OVERVIEW
What Is an Agile Project Manager?
An Agile project manager is a professional who leads and coordinates projects within the Agile framework. They troubleshoot issues, create innovative workaround solutions, manage stakeholder and customer expectations, and ensure successful project completion. Initially created for software development, Agile is now applied in various industries due to its flexibility and focus on iterative progress, collaboration, and outcomes rather than actions. It differs from traditional project management methodologies, such as Kanban and Waterfall, in its adaptive philosophy and application.
Agile managers are responsible for ensuring projects move forward smoothly and stay on track by adjusting to changes, managing scope, adhering to iterations, and maintaining continuous communication with stakeholders. Their key duties include leading and mentoring project teams, assigning tasks, monitoring budgets and schedules, and facilitating daily stand-up meetings to keep everyone aligned. This role is especially crucial in overseeing projects that result in tangible deliverables.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does an Agile Project Manager Do?
An Agile project manager’s primary responsibility is to keep projects moving and on track. Each day may look different, depending on the status of a project, but common tasks include:
- Adhering to the 12 main principles of the Agile Manifesto. This includes customer satisfaction, continuous delivery, Agile team alignment, collaboration, and constant attention to excellence.
- Identifying and managing the scope of a project. Project managers must have a thorough understanding of all of the elements needed for a project, from concept to completion.
- Leading Agile teams. Ensure project teams are following Agile methodology and best practices.
- Assigning tasks. In order to keep up with Agile’s iterative work style, teams need to be able to move seamlessly between tasks throughout the day. Agile project managers provide guidance and direction that ensure team members know their roles, tasks, and responsibilities.
- Troubleshooting issues and mitigating risks. Agile project managers quickly identify problems, analyze root causes, and implement innovative workaround solutions to minimize disruptions and maintain project momentum.
- Monitoring budgets and schedules. By planning, scheduling, and tracking project timelines and deliverables, Agile project managers can assure seamless operations.
- Focusing on outcomes, not actions. Agile project managers prioritize the delivery of valuable results over the completion of individual tasks. This ensures that the team remains aligned with the project's overall goals.
- Managing stakeholder and customer expectations. Regular communication ensures that clients stay informed and satisfied with the project's progress and outcomes. This involves holding frequent meetings to define project scope, establish goals, report on progress, and manage changes to the project scope and timeline.
- Facilitating daily stand-up meetings with project development team members. These brief meetings help keep the team aligned, allowing members to share updates, address roadblocks, and plan the day's activities.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become an Agile Project Manager?
Success as an Agile project manager requires a combination of work experience, education, and certifications. Understanding the key differences between traditional project methodologies and the nuances within Agile itself is crucial. For example, while an Agile manager oversees projects as a whole, a Scrum Master specifically facilitates Scrum practices within the Agile framework.
A degree in business management is a great first step toward understanding the function of project management within an organization. However, some employers prefer a master’s degree. Project management certifications are also extremely valuable in IT and business. Both education and experience in project management are required for certification. The Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world’s leading organization for those who work in the field. WGU offers the option of PMI certification as part of the accelerated information technology bachelor's and master's degree programs and the M.S. Information Technology Management. With a PMI certification, you can work in just about any industry with any project management methodology.
Best Degrees for a Agile Project Manager
Business
Business Management – B.S. Business Administration
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:...
Hone your business acumen and garner added respect:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 19 months
- Tuition: $3,755 per 6-month term
- Courses: 40 total courses in this program
Skills for your résumé this program will teach you include:
- Business communication
- Product development
- Decision making models
- Project management strategies
- Budgeting for business
This online degree program is an excellent choice for kick-starting your organizational management career.
Technology
Information Technology – B.S.
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online...
Award-winning coursework and value-add certifications make this online program a top choice.
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 39 months.
- Tuition: $3,725 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 36 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no additional cost:
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
- ITIL®*^ Foundation Certification
- LPI Linux Essentials
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Scripting and programming
- Networking and security
- Systems and services
- Data management
- Business of IT
Technology
Information Technology Management – M.S.
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead....
A degree for experienced IT professionals ready to lead.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,040 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 10 total courses in this program.
Included in your program—at no extra cost—is the opportunity to earn the valuable PMI Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification.
- Technology operations and integration
- Sourcing and planning
- Risks and influence
- Solutions development
- Project management
Maximize the opportunities that your IT career path has afforded you—earn your master's and keep moving up.
Technology
Data Analytics – M.S.
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:...
Lead businesses with strong analysis skills:
- Time: 61% of graduates finish within 20 months.
- Tuition: $4,520 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 11 total courses in this program.
This program consists of three specialization areas which allow you to gain specific experience and skills that will benefit your future career. You can choose from data science, data engineering, and decision process engineering specializations to enhance your degree.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Data Modeling
- Big Data
- Business Intelligence
- Data Quality
- SQL
- Python
How Much Does an Agile Project Manager Make?
$116,785
The average annual salary for an Agile project manager is $116,785, according to Salary.com. The lower end of the annual salary range is around $104,165 and the higher end is $130,698. Salaries vary by industry and location, with experience, education, and additional certifications also taken into consideration.
What Is the Projected Job Growth for an Agile Project Manager?
6%
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an average growth of 6% for project managers across all sectors from 2022 to 2032. This includes Agile project managers. As organizations increasingly recognize the value of Agile methodologies in driving efficiency and innovation, there will be an ongoing need for project managers.
SKILLS
What Skills Does an Agile Project Manager Need?
To successfully implement key Agile principles, project managers must be skilled in:
- Communication: Open and direct face-to-face communication is essential to agile methodology, allowing for clarity, collaboration, and overall achievement.
- Leadership: Agile project managers need strong leadership skills to inspire and guide their teams, promoting a collaborative environment that drives project success.
- Collaboration: Agile project managers foster collaboration to leverage the collective strength of departments and team members.
- Multitasking: The ability to multitask and manage multiple projects concurrently ensures efficient and on-time project delivery.
- Adaptability: Agile project managers excel in adapting to situations that may arise as related to a project, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Innovation: One of the most important attributes of an Agile project manager is the ability to think outside the box to provide guidance and solutions to issues that may arise during sprints.
- Decision-making: Agile project managers must confidently and quickly respond to changing project dynamics and ensure timely progress toward project goals.
- Customer-centric approach: This ensures that projects align with customer needs and deliver maximum value, creating strong relationships and driving business success.
- Risk management: Being able to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate potential issues ensures smoother project execution and successful outcomes.
- Knowledge of project management tools: Depending on the field, this could include experience with—or the aptitude to quickly learn—technologies such as Jira, Trello, Asana, and other project management tools.
- Education: Experience backed by a bachelor’s or master’s degree in IT or business sets the foundational knowledge for success in Agile project management roles.
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