In the recent past, Agile has grown from a technology trend to one of the leading software development tools in the industry today. Agile software development enables a rapid and flexible response to change. It allows for easy collaboration between self-organising cross-functional teams. The technology itself takes some getting used to, but once a team understands how to use it, they are capable of executing and delivering projects and changes at incredible speeds.
According to a VersionOne report, Agile is being used by 97% of organisations in some form or the other. It has revolutionised how organisations approach software development and project management, which has increased the demand for IT professionals specialising in Agile methodologies.
Is an Agile certification worth pursuing for your career? Let’s take a few major factors into account.
Benefits of an Agile Certification:
1. Increase in Agile adoption:
From the smallest to the largest organisations around the world, Agile methodologies are put to use in different ways. According to the Project Management Institute, 71% of organisations use Agile methodologies sometimes or all the time.
Agile’s reach spreads across the world. All organisations understand its need and eagerly await its implementation.
2. Use of multiple Agile methodologies:
Agile is not limited to a single methodology. Large organisations make use of multiple methodologies depending on the nature of their business. Getting an Agile certification in different methodologies will help you move up the organisational ladder faster. It will also help you get deployed on a variety of Agile projects.
The use of multiple methodologies has resulted in an increased demand for Agile professionals to work on advanced projects. Indeed.com showed around 45000 job listings seeking Agile project management skills. This also means that Agile jobs aren’t going away any time soon.
3. New perspectives
Agile allows organisations to deliver a higher scope of work within the same timeframe. This was proved when QSM analysed over 8000 traditional development projects against Agile development projects. The key areas analysed were productivity, time-to-market and quality. The result was that teams using Agile delivered 50% faster than the others and 25% more productive.
Another key benefit is that 80% of the most valuable features within Agile are written in just 20% of the code. This means that 80% of Agile features can be implemented early into your project which means you can realise your ROI faster.
Agile Certifications Overview
Some of the most aspirational Agile certifications are listed below.
Agile Scrum Foundation
This certification is provided by EXIN and validates your understanding of Agile methodologies and Scrum framework. The Agile Scrum Foundation exam tests your understanding of its core concepts and gives you a unique credential that combines Agile service management practices and Scrum frameworks.
Agile Scrum Master (ASM)
This certification is ideal for managerial professionals in the field of IT project management, software development, business management and IT service management. It is a unique certification that combines various methodologies, Scrum practices and tactical assignments.
Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Certification
Offered by the Scrum Alliance, a CSM is responsible for building a body of knowledge of the Scrum, which includes its roles, ceremonies and artifacts. Integrating Scrum principles takes a lot of hard work and requires continuous improvement.
Professional Scrum Master
The PSM certification is one of the toughest certifications in the industry considering its intense syllabus, higher passing requirements and tough exam patterns. It helps you achieve Agility through the Scrum framework.
Certified Scrum Product Owner
As a CSPO, your role is to define the product vision, catalog the Product Backlog with the most important user stories on top, create a pleasant customer experience by delivering valuable features and user stories to maximise ROI. Your CSPO credentials also give you a two-year Scrum Alliance membership.
SAFe Agilist Certification
SAFe is accepted globally by most of the Fortune 100 companies. A SAFe Agilist helps organisations to scale Lean and Agile development, execute program increments effectively, deliver value through release trains, and build a portfolio on a very lean budget.
Start Training Today!
Now that you know the benefits and potential of Agile frameworks take the next step towards growing your career. Enrol in an online training program today to get certified as an Agile specialist and take your career to the next level.
