Learning about Scrum, Agile, & Waterfall - Part 1

More and more frequently, companies are looking for project managers who have experience with new project management methodologies such as Agile, Scrum, and Waterfall.

As I am always looking for continuous improvement, stay up-to-date with current business processes, maintain my PMP credential, and also to be able to manage projects for clients who already uses these techniques, it was time for me to get training on these techniques.

I am currently searching for classroom, online, or blended training courses, and will soon publish here a list of courses I found, their delivery format, and their price, but for now I have lots to read and I am sharing with you below what I found on the web and through my network. Enjoy!

• Agile or Waterfall : What do you prefer?
• Agile Process Defined for those New to Agile or Scrum
• The Art of Compromise: Scrum and Project Governance
• How To Fail With Agile: Twenty Tips to Help You Avoid Success
• Weekly Project Tracking in Agile Projects
• Manifesto for Agile Software Development
• Implementing Scrum Cartoons
• Scrum Values. Learn Them. Live Them.
• Agile, Multidisciplinary Teamwork
• Three Things I Wish I Knew Before Jumping
• Scrum In A Nutshell
• The role of the manager in Scrum
• Waterfall Model
• Iterating Toward Agility
• Scrum And Strategy

Stay tuned!

My Portfolio: eCSP Website Design

Click on image for a larger view. / Cliquez l'image pour afficher les détails.

My Portfolio: Bilingual website for financial advisors (previous)

This is the original color scheme designed for the Financial Advisor's website project I completed. I have posted the current color scheme on my blog here.

Click on image for a larger view / Cliquez sur l'image pour agrandir

My Portfolio: Bilingual website for financial advisors (current)

To see the previous color scheme that we presented to the client, click here.

Click on image for a larger view / Cliquez sur l'image pour agrandir.

My Portfolio: Quality Assurance, Acceptance, and Change Management Process

I wrote this Quality Assurance Management Process for a previous employer, which was used both by Project Managers across Canada as a reference and for the embedded templates, as well as a marketing collateral and Proposal's appndices.

Click on image for larger view.

My Portfolio: SharePoint-PMO Workspace, Library and Forms

I have structured a workspace on SharePoint for a Project Management Office, which included libraries, online forms, and project process documentation.

Click on image for larger view

My Portfolio: Project: Data Migration from site to another

The work was to find similar fields and transpose the data from one website to another. 1,500 post entries were made up to today, at a pace of approximately 20 ads per hours, and the client was very satisfied.

Click on the image for a larger view.

My Portfolio: Methodology & interactions between key roles and clients

The workflow of corporate processes required at minimum between key roles and clients, in providing instructional design services combined with project management services. This was ultimately used as a marketing collateral, and enclosed into each proposal as an Appendix.

Click on the image for a larger view

My portfolio: Portal Development Process Charts

Learning Portal Development Process chart :

The illustration of different resources involved in the development of a Learning management portal, interactions between each resources, approval process, and by project phase.

Cliquez sur les images pour agrandir / Click on images to view larger

Learning Portal Registration Process chart :
The workflow of registration process between end-users, managers, and administrators of a Learning Management Portal, web-based, accessible with a username/password provided by administrators.

Cliquez sur l'image pour agrandir / Click on image for a larger view

About Me: Questions & Answers

Are you able to meet aggressive deadlines? Do you have experience doing so in the past?

I am managing projects of designing, developing and delivering learning programs to clients since 9 years. Most IT projects starts with tight deadlines as training is usually the final phase of clients systems & programs implementation so we have to deliver within restricted deadlines to meet these companies objectives.

Are you involved with any professional affiliations?

I am a member of the PMI Montreal Chapter since 2006 and a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Can you work under pressure?

As stated previously, being able to work under pressure is unavoidable to manage IT projects. Not only my own pressure but also the pressure put on project staff as well, helping them to manage priorities, stress and workloads to ensure project objectives are met and clients are satisfied with final products.

Do you like working alone or in a team environment?

I prefer working in a team environment, ideally all in one place, not remotely but also when required, I also like to work on my own (i.e. write reports, perform analysis of processes or products).

