Learn the Best Change Management Tools for 2022

It is common knowledge that organizational change management is never simple. Change management is a broad topic that involves a great deal. Therefore it is easy to become disoriented when implementing new changes. For example, workflow change requirements will differ from IT requirements (such as switching to another system or implementing new software).

The IT industry has huge issues, many of which stem from too much and too rapid change. It is expected to add new systems, remove old ones, migrate everything to the cloud by tomorrow, ensure that everything is virtualized, refresh all servers and PCs, digitalize the entire infrastructure, and implement countless security measures across all systems.

It is impossible. Nonetheless, this is largely what is desired. No matter how much or how small the IT shopping list is being implemented, a tremendous change is occurring. Change management solutions are an effort to bring order to the chaotic IT change world. Consequently, you need a variety of change management solutions to fulfill the requirements of each type of change. Frequently, these instruments consist of software. Therefore, these tools and programs will aid in bringing order to the frequently disordered change management process.

What Are Tools for Change Management?

Change management tools structure the frequently confusing change process within our teams, enterprises, and organizations. But transformation is fraught with ambiguity; how can you determine which tools you require?

This article will assist you in evaluating the finest change control software for managing change and ITIL change management software (which assists in aligning IT demands during large organizational transitions).

Management of organizational change can be challenging. In the end, there is no unique set of tools for navigating every type of company transformation. It is difficult to evaluate change management software because it is frequently impossible to compare them across the board. Different sorts of change management tools require different approaches.

As a technical change manager or project manager, you may be tasked with software change management responsibilities as your firm adopts new technology or develops solutions for clients switching to new systems.

In addition, non-technical project managers can impact change by introducing a new tool or method into their team’s workflow or by revising their company’s customer development standards. Change is a significant aspect of your everyday work, and you will be most productive if you can efficiently arrange and maintain your processes.

In this piece, I will discuss the change management solutions that best meet each requirement and describe the change management process flow and how IT change management software can assist you in navigating the change process.

How Do We Pick Up Change Management Tools?

Change management tools are any technology – platform, software, or otherwise – that an organization can implement to ensure that the transition process is stress-free. Businesses can use many change management tools to monitor the process, collect feedback, and record future changes’ hurdles and successes.

Several factors alter the optimal collection of tools for businesses, including:

The type of change: Are you deploying software, strategy, or process modifications?

The scope of the change: Does the change affect a single team or department, or is it extensive?

The time of change: When do you want to begin implementing the change? Exist other continuous alterations as you begin?

Those impacted by the change — Does your organization have branches? Who is affected by this development, and how may the negative effects be mitigated?

In addition, additional variables are based on the nature of your firm. Consequently, selecting the proper change management solution might be challenging.

Best Change Management Tools

Implementing new software? New business strategy? New instructional program? Change might be intimidating, but you need not face it unprepared. Onboarding, customer success, and staff engagement are just a few of the areas of change we’ve chosen to discuss in this article.

Following are the top change management tools recommendations to start your change management journey.

1. Whatfix

Whatfix is an interactive digital adoption platform that addresses a big void in digital change management by providing help for employee onboarding and continuous training. In addition, Whatfix’s interactive walkthroughs (workflows) expedite the transition to new software for businesses.

This change management solution uses individualized onboarding and a Change Management Certification Online program to guide people through each phase of the new technology.

The step-by-step contextual training enables users to learn as they work, resulting in increased productivity during the transition to new software. In addition, it assures little production loss during the transition and expedites the employees’ return to full speed.

Whatfix is also one of the leading Digital Adoption Solutions, alongside WalkMe, Nickelled, Inline Manual, etc., and is one of the best WalkMe substitutes on the market.

2. BMC Remedy Change Management 9

BMC Software’s Remedy Change Management 9 is an innovative IT service management (ITSM) platform. This change management solution is suitable for IT departments that must document and organize many requests for change management processes.

With Remedy Change Management 9, change managers may analyze requests, create change plans, and track the progress of implementations. In addition to facilitating the management of new releases, the solution includes deployment tracking and automatic notifications for stakeholders.

