Agile Essentials You Always Wanted To Know


Book Description

a) Agile Manifesto Principles and Values b) Scrum Pillars, Roles, Artifacts c) Agile Planning and Execution d) Agile Project Management Agile Essentials You Always Wanted To Know is a complete yet compact and easily understandable guide for anyone wanting to learn the fundamentals of Agile. The Agile methodology can be greatly beneficial for many projects and organizations. But what exactly is Agile and is it always beneficial? Agile Essentials You Always Wanted To Know provides a primary understanding of the Agile development methodology, when it is appropriate to use it, and the commonly used Agile practices. By understanding Agile through this book, one will be able to adapt to the changing project requirements, complete projects and work faster, and optimize the workflow along with efficiently managing the various stages of a project. The reader will gain an understanding of the following from this book: a) An overall understanding of Agile, its methodologies and common practices b) An introduction to Scrum, a key Agile methodology c) The various aspects of Agile planning as well as execution d) The applicability of Agile in development and operations e) The concepts and practices in Agile tracking and reporting f) An overview of Agile leadership and team practices About the Series Agile Essentials You Always Wanted To Know is part of the Self-Learning Management Series that helps working professionals moving into management roles. This Self Learning Management Series intends to give a jump start to working professionals, whose job roles demand to have the knowledge imparted in a B-school but haven’t got a chance to visit one. This series is designed to address every aspect of business from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations, be it any industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter. The distinctiveness of the series lies in that all the relevant information is bundled in a compact form that is very easy to interpret. About the Author Kalpesh Ashar is a management consultant and corporate trainer. He holds an MBA from SPJIMR, an Engineering degree, and Agile certifications including CSM (Certified Scrum Master), PMI-ACP (PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner), and SFPC – Scrum Foundations Professional Certificate. Mr. Ashar has over 21 years of experience in large organizations and start-ups in Asia, USA, and Europe. His background provides a platform from which to write in a way to help people with diverse backgrounds understand business topics. About Vibrant Publishers Vibrant Publishers is focused on presenting the best texts for learning about technology and business as well as books for test preparation. Categories include programming, operating systems and other texts focused on IT. In addition, a series of books helps professionals in their own disciplines learn the business skills needed in their professional growth. Vibrant Publishers has a standardized test preparation series covering the GMAT, GRE and SAT, providing ample study and practice material in a simple and well organized format, helping students get closer to their dream universities.




Project Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know


Book Description

Simplified explanation of concepts Chapter Summaries Solutions to Practice Exercises Practical approaches for application Best Practices Project Management Templates As employees move into a project management role, they need to learn new skills. These would include management of several different dimensions of a project to deliver the project successfully. Project Management Essentials You Always Wanted to Know: 5th Edition provides the core information about how to manage the complexity of modern projects with improved easy-to-understand explanations, a new WBS template and a new chapter on Agile. The new edition, includes topics such as: Project management overview Project Initiation - Constraints, Stakeholders, PMO, Life Cycles Project Planning - WBS,CPM, Budgeting, Quality, Resources, Communications, Risk, Procurement, Stakeholders Project Execution - Audits, Resources, Communications Project Monitoring & Controlling - Tracking, Quality Control, Change Control Project Closure Agile Overview (new) About the Series The Self-Learning Management series is designed to help students, new managers, career switchers and entrepreneurs learn essential management lessons. This series is designed to address every aspect of business from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations, be it any industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter. The distinctiveness of the series lies in that all the relevant information is bundled in a compact form that is very easy to interpret.




