Applying Metrics for Predictability (APM)

This is a live-virtual-course (online) led by Julia Wester. There are 4 sessions held on non-consecutive days: January 26 & 28 and February 1 & 3.  Each session starts at 13:00 and finishes at 16:00 - all times CET.

“When will it be done?” “How many items will I get in the next release?” “When will all of the items in the backlog be completed?” Those are some of the first questions that your customers will ask you once you start work for them.

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This hands-on workshop will provide you with the tools you need to answer those questions predictably. In this tutorial, attendees will learn what metrics are necessary for accurate forecasting, how to visualize those metrics in appropriate analytics, how to use those analytics to make reliable forecasts and understand risk, and, finally, how to make meaningful interventions for overall process improvement.

About the trainer

Julia Wester has used Kanban for more than 10 years, is passionate about flow, predictability, and probabilistic forecasting. She is the co-founder of 55 Degrees AB as well as acting product manager for their flagship product, ActionableAgile. Julia is also on the advisory board of ProKanban.org and a Professional Scrum Trainer and PSK course steward with Scrum.org. Follow Julia on twitter at @EverydayKanban.

Learning Outcomes

After attending the course, learners will have:

• An understanding of what Lean-Agile metrics are necessary for predictability
• An ability to make accurate forecasts for single items including how to forecast when an individual story, epic, or feature will be done
• An ability to make accurate forecasts for multiple items including how to know when all items remaining in a backlog will be done or an ability to project how many items will be completed by a given release date and the risks associated with each
• An understanding of how to use flow metrics and analytics to achieve a stable process including an understanding of why a stable process is necessary for accurate forecasting

Who Should Attend

The Applying Metrics for Predictability course is for anyone who has been asked to answer “When Will It Be Done?” or otherwise had to give an estimate for a User Story, Epic, Feature, Project, and/or Release. This includes executives, managers, or team members who want better understanding and transparency into the health and performance of their process. Anyone who currently uses Agile or Lean Methodologies and is interested in how to improve the overall predictability and efficiency of their current practices will benefit from Applying Metrics for Predictability.

Topics

• Flow Metrics: a deep dive into WIP, Cycle Time, and Throughput—including why you need to track them, how they are related through Little’s Law, and why they are important for forecasting
• Flow Analytics: an introduction to Cumulative Flow Diagrams (CFDs), Scatterplots, Histograms, and other supporting charts—including a detailed discussion of what they are, how to generate them correctly, and how to utilize them for better predictability
• Forecasting Using Monte Carlo Simulation: how to use flow metrics to answer “When will it be done?”—including an introduction to Monte Carlo Simulation and statistical sampling methods for forecasting (no advanced mathematics required!)
• Quantifying Risk and Risk Management: how an understanding of risk is crucial to developing accurate forecasts—including how to quantify risk in the different analytics’ charts and how changing forecast inputs can help to develop an overall risk profile
• How to Get Started: how to immediately apply these techniques to your current project or process to achieve the results you are looking for—including what data to collect, how to mine your data, and how much data you need to begin

Validated Learning

Upon completing the course, we will invite you to take the online assessment that evaluates your understanding of metrics and forecasting topics and provides you with guidance on areas to improve. If you achieve a passing score, you will receive the Professional Applied Metrics (PAM) certification through ProKanban.org.

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Take the open assessment for free at any time to gauge your current level of knowledge!

Other Frequently Asked Questions:

What is included in the price?

The price includes the standard benefits for this class:

• course materials (in English)

The price also includes these special perks from 55 Degrees:

• 2 months free access to ActionableAgile Analytics Standalone (https://analytics.actionableagile.com)
• 20% discount on training from 55 Degrees for the next 12 months
• access to Alumni virtual Q&A sessions
• membership to the 55 Degrees online slack community

How should I prepare for the course?

We advise you to read the https://prokanban.org/code-of-conduct/. In addition, you should ensure you can access Zoom and other online tools using the information provided in your welcome email. This will be sent out at least 2 weeks in advance of your class date.

How and when do I pay?

After registration, you will immediately receive a booking confirmation via email. As soon as possible afterwards, we will email a Stripe invoice to the billing contact to pay by credit card. Please note that payment must be received before the course starts. 

Where can I contact the trainer with further questions?

You can email us at support@55degrees.se