Agile Project Manager: Description of Role, Duties, and Competencies

The Agile framework emerged during the 1990s as a response to the rigid and traditional project management methods prevalent at that time. It was formalized in 2001 with the release of the Manifesto for Agile Software Development.

Since its inception, Agile has garnered a substantial following. It presents a flexible approach that involves cross-functional, self-organizing teams collaborating closely with the product's customers or end-users. Agile embraces change, encourages adaptability, promotes iterative processes, and consistently seeks opportunities for improvement.

Nevertheless, even within the more relaxed Agile philosophy, a certain degree of management is essential. This is where the Agile Project Manager plays a pivotal role. This article delves into the responsibilities of an Agile Project Manager, exploring what the role entails and the qualities required to excel in it.

The Agile Project Manager
 

Every Agile practitioner will inevitably seek guidance and management support. While the role of a "certified Agile project manager" does exist, it's equally common for a Scrum Master or product owner to lead the Agile project team. In certain scenarios, responsibilities akin to those of a traditional non-Agile project manager may be distributed among the Scrum Master, product owner, and individual team members. This highlights the flexibility of Agile; there's no definitive correct approach, as each Agile project plan varies. Ideally, though, having an Agile Project Manager steering the project is beneficial.

Similar to their traditional counterparts, Agile Project Managers bear the ultimate responsibility for successful product delivery. The distinction lies in the Agile values that underpin the project management style.

According to the Agile Manifesto, there are four core Agile values:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools: Technology may evolve, but people are the driving force behind any project. Tools and methods, despite their sophistication, cannot adapt to changing circumstances as people can.

2. Working software over comprehensive documentation: While well-written software manuals are valuable, functional software surpasses them. Good documentation simplifies matters, but well-functioning software is infinitely superior. When a choice must be made, prioritize excellent software over extensive documentation.

3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation: Involving customers in the development process, understanding their needs, and obtaining their feedback increases the likelihood of delivering a perfect end product. Collaborating with customers is far superior to engaging in negotiations. It's less stressful and saves time.

4. Responding to change over following a plan: Agile acknowledges change as inevitable and allows for flexibility at any project stage. Unlike traditional project management, which views change as a costly obstacle, Agile perceives change as an opportunity. Adaptability isn't a hindrance; it's a chance for improvement.

What does the role of an Agile Project Manager entail?

Management anticipates that Agile Project Managers will excel in diverse roles. These roles can be categorized into three main areas: team-level responsibilities, enterprise-level duties, and hybrid Agile roles.

Team-Level Responsibilities:

Agile Project Managers can take on two specific roles within the project process:

1. Consultant Role: In this capacity, they guide the team by strategically allocating appropriate personnel, processes, and resources, enhancing team effectiveness and efficiency.

2. Coach Role: Agile Project Managers serve as mentors, offering valuable advice to team members on how to optimize their efficiency within the project team, fostering a productive working environment.

Enterprise-Level Roles.

These roles at this level present considerable challenges for Agile Project Managers due to their extensive nature.

• Director Role: Agile Project Managers need to function as directors, overseeing multiple Agile teams and ensuring seamless integration of their work with activities beyond their immediate scope.
• Leader and Manager Role: They are also tasked with being leaders and managers, overseeing large-scale enterprise projects that are intricate and complex in nature.

Hybrid Agile Roles.

• The Hybrid Agile process combines Agile methods with non-Agile techniques, such as the Waterfall method.
   
• Create a sound project management approach that fits best in planning and managing the work. Filling a Hybrid Agile role is challenging, as the APM must factor in the traditional techniques alongside the Agile methodology.
   
• Meet the project’s goals within the designated limitations of the project.

Examining the Duties of an Agile Project Manager

The Agile Project Manager (also known as APM) undertakes the planning, leadership, organization, and motivation of Agile project teams, encompassing a wide array of responsibilities:

1. Facilitating Team Excellence: APMs help teams achieve high levels of performance and quality, ensuring accountability, eliminating obstacles, and mentoring less experienced team members.

2. Project Scope Management: They define the project's schedule and scope while harmonizing these with timely value deliveries, and coordinate and lead working and project status meetings.

3. Delivering Exceptional Value: APMs oversee the delivery of Agile projects that provide exceptional business value to users.

4. Stakeholder Management: They support the product owner in handling communications with stakeholders, manage customer expectations for deliverables, and implement an effective project governance system.

5. Empowering Teams: APMs promote team empowerment through team-building techniques, ensuring meaningful contributions from each team member and their active engagement in the project.

Additionally, APMs may manage multiple concurrent high-visibility projects. They are adept at utilizing Agile methods in fast-paced environments spanning various business divisions.

Strategically collaborating with management teams, APMs assist in defining the product's epics, which are substantial pieces of work with a shared objective, encompassing business requirements, customer requests, or desired features. Epics often extend beyond a single Sprint to complete.

The Differences Between a Traditional Project Manager and an APM

We talked about Hybrid Agile and how it combined Agile methods with “traditional” elements. In the spirit of that concept, let’s showcase the differences in approaches between a traditional project manager and an APM.
 