Do you prefer continuity in structure or frequent change in your daily work?

It’s not one or the other but a mix of both depending on project, environment, priorities or even corporate policies.

How can you help our company be more profitable?

By finding better ways to do our job every day to produce results quicker and faster, resulting in higher profits for the organization.

How do you usually handle criticism?

As constructive feedback, essential to continuously improve the way I work with people every day, and increase chances of success when managing projects.

How much experience have you had with computers?

I'm using PCs since I am 12 years old. I am always interested in trying and learning new software, on my own most of the time, which could in the end increase work effectiveness. The most recent one I used was InfoPath as I was looking for the best way to create an online form, that could be posted on SharePoint.

How well can you multi-task?

Really well. This is essential and unavoidable when managing IT projects for sure. I am organized and structured; an essential requirement to my opinion to manage multiple projects, resources, and deadlines, just to mention these.

How would you rate your communication skills?

This is the number one skill Project Managers must have to be able to work effectively with different persons, who has different personalities, preferences, and requirements, by project, in both French or English. I put most efforts to ensure communications are well sent and received; the right way, at the right time, to the right persons and understood by everyone involved.

Tell me about any honours or awards that you have received in the past.

Awarded in 2001, 2003 and 2004 by the President of CDI Education as a
"highly effective person who go about achieving results in a very positive and
supportive manner with teams and customers, who have a history of success in her
own job function and who exemplify our values".

Awarded by client at project closure: “Eliane Veillet has contributed to the
success of the project SARM”. The sponsors of this project were CGI Group, Bell
Canada, and Sun Microsystems.

Tell me something about yourself that I didn't know from reading your resume.

People I worked with liked to work with me and wish to continue to work with me.
People can rely on me, eyes closed. You can see recommendations I received from
colleagues, managers or contractors at this web address http://www.linkedin.com/pub/4/2b5/5a9

What aspects of your job do you consider most crucial?

Communicating effectively with colleagues, clients and upper management, at the right time, to the right persons. Working well with others, increasing team cohesion and work effectiveness by making sure people are doing what they are supposed to do, using the right tools and methodologies. What did you like most about your last job?

I had the green light from my manager to implement new tools and processes, anytime without asking permission if I believed it would be more effective.

What do you do for fun?

Pencil drawing, interior home design, jewellery, reading.

What makes you tick?

I don't get angry easily neither unrespectful of people I work with. I am expecting the same with people I work with; meaning don't be angry if you are not doing anything to change the situation which makes you angry, be honest, don't keep for yourself something you don't like. I also find hard to work with people who are not accountable of their own work and don't care about the results this could cause.

What would your colleagues tell me about your attention to detail?

That I am by nature a person highly focused on details and quality. I am a perfectionist by nature so, I my case, I have to put efforts to ensure sufficient, proper attention to details and quality is spent on projects, not too much, as each project as its own requirements and scope, which I am managing well so far.

Why did you leave your last job [Oxford Properties Inc.]?

My job was no longer challenging to me. There was nothing more I could do to improve my work and I needed to get more experience by working with different companies.

Briefly outline the project management experience you’ve had within the last three (3) years.

I joined the current company I am working for 7 years ago to be responsible of developing the business & managing e-learning consulting, design and development projects of client proprietary training solutions to address needs of corporate clients. I am managing projects every day on a fulltime basis. Some of my key responsibilities on every project are to review, document, and control projects requirements & budgets, as well as manage client expectations, timelines, risks, internal and external resources, and communications.
I have been involved in numerous projects, from IT projects to soft skill design & development projects, as well as developing and maintaining customer relationship with new and existing clients. I have proven to be very successful at applying communication, analytical and creative skills to manage projects and people effectively and bring them to fruition on time and on-budget.
I also implemented a Project Management Office, initially for one department, then across Canada. This initiative required analysis of corporate requirements, objectives, structure and available technologies to design, develop, implement and support improved processes, methodologies and various forms & templates to be used by Project Managers.

Please list the Microsoft applications you are familiar with.

