Agile has stood the test of time as one of the best project management methods. It’s used for software developers and other projects to create efficient systems for building for consumers.
That’s why it’s no surprise that it’s no surprise it’s so popular in the management world. Reports show that 86% of the software industry uses agile in some form.
If you want to get the most out of your agile release trains, there are some things you can learn to make them more productive. Below are four tips that every scrum master needs to know.
1. Train Your Team
The number one priority for you to get right with agile is ensuring everyone on your team knows how it works. Agile requires everyone to work together for a common goal. It can slow down your operation if a few people don’t understand how it works.
Be sure you offer training to people who aren’t familiar with agile. You should have coursework in-house that helps people learn everything they need about agile workflows.
Learn more here to see where you can find resources.
2. Identify Value Streams
The next step to creating a great agile release train is identifying where you’re providing value. There are two main areas to focus on here.
The first is development streams. These are the main products you create that provide value to the customer. It includes products and resources to order those products.
The next value stream to identify is the operational value stream. These are the processes you use to deliver value to customers.
3. Organize Teams
Agile doesn’t work if you don’t have well-defined teams. You have a group responsible for each part of the product development lifecycle. It’s hard to make things work if people float around to do whatever they feel like at the time.
That’s why it’s critical to define teams before you start the agile release train process. Group people based on their skills and expertise to maximize their contribution to the project.
4. Create the Program Increment Backlog
The program increment backlog is the list of features you need to create to meet the launch requirements. Your goal is to have an end date for the project and a list of product features to go with that date.
Once you have a list of features, you can create user stories that help your team understand how those features fit into the big picture. From there, you can break down the agile process into two-week-long sprints. Use those sprints to focus on specific objectives that help you meet your business goals.
Keep Improving Your Agile Release Trains
A scaled agile framework is a great way to get the most from your team. It offers your team an excellent framework for creating goals, getting work done, and shipping products.
However, there’s a lot to be desired when you use agile release trains. It takes a lot of work to get right, so you may not see all the benefits of agile if you don’t maximize how you work. Use the tips above to improve your processes and get more done.
Check out the blog if you want to learn more tips that every product owner should know.