1. Methodology:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Employs a sequential and linear approach, often following the Waterfall methodology.
      
   • Agile Project Manager (APM): Adheres to Agile principles, emphasizing adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development.

2. Project Planning:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Plans the entire project comprehensively before execution begins.
      
   • APM: Engages in dynamic planning with flexibility to adjust as the project progresses.

3. Roles and Responsibilities:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Typically follows a hierarchical management structure, making decisions and assigning tasks.
      
   • APM: Facilitates a self-organizing team, encouraging collective decision-making and accountability.

4. Change Management:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Change is often seen as disruptive and is carefully managed to avoid scope creep.
      
   • APM: Embraces change as an opportunity, accommodating alterations in requirements and priorities.

5. Client Involvement:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Clients are primarily engaged at the beginning and end of the project.
   • APM: Maintains continuous client involvement throughout the project to gather feedback and adapt accordingly.

6. Delivery Frequency:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Typically delivers the final product at project completion.
      
   • APM: Delivers increments of the product in short cycles (Sprints), ensuring incremental value delivery.

7. Documentation:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Prioritizes comprehensive documentation, including detailed project plans.
      
   • APM: Focuses on functional software over extensive documentation, though documentation is still maintained.

8. Risk Management:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Emphasizes risk mitigation through extensive planning.
      
   • APM: Addresses risks through regular inspection and adaptation during iterations.

9. Team Dynamics:

   • Traditional Project Manager: Hierarchical team structure with clear roles and responsibilities.
      
   • APM: Promotes self-organizing, cross-functional teams with shared ownership.

10. Measurement of Progress:

    • Traditional Project Manager: Progress is often measured against the initial project plan and milestones.
       
    • APM: Progress is measured by the working software and value delivered to customers in each iteration.

11. Project Success Criteria:

    • Traditional Project Manager: Success is often measured by adherence to the initial plan and meeting predefined goals.
       
    • APM: Success is gauged by customer satisfaction, adaptability to change, and the ability to deliver value incrementally.

What Abilities Are Essential for an APM?

Considering the substantial expectations placed on APMs, it's evident that this role demands a significant set of skills. A robust skill set stands as one of the fundamental tools for effective Agile project management. Here's a breakdown of the essential hard and soft skills every proficient APM should possess:

1.Exceptional Organizational Skills: Particularly in the realm of prioritization, APMs need to focus on critical project components while disregarding unnecessary or distracting tasks.

2. Resilience Under Pressure: APMs must not only maintain composure but also thrive in high-pressure situations.

3. Strong Communication Skills: Vital for collaborating with teams, interacting with management, and engaging effectively with non-team members.

4. Collaborative Attitude: APMs must demonstrate the ability to work harmoniously with others.

5. Advanced Critical Thinking: This includes the ability to think swiftly and adapt to changing circumstances effectively.

6. Adaptability and Flexibility: Comfort with rapidly shifting priorities and a high level of adaptability are crucial.

7. In-Depth Knowledge of Agile and Scrum: A solid understanding of various Agile and Scrum elements, including Agile planning and project management with Scrum, is essential.

8. Certification and Training: Ideally, APMs should have official certification and training in project management methodologies.

Furthermore, an excellent APM comprehends and adheres to the four key values of Agile methodology outlined in the Agile Manifesto, as mentioned earlier in this article.

It's worth noting that while in certain scenarios, different Agile team members may share APM duties, having a dedicated individual solely focused on ensuring smooth project operations, acting as a motivating leader, and bridging the gap between the team and the customer is highly beneficial. Although this might involve creating a new position in the company, the long-term cost savings justify the investment.

Do you possess the determination and skills required to excel as an Agile Project Manager?

Agile and Scrum methodologies have witnessed a significant surge in popularity. If you are seeking a role offering stability, security, lucrative compensation, and an exciting challenge, why not explore the realm of Agile Project Management? Simplilearn provides a comprehensive Post Graduate Program in Project Management certification course, designed to accelerate your journey into Agile project management.

This course, in alignment with PMI-PMP® and IASSC-Lean Six Sigma standards, allows you to participate in live online interactive classes and masterclasses conducted by UMass Amherst. The program encompasses Harvard Business Publishing case studies and capstone projects, meticulously crafted to teach you the nuances of strategizing and managing diverse aspects of program management, including project, program, risk, quality, and complexity management. Additionally, you'll gain insights into customer-centric digital transformation and PMO implementation, while honing your Agile and Scrum skills.

Should you require further training or wish to enhance your expertise in Agile, Simplilearn offers an impressive array of courses to bridge skill gaps, including Agile Scrum Foundation, Certified Scrum Master, and Agile Scrum Master.

Glassdoor reports a median annual salary of USD 88,328 for Agile Project Managers in the United States, while Payscale indicates that APMs in India can earn an average yearly salary of ₹ 1,427,943.

Agile teams thrive under the guidance of skilled project managers, and that could very well be you. Take the first step toward revitalizing your career goals by exploring Simplilearn’s certification courses today!