Information technology (IT) project management faces unique challenges. With complex projects and constantly evolving customer demands, team members need to stay flexible. Agile project management is a popular model that allows developers to adapt as they work.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an M.S. in Information Technology Project Management program that can help aspiring project managers launch their careers. Here, we explain what agile project management is and why it’s so important for our IT project management students to master it.
What Is Agile Project Management?
The bigger a software project is, the more complicated it will likely be. There may be several collaborating teams, multiple phases of completion, and a variety of risks to contend with. When operating on this scale and complexity, careful coordination is essential.
Project management is a specialized role focused on bringing big projects to completion. Whether launching a new app, product, or marketing campaign, project managers, scrum masters, and product owners are critical to success. They don’t play a direct part in project labor. Instead, their job is planning and oversight. They handle a variety of tasks to keep work running smoothly, including:
- Defining the project’s end goal
- Determining and enforcing a budget
- Developing and implementing a detailed plan
- Setting reasonable timetables
- Assessing risks and mitigation strategies
- Managing resources, including workers
- Ensuring effective communication across all teams
- Documenting project progress
- Presenting information to stakeholders
- Leading quality assurance
Agile project management is a particular approach to software development projects. It breaks the project down into smaller sections, called sprints or iterations. Each section is released as it is completed. They can then be reviewed by the project team and customers, with reviews taken into account when preparing the next iteration. This model allows teams to fix flaws quickly and gives them the flexibility to adapt as project requirements change.
Why Does It Work?
Agile project management is a popular approach for a reason. This method offers many benefits to both the development process and the end product. Some of its advantages include:
Flexibility
In the world of software development, project requirements and priorities can change rapidly. Agile project management delivers the flexibility necessary to navigate these changes. Each iteration is an opportunity for the project team to adjust their direction. As goals and needs evolve, the team can continually adapt to meet them.
Faster Time-to-Market
Time-to-market is how long it takes to release a marketable project. Because agile project management is iterative, it allows for a faster delivery. The most important functionalities are developed first so customers can purchase the product in its early iterations. Less essential features may be added or expanded on in future development cycles.
Improved Satisfaction
Agile project management emphasizes feedback loops. Once an iteration has been released, customer feedback can be gathered and implemented in the next iteration. This involves customers more directly in the development process. In turn, the project team will better understand what customers are looking for, helping them deliver a more desirable product.
Risk Management
Every project comes with its risks and potential complications. With agile project management’s frequent feedback loops, the team can identify them early. This gives them the opportunity to eliminate issues before they develop into serious problems. It also allows them to mitigate risks, preventing unpleasant surprises later in development.
Enhanced Transparency
Agile project management promotes collaboration between team members, stakeholders, and customers. This leads to improved communication between all parties. Stakeholders and customers also understand the team’s goals, limitations, and project progress, leading to better decision-making, enhanced satisfaction, and improved project outcomes.
Become a Project Manager at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota prepares students for a future in IT project management with our online master’s degree program in IT Project Management. Our program features a robust combination of business and IT courses, including agile project management and other top theories of project management. With this expertise, students are set up for success in a competitive and quickly growing industry.
Graduates of our program are positioned to take advantage of a 7% career field growth over the next decade, as predicted by the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS), and a median pay of over $98,580 per year. Complete your education in IT project management to improve your opportunities with a challenging and rewarding new career.
Pursue New Opportunities in Project Management
Are you ready to master agile project management and open the door to new earning opportunities? Get started with the academics at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. We are a private, nonprofit Lasallian Catholic university located in Minnesota, serving students across the state and beyond. To find out more about our graduate programs, request information. To start learning what agile project management is, apply for admissions today.