This change management tool can lower the probability of change failure by 40%.

Change requests, release tracking, and release management can be performed on a computer or mobile device, making it easy to monitor releases from anywhere.

3. The StarTeam by MicroFocus software

The StarTeam change management tool is intended to improve the software delivery process for development teams. The application unites dispersed and geographically dispersed teams by delivering a single source of truth throughout each changing phase.

The collaborative environment enables development managers to monitor modifications to source code, faults, features, and other assets to ensure a controlled distribution. StarTeam also offers configurable workflows that pave the way for a flexible, integrated workflow engine, which facilitates establishing software release procedures and guidelines.

4. Rocket Aldon

Rocket Aldon asserts to be the only multi-platform, end-to-end configuration and change management software on the market. It was designed to support development teams through change procedures.

Multiple people can access this software concurrently, one of its major advantages. |It enables managers to view changes based on apps and tasks or other recognizable structures in real time instead of the structure of the stored development files.

In addition, Rocket Aldon offers an enterprise Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) solution that automates the entire software delivery and change management process.

5. HowSpace

HowSpace is a platform driven by AI that promotes collaboration throughout the change process. This change management tool is designed for both organizational transitions and learning management.

With workspaces that resemble famous social media sites, HowSpace transforms each member into a change agent. Every idea, issue, and conversation is recorded automatically.

How space enables employees to learn new procedures and applications. Instead of throwing training materials on staff, How space provides a forum for dialogue and social learning. Participants can discuss assignments, receive group or individual coaching, and provide and receive feedback in a single location.

However, what truly sets How space different is its AI-powered insights. With AI clustering, it is possible to rapidly analyze complete conversations to discover essential subjects or recurring concerns. You may also set up notifications based on participant activity to conveniently monitor their progress.

6. The Change Compass

The Change Compass is a useful tool for firms that are constantly evolving. This change management tool measures the impact of every transformation as you deploy and modify processes and procedures.

Monitoring measures like cost savings, market growth, and operational efficiency provide an overview of how each change initiative affects various business aspects.

Moreover, this tool monitors the far-reaching effects of each change as you introduce new goods, modify consumer contacts, or modify internal regulations. As your firm expands, the built-in visual reports on employee and customer impact enable you to make more educated decisions.

7. ChangeGear Change Manager

ChangeGear is a standard ITIL-based change management application that employs enhanced automation and controls to manage the change and release process through a single interface.

This software application for change management is built for numerous roles, including DevOps, IT, and business. ChangeGear helps simplify the process, whether you’re attempting to reduce release bottlenecks for DevOps or restrict IT risks.

8. Giva eChange Manager

A component of Giva’s Service Management Suite, the eChange Manager, is an ITIL-compliant cloud application that is simple to use. In addition, they provide a robust reporting system that facilitates effective monitoring and measurement of analytics and KPIs.

Another added benefit is point-and-click customization and configuration, eliminating the need for programmers or consultants to set up the application.

9. Freshservice eight

Freshservice is a system for IT asset management developed by Freshdesk. It facilitates enterprise reporting, asset, release, and change management. Freshservice’s capacity to manage different verticals and integrations with its parent desk platform, Freshdesk, and sales platform, Freshsales, is its greatest strength.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

An Ultimate Guide to Project Management Career Prospects

People frequently ask why project management is necessary. Understanding how an organization views project management (PM) is also essential. Managing projects is typically an intimidating endeavor. It demands a comprehensive comprehension of project scheduling, planning, reporting, and tracking, as well as the significance of project management.

The project management certification has gained a top place in the list of IT certifications for years. The reason behind their gaining popularity is project managers are quite important for kinds of IT operations. So, with approval from an accredited organization, obtaining a project management certification can boost your knowledge, skills, and expertise in the domain. 

Having a PMP certification will undoubtedly take your career to a greater height of success. During the phase of PMP certification, the aspiring participants must attend multiple webinars and conferences to gain the required PDUs to maintain certification qualifications. Moreover, taking part in these webinars and meetings is a great way to attain added skills and information.

