AGILE CERTIFICATION - COMPETENCIES FOR LEVEL 1 (FOUNDATION) AND LEVEL 2 (ADVANCED PRACTITIONER) - Version 2 - March 2013

GENERAL AGILE CONCEPTS L1 Level 1 - Foundation L2 Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner

Competency Competency
number number

The Agile Manifesto, and underlying
principles
The terminology and main aspects of the
most popular Agile methods: Scrum, XP,
DSDM, Kan Ban, Lean
The most popular shared technical
techniques of these Agile Methods
TAILORING
Level 1 - Foundation (Knowledge and Understanding) Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner (Application and
e.g. remember, recognize, choose, find, describe, show, Analysis) e.g. select, identify, organise, use, solve,
list, explain. The candidate can ... analyze, categorize, compare, contrast, subdivide,
L1 0.1 L2 0.1
classify, or outline.
Can discuss the meaning of the Agile Manifesto and its
Remember and understand the Agile Manifesto and its underlying principles and practices
underlying principles
L1 0.2
Know the terminology and, at a high level, the key
L2 0.2 Can speak in the appropriate language for Agile,
elements of each of the most popular Agile methods. E.g. demonstrating an understanding of the common
MoSCoW prioritization, the 3 pillars of Scrum, pair philosophy and principles shared by the Agile family of
programming, the Kan Ban / Scrum Board for planning; techniques
the removal of waste from process.
L1 0.3 L2 0.3
Be able to state the objectives of: Concurrent Testing,
Continuous Integration, Test Driven Development and the
concepts of "Ready", "Done" and Done-Done" and the
team roles involved with these.
L1 Level 1 - Foundation L2 Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner
Competency Competency
number number

Choose an iteration length based on project Can identify the appropriate level of documentation
L1 1 characteristics L2 1 and rigor for different agile projects
Recognize the need to assess and tailor process to Can challenge the process, and innovate to tailor and
L1 2 project characteristics L2 2 improve the process.
Can scale agile methods within and outside the project
L1 3 L2 3
PRIORITISATION, PLANNING AND Level 1 - Foundation (Knowledge and Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner
DELIVERY Understanding: Describe, Explain, List)

Recognize ways to establish clear purpose and scope Can explain the concepts of product architecture and
(that gives the overall picture of the product and the IT technology on a general level
L1 4 business value) L2 4
Understand the need to deliver working product at the Can use modelling to help customer understanding of
L1 5 end of each iteration L2 5 their business processes
Understand the need to deliver using feature-based Can plan using features, not activities
L1 6 rather than task-based approach L2 6
Recognize how to create and maintain release plans and Can explain the prioritisation of features / new ideas /
L1 7 iteration plans L2 7 requirements
Can explain the concept of minimisation of waste
List several agile estimation techniques (user story points,
L1 8 wide band delphi, yesterday's weather, planning poker) L2 8
Can explain the protection of project value by
appropriate controls on quality, change management
L1 9 Understand the purpose of "fix the time, vary the scope" L2 9 and testing
Can explain the concept of timeboxing and a regular
List factors for prioritizing requirements (e.g. business pattern of delivery of business-valued increments
L1 10 value and risk) L2 10
Recognize the need to establish a technical environment Can identify and manage risk related to an agile
that supports iterative and incremental delivery: source approach.
control, infrastructure, automated testing, continuous
L1 11 integration, daily builds. L2 11
Can explain how to estimate in an agile environment

L1 12 L2 12
FEEDBACK AND ADAPTATION Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner

Can explain the use of retrospectives or reflection

Describe ways of reflecting periodically (retrospective, workshops
L1 13 introspective, reflection workshops, inspect and adapt) L2 13
Understand the use of quick daily meetings (daily Can explain the use of daily meetings (stand-ups,
L1 14 standups / washups / scrums) L2 14 wash-ups or scrums)
list ways to establish feedback - daily and after each Can show how to measure the incremental delivery of
L1 15 iteration /sprint / timebox L2 15 business value
Understand how to measure and visibly communicate Can explain re-estimating and re-planning as the
L1 16 project velocity, plans, and progress L2 16 project progresses
understanfd the process of converging on accurate Can explain how to allow for the discovery and
L1 17 requirements by demonstrating features L2 17 inclusion of new business opportunities
Understand the principle of adjusting requirements and Can visibly communicate progress
L1 18 plans continuously throughout the project L2 18
Can explain project / progress tracking
L1 19 Understand the agile way to handle issues L2 19
INDIVIDUAL LEADERSHIP STYLE Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner

Page 1 APL Competencies CANDIDATE VERSION 02SEPT2007.xls

 Be aware of different leadership behaviours: e.g. Can communicate well
innovative, strategic, motivational, tactical (immediate
L1 20 results), communicative, delegative, consensual L2 20
Recognize the agile approach, replacing negotiation with Can explain how an agile leader works
L1 21 collaboration L2 21
Can explain the personal risk taken by an agile leader
L1 22 L2 22
Can explain how to involve the team in determining the
Recognize the concepts of self-organization, self-
way they work
L1 23 selection of work, team collaboration L2 23
LEADERSHIP SKILLS Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner

Is able to facilitate
Understand the elements of basic facilitation skills: how
to run a meeting and how to teach people how to behave
L1 24 in a meeting, decision making, team norms, etc. L2 24
Is able to help individuals via coaching
L1 25 L2 25
Is able to manage people
L1 26 L2 26
Is able to negotiate
L1 27 L2 27
Knows the team development phases: forming, storming, Knows the team development phases: forming,
L1 28 norming, performing L2 28 storming, norming, performing
Can identify team role preferences / types and explain
how to build on team members personal strengths
L1 29 L2 29
Can recognize the Agile differences when dealing with Can handle formal agreements / contracts where
formal agreements / contracts where necessary, as a necessary, as a basis for collaboration
L1 30 basis for collaboration L2 30
Can recognize the use of agile techniques for handling Can explain the use of agile techniques for handling
L1 31 requirements L2 31 requirements
HANDLING TEAM DYNAMICS Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner

Understand agile ceremonies such as "Celebrate small Can explain the importance of a team vision
L1 32 victories" L2 32
L1 33 Explain the importance of sustainable pace L2 33 Can explain the importance of sustainable pace
Can explain the value of growing a project by starting a
new team by distributing the original team members
L1 34 Recognize the necessary agile team skills L2 34 (DNA)
Can facilitate the team to establish team norms
L1 35 Describe typical team norms / team working agreements L2 35
Describe a collaborative work environment; Explain the Can explain the value of small teams, even on a large
L1 36 typical size and workings of an agile team L2 36 project
Can explain how to motivate a team by involving them
in planning and decision making
L1 37 Describe the team role in planning, estimating. L2 37
Describe the meaning of co-location of team members Can explain how to generate an open environment
L1 38 and recognise the advantages and disadvantages L2 38 where people feel safe to express themselves
Can explain how to establish team relationships based
Understand the concepts of personal responsibility and on mutual respect
L1 39 mutual respect; Understand the need to "Trust the team" L2 39
List and understand the responsibilities of typical project Can explain the importance of project organisation and
roles: Product Owner, Domain Expert, Project Manager, team roles and responsibilities, with both customer and
Scrum Master, Business Analyst, Designer, Developer, development roles
L1 40 Tester, Implementer, Release Manager etc. L2 40
Can explain the importance of appropriate means of
Recognize and explain: Visual Management, positivity
communication
L1 41 indicators, Kan Ban and Scrum boards L2 41
CUSTOMER AND STAKEHOLDER Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner
INVOLVEMENT

Can explain the central role customers play and

L1 42 List ways to measure customer satisfaction L2 42 describe how to ensure the effective use of this
Identify and understand the responsibilities and Can identify and build relationships with customers and
L1 43 involvement of project stakeholders L2 43 stakeholders
Understand how customer representatives interact with Is able to measure customer satisfaction
L1 44 the development team L2 44
L1 45 Describe ways to engage the right people in decisions L2 45 Is able to involve the right people in decision making
Understand how to prioritize changes by interacting with
L1 Understand
customers the process of gathering and managing L2
requirements using agile requirements techiques: user
L1 stories, test cases, use cases, acceptance criteria L2
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Level 1 - Foundation Level 2 - Advanced Practitioner
(Assessed at interview)

Exhibits emotional intelligence, emotional

L2- 46 L2 46 expressiveness and personal warmth
Appears willing to operate in an agile leadership way
L2- 47 L2 47

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