Decision Making Essentials You Always Wanted to Know


Book Description

Includes • Introduction to Decision Making • Scenario Planning and Prediction Markets • Group Mechanics • Heuristics and Programmed Decisions • Probability and Base Rate Neglect Decision Making Essentials You Always Wanted to Know prepares new managers and leaders to make those tough decisions they face by providing them with a tool box of decision analysis techniques to help them understand and analyze the decisions they make. The chapters describe key techniques of decision analysis, including: • Cognitive biases and Prospect Theory • Heuristics • Probability and Expected Value • Bayes Theorem • Multi-attribute decision making, including the SMART, Elimination by Aspects, and Even Swaps methods • Game Theory • Prediction Markets • Brainstorming and Groupthink • Black Swan Events. Each chapter provides clear examples of the decision making tools and includes practice examples to help train the reader in using these critical tools. About the Series Decision Making Essentials You Always Wanted to Know is part of the Self-Learning Management Series that helps working professionals moving into management roles. This Self Learning Management Series intends to give a jump start to working professionals, whose job roles demand to have the knowledge imparted in a B-school but haven’t got a chance to visit one. This series is designed to address every aspect of business from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations, be it any industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter. The distinctiveness of the series lies in that all the relevant information is bundled in a compact form that is very easy to interpret. About the Author Mark Koscinski is an assistant professor of accounting practice at Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, where he teaches a graduate level Decision Analysis class and several advanced accounting classes. He is a certified public accountant, and holds a BA with high honors and MBA from Rutgers University and a doctorate from Drew University. Prior to joining the faculty at Moravian College, Mark was a chief financial officer of various public and private organizations in the defense contracting, toy, investment banking, and banking industries. He has over forty years of experience in the business world, and has supervised every operation of an organization including sales and marketing. Mark is passionate about sharing his knowledge with his students. His background and experience gives him a unique position to write on management topics that are easy to understand for non-MBA graduates. About Vibrant Publishers Vibrant Publishers is focused on presenting the best texts for learning about technology and business as well as books for test preparation. Categories include programming, operating systems and other texts focused on IT. In addition, a series of books helps professionals in their own disciplines learn the business skills needed in their professional growth. Vibrant Publishers has a standardized test preparation series covering the GMAT, GRE and SAT, providing ample study and practice material in a simple and well organized format, helping students get closer to their dream universities.




Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know


Book Description

After reading this book, you will be able to answer the following questions: I. What is Operations and Supply Chain Management and why is it important? ii. What are the key functions within this field, and how do they interact with one another and the broader business? iii. What are the responsibilities and decisions that managers in each functional area think about? iv. How will disruptions in the Supply Chain impact the business world and our lives going forward? v. What are the practical applications of the knowledge gained around Supply Chain Operations? Have you ever wondered what your peers meant by “Supply Chain” or “Operations”, or why either of these fields matter? What about people that work in these roles – what do they actually do? In Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted to Know these questions will be answered, and more. This practical, yet simple, guide uses a hypothetical company and the consumer product they make, to explain how the various functions within the Supply Chain intertwine and contribute to bring a finished product to life for consumers in the market. You don’t need a management background to understand our story of how new demands, changing preferences, and unforeseen circumstances force this fictional company to adapt in order to survive. By posing questions that Supply Chain Operations Manager’s face, you will start to think like a Supply Chain Operations professional, whether it be in professional or personal applications. You may not be inspired to make a career shift into these areas or chat Supply Chain topics at the dinner table, however, you will gain an understanding and appreciation for how these activities make everyday products and services at our disposal – and why this is increasingly important for companies to pay attention to. About the Series The Self-Learning Management series is designed to help students, new managers, career switchers and entrepreneurs learn essential management lessons. This series is designed to address every aspect of business from HR to Finance to Marketing to Operations, be it any industry. Each book includes basic fundamentals, important concepts, standard and well-known principles as well as practical ways of application of the subject matter. The distinctiveness of the series lies in that all the relevant information is bundled in a compact form that is very easy to interpret.




Essential Scrum


Book Description

This is a comprehensive guide to Scrum for all (team members, managers, and executives). If you want to use Scrum to develop innovative products and services that delight your customers, this is the complete, single-source reference you've been searching for. This book provides a common understanding of Scrum, a shared vocabulary that can be used in applying it, and practical knowledge for deriving maximum value from it.