So, in this blog, let us understand how a PMP certification can assist in having better career opportunities. 

How Does PMP Certification Help to Get Better Job Prospects?

The project management sector is in constant flux. Consequently, project managers and their teams must remain competitive. For instance, more businesses are opting to work with remote project teams instead of in-house teams, and the global pandemic and accompanying lockdowns have made this even more common.

This practice has become increasingly realistic and widespread since modern teams can access various software and cloud-based technologies that help them operate more effectively. As a result, team members can collaborate and retain a high level of honesty while working on projects in other nations.

A PMP certification will provide you with ample career opportunities per your requirements. In addition, whether you are handling a small or big project, clearing the PMP certification exam will help you plan, handle and monitor project progress by meeting desired goals and adhering to organization costs and timelines. 

So, let us dive deep to know about the PMP certification role in your career growth:

Added Value to Your Resume 

The demand for PMP certification is rising, and organizations always prefer to hire PMP certified over non-certified peers. So, if you are an amateur in the domain, you can change your resume by adding PMP credentials. Moreover, it would help you to get multiple job opportunities. 

Coordination 

When you become a certified project manager or a member of the PMI chapter, you will have a much greater chance to know more about the industry. In addition, you can also create a network of project management professionals by participating in seminars and conferences.

Learn the Global PMP Language  

In addition to enhancing your employment opportunities, PMP training enables you to achieve competency worldwide with the standard language of Project Management, which executives and fellow Project Managers recognize. Furthermore, PMP training illustrates aspects of a project that a candidate was previously incapable of articulating. For instance, the project objectives, the required resources, assumptions, risks, and the restrictions under which stakeholders operate.

PMP training provides a dependable, time-tested structure that facilitates efficient communication. Once a candidate has demonstrated the capacity to recognize and resolve these issues, they become more desirable to an employer.

Knowing the PMP language makes speaking on a level playing field easier with clients and vendors. Therefore, using the common language reduces the need for explanations and examples. It speeds up, simplifies, and increases the effectiveness of brainstorming sessions.

Makes Your Experience Valuable 

Getting PMP certification is not as simple as it seems. It requires hard work and dedication. However, a PMP certification shows your experience attained to enhance your skills. 

Be an Accomplished Project Manager 

Organizations always look for candidates with the right skills and knowledge to handle projects efficiently, which can only be accomplished by certified project management professionals. 

Project Management Career Opportunities 

Getting to your desired job goal requires a great deal of dedication and commitment. People seek numerous means to advance their careers and increase their experience and earning potential. However, the first step for project managers is to understand why PMP certification is vital. Above all, some recognize that obtaining PMP certification is a sensible decision, as numerous PMP certification benefits exist.

The first step in becoming a project management professional is getting trained by an accredited institution. It doesn’t matter if you don’t possess a degree in project management, but having PMP certification training would prove beneficial from every perspective. Moreover, aspiring professionals will get a better chance to land better opportunities in the domain.

After getting the required training in the domain, you will have to choose the required job role you want to get involved. There are various job roles you can opt for in the project management domain.

In addition, there is no precise career path in project management, as the domain has ample career opportunities. Whether an amateur or an experienced professional, the project management domain can take you in various directions.

So, let’s take a look at project management job roles:

Entry-level Project Management Jobs 

The entry-level jobs for amateurs in project management will help to step into the field and gain the experience to lead the team over time.

Project Coordinator 

The project coordinator role is ideal for candidates just stepping into the industry. In such a case, the project coordinator can work as an assistant to the project manager. Doing so will help you to learn the roles in the domain. Above all, you can gain the required experience to lead the team. 

Assistant Project Manager

The main role of an assistant project manager is to support the project manager in handling technical and administrative tasks. Also, to ensure that teams accomplish the tasks adhering to budget and timeline. 

Assistant project managers are accountable for day-to-day project planning and implementation phases, such as budget monitoring, resource management, the collaboration between the cross departments, and much more. 

