview of current affairs, steering towards our strategic objective (mission/vision). It helps us to do things right instead of doing the right things and offers structure to the organisation. In addition, there is the advantage that the PMO has on my position, as it leaves me with more time so that I can take on the role as a "coach" within projects. This improves the way of working in the organisation in a project-based manner and helps the organisation acquire more maturity. How do we measure the benefits? Current projects are closely monitored and if anything deviates from the original plans, this is put on PMC's agenda. As a result, we keep 'the pressure high' and people do not fall into normal operationality. This helps us that projects do not get ‘forgotten’. We have a tool that contains all projects so that status follow-up is (almost) continuously 'up to date'. From this tool, we can create reports and provide an overview of all people involved in the project.  

Did the global pandemic change the approach to PM in hospitals? How?

Yes, projects are running late and there are some that are no longer relevant due to new complications. In our case, this mainly means that there is a delay in the dissemination of knowledge about project-based working. For example, I was delayed in my guidance in drawing up project definitions. A delayed project definition automatically means a delayed start date of the project.  

What kind of advice would you give to the PM staff in hospitals to prepare for the future coming years?

Ensure a good internal project structure and provide clear role descriptions within this structure. Especially if there is a cultural shift needed towards a more active project management structure. IT projects and business projects in hospitals cannot be fully compared and neither can project management. Business is often a "change process" that needs to be tackled differently than simply installing an ICT application. It is also advisable to have someone in the "lead" in the follow-up of projects - a position similar to my position. This person is responsible to constantly push for the same goal. The entire operation of PMO takes time and is also a cultural change in the organisation. Do not underestimate this!  

What are three things you have told yourself that you would like to learn in the near future to develop yourself as a professional?

• I already know lots about the Lean methodology, but I want to master it more and more through an enormous amount of practice and practical examples.
• More knowledge and expertise regarding the budgeting of PMO and portfolio (TCO).
• Explore different coaching techniques, in order to offer the right coaching at the right time to reach the set goal.

 

Maddy Silverans

Maddy is a staff member of the Process and Project Management of the Quality and Strategy department of AZ Sint-Maarten, a hospital. Over the years she gained lots of hands-on experience with Project Management and is currently responsible for the PMO. Maddy has her Black Belt Certification and also works as a coach. Maddy is a true go-getter due to her history and love for sports.

MSP stands for Managing Successful Programmes and is a programme management methodology. MSP represents proven good practice in the successful delivery of transformational change through the application of programme management. Programme management has become an increasingly essential skill worldwide as it is increasingly being recognized as key to enabling organisations to manage transformation. Transformation through effective leadership and strategic control help organisations survive and prosper in a constant and increasing change. MSP Managing Successful Programmes has been utilized by many different organisations to help with this transformation. MSP is used worldwide and has to adapt to a wide variety of programmes, situations and environments. This makes MSP extremely flexible, very comprehensive and widely applicable. MSP provides a structured framework to manage programmes. It helps organisations break large programmes down into individual projects, each clearly defined.  

What are the benefits of using MSP?

Organisations need to respond to continual change in order to survive and grow. MSP provides a base to design and run programmes so that organisations can deliver their strategy and gain measurable benefits from change. MSP helps organisations and individuals manage their projects, programmes and services consistently and effectively. The key benefits of implementing MSP are the following:

• MSP combines the quality of rigour with the flexibility to respond to specific situations.
• MSP provides a practical, step-by-step approach for designing and running successful programmes.
• MSP covers key principles, governance themes and the processes needed to deliver change.
• MSP advises on how to embed, review and apply MSP to achieve high-quality outcomes.
• MSP includes real-life examples of how to apply best-practice programme management.

 

Key elements of MSP

MSP exists of three different groups: the principles, the governance theme and the transformational flow processes.  

The MSP Principles

These are derived from positive and negative lessons learned from programme experiences. They are the common factors that underpin the success of any transformational change. The principles are: 1. Remaining aligned with corporate strategy It means that at no point of time, the programme should deviate from the strategic goals of the organisation. 2.Leading change This emphasizes that change should be led effectively. Envisioning and communicating a better future It aims at having all stakeholders and the programme employees aligned. 3. Focusing on benefits and threats to them This ensures that all benefits are realized and threats to them are managed. 4. Adding value It means that the programme should add value to the organisation. 5. Designing and delivering a coherent capability This focuses on delivering a capability that is useful and in sync with the programme objectives. 6. Learning from experience This aims at not repeating the mistakes that might affect the success of the programme.  

The MSP Governance theme

This defines an organisation’s approach to programme management. They allow an organisation to put in place the right leadership, delivery team, organisation structures and controls, giving the best chance for success. MSP defines the roles and responsibilities of all who need to form part of the leadership of a programme. Effective leadership of a programme is achieved through informed decision-making and a flexible management regime. The key roles involved are:

• Sponsoring group.
• Senior responsible owner.
• Programme manager.
• Business change manager.
• Programme office.

 

The MSP Transformational flow

This provides a route through the lifecycle of a programme from its conception through to the delivery of the new capability, outcomes and benefits.  

MSP Certification Scheme

The MSP certification scheme has two main levels:

MSP Foundation

The Foundation level introduces the MSP method. The MSP Foundation exam aims to confirm that you know and understand the MSP method well enough to be able to work effectively with, or as a member of, a programme management team working within an environment supporting MSP.

MSP Practitioner

The Practitioner level gives you the knowledge to not only understand but actively use and tailor MSP to your specific needs. The MSP Practitioner exam aims to confirm whether you have sufficient understanding of how to apply and tailor MSP in a range of different programme management environments and scenarios.  

How to get MSP Certified

In order to obtain your MSP Certification, you need to take a classroom or online training with an AXELOS' Accredited Training Organisations (ATOs).

QRP International is an official ATO for MSP, accredited by Peoplecert on behalf of Axelos. We are authorized to deliver MSP Foundation and MSP Practitioner classroom, corporate and virtual courses. Source: Axelos