Hello fellow PMs out there. I need some advice; I am currently preparing to get the DASM certification. I have experience in Agile and have been studying the "Choose your Wow!" book for a while. Took the course too. I have noticed that DASM is software development oriented, but software development is not my thing, I have a different background. Is it recommendable that I set off on a journey into Disciplined Agile? Saving Changes...
Agile's roots are in software development, and DA first started in IBM as DAD with a software focus. However, the thought leadership behind DA has spent a lot of effort in adding content which is agnostic of project domain - this was the rationale behind separating process blades into different layers.
While some of the practices in DAD are technology-centric, many are not. A lot of the process goals, decision points and options can apply "as is" or be adapted to fit a non-technology context.
I would suggest benchmarking several companies you think you would like to work for, and see what they have in their posted requirements. Linkden makes that very easy.
As for myself, I have seen many job postings for PMs, functional managers, and senior level engineering positions outside of software that prefer or require agile certifications. The engineering domains in my searches however tend to be high tech including both SW and electronics, where SW is usually not the core technology.
PMs are not always assigned to the product development though. A PM experienced in construction for example might lead development of new processes and tools used by the product development team because they understand the work performed. Software is part of the solution, but understanding the core business is crucial if the processes are to work for the users. Saving Changes...
Thank you for your comments. Kiron and Keith... I am taking your responses as a "yes".
I get it… I know I can leverage the practices that DA offers and its mindset, even though software development is not my area, and the projects I am involved in are related to other industries. I have implemented many DA practices already, and frankly, they work quite well (life cycles, phases, desition points, etc.). I am doing it little by little, since my coworkers are mostly new to agile.
I have read tons of articles and literature about this topic (there are many project managers with the same doubt)… and most of the articles agree with the thought that DA is applicable to other areas. However, personally, every time I turn to Choose your WoW! for reference purposes (a book I have gone through several times), I always end up with this feeling that there's too much of software development in there. It is just a feeling (hesitancy is how I would call it).
Thanks again for your time and comments.
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1 reply by Keith Novak
Apr 27, 2022 8:08 PM
Keith Novak
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I agree with your perspective about how agile instruction tends to be focused almost exclusively on software. I think that is more due to the background of instructors/authors who frequently come from IT where agile is everywhere.
If you are working on projects where SW is one component, you will be in contact with agile development so even if scrum master is not your job, you need a functional understanding.
PMs also wind up with a lot of experience that is hard to describe very briefly on a resume. If you want a position where some agile knowledge is useful, DASM is only 4 letters when you are trying to condense a career into 1 page including the header.
That's definitely a valid feeling! I've repeatedly asked Scott & Mark over the years when they will start to "de-technology" their core resources, and Scott's response is usually "Yes, later" :-)
My hope is that with PMI owning the DA intellectual property that now that the tactics of the acquisition integration have been completed, they will start to invest time in fleshing out the toolkit to address other project domains.
CYW is also going through a similar process - the latest edition has stripped out all the process goal details which should make it more agnostic...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Pedro
I agree with Kiron and I am one of those non-IT professionals who took the DA and other Agile credentials and did benefit a lot from them so my vote is a YES.
Thank you for your comments. Kiron and Keith... I am taking your responses as a "yes".
I get it… I know I can leverage the practices that DA offers and its mindset, even though software development is not my area, and the projects I am involved in are related to other industries. I have implemented many DA practices already, and frankly, they work quite well (life cycles, phases, desition points, etc.). I am doing it little by little, since my coworkers are mostly new to agile.
I have read tons of articles and literature about this topic (there are many project managers with the same doubt)… and most of the articles agree with the thought that DA is applicable to other areas. However, personally, every time I turn to Choose your WoW! for reference purposes (a book I have gone through several times), I always end up with this feeling that there's too much of software development in there. It is just a feeling (hesitancy is how I would call it).
Thanks again for your time and comments.
I agree with your perspective about how agile instruction tends to be focused almost exclusively on software. I think that is more due to the background of instructors/authors who frequently come from IT where agile is everywhere.
If you are working on projects where SW is one component, you will be in contact with agile development so even if scrum master is not your job, you need a functional understanding.
PMs also wind up with a lot of experience that is hard to describe very briefly on a resume. If you want a position where some agile knowledge is useful, DASM is only 4 letters when you are trying to condense a career into 1 page including the header. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
As someone with 40 years of IT experience, I am constantly reworking and tailoring IT approaches for non-IT work and processes. Don't sell yourself short: learn all you can from DA and figure out how you can best apply it in your world. Saving Changes...
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