Advanced user of the following Microsoft applications: Outlook (incl.
Office, Express, Web Access), PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Visio, Project,
SharePoint, Internet Explorer, Messenger (MSN & Live), Live Meeting, and SharePoint.
Basic user of InfoPath, Access, FrontPage, and Photoshop

What languages do you speak and write fluently?

English & French

What experience and/or skills do you feel you could bring to companies?

I have proven to be successful in taking ownership of understanding client’s needs, verify and document requirements, listen and translate messages into a common language understood by all types of people, in order to establishing clear and realistic expectations. I believe these aptitudes are key to the success of companies like yours when implementing systems for clients located in various locations that has different requirements and expectations, using & managing resources remotely most of the time, using thorough & flexible management techniques to achieve goals and client satisfaction.

What company are you looking for?

I am looking for a company that was successful in developing a product that is now productized to the point where customization for clients is possible fairly quickly, at reasonable costs, without significant amount of effort or lots of specialized resources required for every new project, but still believe that continuous improvement is key to the success of a company to stay up-to-speed on a fast evolving market and higher expectations of clients.

About Me: Personality test results (en français seulement)

Myers-Briggs - Quick Personality Test (anglais seulement)

“De quelle façon travaillez-vous?” par Barbara Reinhold

Travailleur social 12% :

Je valorise les gens, les sentiments, la collaboration, l'harmonie et l'optimisme. Si je travaille avec un Travailleur social, je dois m'assurez de bien communiquer avec lui et pesez mes mots, car je pourrais facilement le blesser. Cependant, je dois lui donner une chance et il fera un excellent motivateur pour mon équipe.

Solitaire 38% :

Je vis dans l'instant présent et ai besoin de souplesse, de changement, de cadence et de beaucoup d'espace. Si je travaille avec un Solitaire, je ne dois pas l'embarrasser, pas de règlements et d'échances, et il fera un excellent travail.

Chien de garde 25% :

Je protège l'essentiel, les résultats et l'échancier. Les règlements me plaisent. Si je travaille avec un Chien de garde, je dois être ponctuel et prêter attention aux détails pour demeurer de son côté. Je dois lui confier la responsabilité de l'organisation.

Professeur 25% :

Je suis le cerveau d'une organisation; je fais progresser les choses, mais je peux sembler distant ou dominateur. Si je travaille avec un Professeur, je dois lui donner la latitude nécessaire pour réfléchir aux choses sans être gênée par les réglements ou des démonstrations d'émotions, et il fera un excellent travail. Je suis à la fois Travailleur social, Solitaire, Chien de garde et Professeur.)

About Me: Competencies & Aptitudes (in french only)

~~~~~~ English ~~~~~~

~~~~~~~ Français ~~~~~~~

Developing project plans and project schedules.

Développer des plans de projets et des calendriers d’activités.

Mobilizing & managing a multi-functional project team.

Sélectionner, assigner et superviser des ressources.

Managing client and supplier needs vis-à-vis projects’ scope.

Gérer les besoins et les exigences de clients et fournisseurs, ainsi que l’étendue des travaux de projets.

Assessing, monitoring, and communicating risks, impacts and contingency plans.

Analyser, gérer et communiquer les risques, impacts et stratégies.

Communicating with Business Executives, Finance representatives and large employee groups, both verbally and in writing.

Écrire des rapports de statut concis et succincts.

Tracking progress, including budgets.

Effectuer le suivi du progrès des activités, des revenus et des coûts planifiés et actuels.

Managing communication between each team member and with the client.

Communiquer efficacement et régulièrement avec les membres de l’équipe, les clients et la haute direction.

Managing all phases of contracting process, ensuring that all aspects of an awarded contract are carried out accordingly.

Gérer toutes les phases d’impartition et vérifier que tous les aspects d’un contrat sont complétés tel qu’entendu.

Developing internal management and reporting processes and tools.

Implanter et contrôler des processus et outils de gestion de projet.

Excel, Word, Outlook, InfoPath and PowerPoint, Macromedia Captivate,Microsoft and

Windows XP & Office 2003, SharePoint, MS Project, Front Page, Visio.

Fluent and proficient in French & English

Bilingue - Anglais et Français