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Description

Agile Methods: Framing Requirements, Running Iterations and Delivering Increments

Twenty-five hours online to run a project in short iterations and deliver value early

  • 3.57 days — 25 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Foundation
  • Up to 6 participants

Announcing a move to agile is not enough: without a prioritised product backlog or a shared definition of done, the daily stand-up turns into a status report and iterations end with half-finished work. Teams keep all the constraints of the traditional cycle without gaining any of the agile reference points.

This twenty-five-hour virtual programme installs the practices in sequence: framing the vision and the product backlog, sizing iterations, facilitating the ceremonies, measuring progress and adjusting. It is designed for those new to agile and aims at running a complete project using an iterative approach.

Learning objectives

  • Formulate a product vision and break it down into backlog items
  • Prioritise the product backlog according to value and risk
  • Estimate in relative units and size the content of an iteration
  • Facilitate iteration ceremonies and keep the definition of done alive
  • Measure progress using flow and velocity indicators
  • Run a review and a retrospective that lead to concrete actions

What makes this programme different

A project is run across three simulated iterations during the programme
Participants take turns facilitating the ceremonies with immediate feedback
The virtual format reproduces the real constraints of a distributed team

Programme

1Product vision and initial backlog

Knowing what to build before knowing how

  • Formulating the vision and the expected outcomes
  • Writing user-centred backlog items
  • Acceptance criteria and the useful level of detail
  • Progressive backlog refinement

2Prioritisation and estimation

Deciding what comes first

  • Criteria of value, risk and dependency
  • Relative prioritisation techniques
  • Estimation in relative units and collective estimation
  • Capacity forecasting for one iteration

3Running the iterations

The rhythm that gives the team structure

  • Iteration planning and team commitment
  • Daily stand-up focused on impediments
  • Visualising work and limiting work in progress
  • Definition of done and built-in quality

4Measuring and steering progress

Tracking without slipping back into traditional reporting

  • Remaining-work and velocity indicators
  • Flow monitoring and detection of blockages
  • Communicating progress to the sponsor
  • Handling requests that arrive mid-iteration

5Review, retrospective and improvement

Turning experience into practice

  • Preparing and facilitating the iteration review
  • Gathering user feedback
  • Retrospective formats and selecting actions
  • Following up improvement actions over time

Who is it for

Project managers, product owners, contributors in delivery teams and managers supporting a transition towards iterative ways of working.

Prerequisites

Prior involvement in a team-based project is desirable

Dates & locations

12 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.