Agile Methodology: Principles, Uses and Framework
December 19, 2024
Article
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No degree or prior experience required
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No degree or prior experience required
Confidently guide your team or organization through a shift to Agile
Build high performing Scrum teams through improved collaboration and communication
Increase project efficiency and organization to drive business outcomes
Develop tools and artifacts such as product backlogs, sprint plans, sprint backlogs and retrospectives
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February 2025
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Get the skills and confidence you need to bring order to your projects and deliver results faster with Google Agile Essentials. In under 10 hours, you’ll be able to focus on the most important tasks, break down projects into manageable steps, and use simple tools and documentation to keep your projects on track. You’ll practice your skills with real-world applications and earn a certificate from Google, ready to incorporate agile methodologies into any project.
You will explore how the Agile project management approach works and discuss the main difference between Agile and Waterfall. You will then get a brief history of how Agile came about and get to know the four values and twelve principles of the Agile Manifesto. Finally, you will understand how to adopt and apply Agile in a VUCA environment.
6 videos2 readings1 assignment
You will explore the origins of the word "Scrum", how the term relates to rugby, and why the Scrum framework is so popular. By the end of this module you will understand concepts related to Scrum, Kanban, XP, and Lean.
2 videos1 assignment
You will describe the relationship of Scrum to Agile and explain the three pillars and five values of Scrum. Then, you will distinguish between the three roles that make up a Scrum Team.
4 videos1 reading1 assignment
You will define the Product Backlog and explore popular ways to manage backlog items. You will also find out why user stories are used to capture and manage Backlog items. Finally, you will identify common ways to estimate time needed for tasks.
3 videos3 readings2 assignments
You will summarize the five key Scrum events: Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. You will define the key concepts related to these five Scrum events.
4 videos3 readings3 assignments
You will explore how to use burndown charts, velocity, and Kanban boards in Scrum.
2 videos1 reading1 assignment
1 video1 reading1 assignment
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Agile is an approach to project management that breaks down a large project into smaller, manageable time frames, called sprints. Teams can work on multiple parts of a project concurrently, which can make Agile more effective than traditional project management because resources can be used simultaneously and feedback is gathered and incorporated more frequently. In addition, Agile teams stay organized and efficient because they spend less time creating documentation or waiting for something to be completed.
If you're already in a project management role, you may be familiar with a more traditional management approach called Waterfall. Waterfall project management uses a linear process: Each phase of the project flows into the next one, like a waterfall. With this approach, one task is finished before another one is started. Agile project management is different because it is iterative, meaning the team is working on different parts of the project at the same time and project processes can be repeated many times throughout the project, incorporating feedback at every stage. Agile can be more effective than traditional project management because resources are used simultaneously in smaller time frames, called sprints. This iterative model means customer and stakeholder feedback is gathered more frequently and less time is spent creating documentation or waiting for something to be completed.
Agile project management is a sought-after skill across industries. In Google Agile Essentials, you’ll earn a certificate to showcase your skill set to your network and employers. Whether you’re a current or aspiring project manager, you’ll get the skills necessary to propel projects to new heights. In under 10 hours, you’ll get hands-on experience using agile methodologies and building Scrum artifacts. Through videos, readings and resources, you’ll learn how to create a powerhouse Agile team, unleash efficiency with organization, and apply in-demand project management practices.
This self-paced course is accessible to everyone and is designed to fit into busy schedules. You don’t need any technical experience to begin, and the skills you’ll learn can be applied to a variety of roles across industries. After completing the course, you can add your credential to your resume to display expertise to current and future employers.
Google Agile Essentials is for anyone who wants to bring order to their work to deliver projects faster, no previous knowledge or experience required. It is created for those who are ready to become more organized and efficient, executing projects faster and driving results. With Google Agile Essentials, you can develop the essential agile skills you need to be successful in today’s workplace, allowing you to apply skills to explore a new field or enhance your current work.
Google Agile Essentials teaches you the foundations of the agile project management philosophy. You’ll learn about the principles of Agile and take a deeper look at a popular framework, Scrum. At the end of the course, you’ll be able to prioritize tasks, adapt to changes and deliver results iteratively. You’ll understand how to build, run and organize your team by implementing Scrum events and creating artifacts.
In Google Agile Essentials, you will gain practical experience building Scrum artifacts like product and sprint backlogs. You will also practice estimation, creating sprint plans, running a sprint retrospective and writing recaps.
Google Agile Essentials includes 6 modules:
Introduction to Agile Project Management
Explore Popular Agile Frameworks
Investigate Scrum in Detail
Implement Scrum to Manage Progress
Practice Organizing the Five Scrum Events
Use Scrum Tools to Measure Productivity
Upon completion, you can take a final graded assessment to earn a certificate that can be displayed on your resume, social media profiles, and email signature. Having a certificate from Google is a concrete way to show current and future employers your competency in this essential skill set, like leading Scrum teams, creating artifacts, and running sprints.
Google Agile Essentials helps you build the skills to turn complex projects into manageable tasks, collaborate with your team better, and get more done faster.
Project management skills can help anyone, but if you’re looking for deeper knowledge in the field, check out Google Career Certificates at grow.google/certificates, which can help you prepare for entry-level roles in three to six months.
The Google Project Management Certificate is designed to teach learners the skills they need to get a job as a project manager within 3-6 months, no experience required. It teaches learners how to manage projects efficiently and effectively, using traditional and agile methods. Agile project management is covered in one of the six courses in the Google Project Management Certificate. You can learn more and enroll at grow.google/projectmanagement.
While the Google Project Management Certificate teaches the skills that one needs to get a job as a project manager, Google Agile Essentials dives into one primary concept, Agile project management, in a shorter period of time. In under 10 hours, you will learn about popular agile frameworks under the agile umbrella and take a deeper look at one of the most popular frameworks, Scrum.
Google Agile Essentials was designed and built by subject-matter experts at Google with decades of experience from the project and program management job fields. This course is created to equip learners with theoretical and practical knowledge and real-life problem solving skills to be successful in applying agile project management practices across any field.
Yes, you can preview the first video and view the syllabus before you enroll. You must purchase the course to access content not included in the preview.
If you decide to enroll in the course before the session start date, you will have access to all of the lecture videos and readings for the course. You’ll be able to submit assignments once the session starts.
Once you enroll and your session begins, you will have access to all videos and other resources, including reading items and the course discussion forum. You’ll be able to view and submit practice assessments, and complete required graded assignments to earn a grade and a Course Certificate.
If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Course Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Course Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.
This course is one of a few offered on Coursera that are currently available only to learners who have paid or received financial aid, when available.
You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.