The Mini Book of Agile


Book Description

Learn all about Agile, Agile project management, and Agile Delivery to put Agile into practice at work and in your personal projects Key FeaturesExplore the key concepts of Agile development, Agile project delivery, and Agile project managementStudy the different Agile concepts such as user stories, story points, epics, and product backlogUnderstand why Agile is different from traditional project delivery and other methodologiesBook Description Think of this book as Agile for Dummies (or Agile for anyone and everyone). This Agile book will allow you to master the most important concepts of Agile development, Agile project delivery, and Agile project management. This mini book has been designed to enable you to manage your projects in an Agile way. This mini book will walk you through the fundamentals, principles, and key concepts of Agile, Agile project management, and Agile Delivery. The book includes valuable resources, graphics, and examples that will allow you to grasp the key essence of Agile, Agile rituals, Agile practices, Agile concepts, and the key differences between Agile and traditional project management. After reading this book, you will have a thorough understanding of Agile and how to put Agile into practice at work and in your personal projects. What you will learnReview the background and function of Agile and its advantagesEncounter the differences between Agile and WaterfallExplore Agile principles, culture, and rolesExplore fundamental concepts, Agile artifacts, ritualsBecome familiar with some important Agile toolsWho this book is for This book is for anyone who wants to learn the fundamentals, principles, and key concepts of Agile, Agile project management, and Agile Delivery. No prior Agile experience or knowledge is necessary.




Business Strategy Essentials You Always Wanted To Know


Book Description

Business Strategy Essentials You Always Wanted To Know prepares new managers and leaders with the building blocks of business strategy. You will learn how to define strategy, different levels of strategy for the business versus departments, and how to plan tactics to implement those strategies. You are given tools to assist you with some of the more challenging aspects of strategy such as environmental scanning, SWOT analysis, and strategy analysis. After you have learned how to execute some of these strategies, you will learn what organization structures fit best with specific strategies. These timeless elements of strategy will provide you the fundamentals with a 21st century point of view. Business Strategy Essentials is part of the Management Essentials series that helps working professionals moving into management roles. The series addresses every aspect of business from HR to finance, marketing, and operations. Each book includes fundamentals, important concepts, and well-known principles, as well as practical applications of the subject matter.




Understanding IFRS Fundamentals


Book Description

A one-stop resource for understanding and applying current International Financial Reporting Standards The move to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the single most important initiative in the financial reporting world, with more than 100 countries requiring or allowing the use of IFRS for the preparation of financial statements by publicly held companies. It is expected that by 2011, more than 150 countries will be converting to it. It's clear that IFRS is here to stay—get the expert advice you need to properly implement IFRS with Understanding IFRS Fundamentals: International Financial Reporting Standards. Filled with easy-to-follow examples and case studies, Understanding IFRS Fundamentals: International Financial Reporting Standards is your handy resource to all things IFRS, presenting: Authoritative advice and simple explanations of IFRS standards Topical arrangement of issues of common interest to financial statement preparers and users Extracts from published financial statements illustrating practical implications for applying IFRS Guidance for finance professionals in more than 100 countries that have either adopted or adapted to IFRS Simple explanations of complex standards A practical reference with the answers to your issues of interest, Understanding IFRS Fundamentals: International Financial Reporting Standards serves as an essential resource for when you need information in a hurry. Stay on track and focused with the straightforward guidance in Understanding IFRS Fundamentals: International Financial Reporting Standards.




Everything you want to know about Agile


Book Description

"Everything you want to know about Agile comprehensively addresses the issues that IT departments face when they try to implement Agile approaches within the constraints of their traditional organizations, including existing project frameworks, budgeting structures, contracts and corporate reporting. It is an essential resource for IT departments that want to deliver successful Agile results, even in the most challenging environments"--EBL




A Scrum Book


Book Description

Building a successful product usually involves teams of people, and many choose the Scrum approach to aid in creating products that deliver the highest possible value. Implementing Scrum gives teams a collection of powerful ideas they can assemble to fit their needs and meet their goals. The ninety-four patterns contained within are elaborated nuggets of insight into Scrum’s building blocks, how they work, and how to use them. They offer novices a roadmap for starting from scratch, yet they help intermediate practitioners fine-tune or fortify their Scrum implementations. Experienced practitioners can use the patterns and supporting explanations to get a better understanding of how the parts of Scrum complement each other to solve common problems in product development. The patterns are written in the well-known Alexandrian form, whose roots in architecture and design have enjoyed broad application in the software world. The form organizes each pattern so you can navigate directly to organizational design tradeoffs or jump to the solution or rationale that makes the solution work. The patterns flow together naturally through the context sections at their beginning and end. Learn everything you need to know to master and implement Scrum one step at a time—the agile way.