Product Development Project Manager 

This job role is suitable for candidates with having analytical mindset. The aspiring professionals for this role should also be involved in marketing the project. In addition, the industry/domain you wish to get into will determine the type of project you will have to handle. 

Construction Project Manager 

In recent years, the construction organization has witnessed a downturn greatly. However, despite the downturn, many organizations still look for skilled and experienced candidates to fulfill the job role requirements. 

But the project scope might vary based on the organization you work for. In addition, this role requires the candidates to be good communicators as they must collaborate closely with other skilled professionals. 

Project Scheduler 

The project scheduler works under the direction of the project manager. Their responsibilities include managing stakeholder’s expectations and scheduling aspects of the project. In addition, they are also held responsible for the planning and timely execution of the projects.  

Project schedulers often coordinate with the team and use scheduling software to focus on various aspects of the project. Also, they identify and provide solutions to schedule delays and regularly prepare project progress reports. 

Environmental Research Project Manager 

If you are passionate about projecting your surrounding environment, this is your ideal role. And the responsibilities of this job role vary significantly from one project to another. Therefore, the professionals must schedule their duties, create plans, and develop projects.  

Director of Program Management

This job role is the highest designation in handling project management’s operations of the organization, leading projects, and how it fits into strategic plans of the business. In addition, they ensure that projects are executed considering the timeline. 

The program management director coordinates with the external and internal parties and keeps the entire team updated about the project’s completion. This role requires leading and encouraging the team to reach its goals while enforcing policies and regulations. 

Senior Project Manager

The role of the senior project manager involves supervising large and complex projects, such as handling projects with longer duration and scaling processes.

A senior project manager should typically have ten years of experience handling projects from scratch. In addition, demonstrated strategic planning skills, organizational skills, communication, result-oriented, and time management skills. 

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

Tips to Grow in Your Professional Career

Have you ever asked yourself, “How can I grow in my career and make it a part of a successful life?” Do you want to work for an MNC company in a high-paying job? If so, I’d like to help you with this article.

A successful career is very helpful and pays off, giving them many opportunities to make money. We live in a rapidly changing world where people are judged by their social status and how much money they have. To improve your living standard, you must work your way up. So, a person needs to grow and develop in their career to reach their career goals and desires. If you’re looking for quick tips to help you improve your professional career, here are some straight-to-the-point ways to do so.

Secret Tips For Your Professional Career

As far as I am aware, everyone aspires to be successful and to have a rewarding career that fulfills their hopes and dreams for a happy life. When you begin your career, you will likely encounter ups and downs, which you can later refer to as practical experience. The more experience you have and the challenges you face along your professional path, the more likely you will succeed in your career. If you are interested in setting performance goals and developing your professional career in the future, here are some tips to consider.

1. Evaluate Yourself

Analyze how you’re doing at work regularly. Examine where you are improving and where you are having difficulty. This will assist you in identifying your strengths and weaknesses, identifying areas for improvement, and continuing where you are succeeding. In addition, consider whether you are still interested in the same things you were when you started working. 

Your dreams have most likely changed in some way. Aspirations change over time because the more experience and knowledge you gain, your career goals become more specific. Your desires will frequently become tailored to your newfound skills, learnings, and desires.

2. Seek out Mentors

Do you have any idea? As you grow in your career, it can be beneficial to seek a mentor who can guide and show you the right path in your field. Following a trusted mentor’s footsteps can positively impact your career growth because seeing them in high positions can provide you with the motivation you need to grow and be successful like them. Furthermore, your mentor can provide you with a wealth of tips and advice based on their extensive experience in their respective field, allowing you to learn from their mistakes and improve yourself.

3. Set Your Own Goals

The most important thing one should do to improve their career is to set their own goals. Goals are extremely important in achieving success. Let me explain.

First and foremost, goals assist you in defining what success means to you. This will be unique to each individual. For example, success may imply a position as CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Still, it could mean being able to pay off college fees and support a growing family without owing anything to anyone else. Second, by establishing goals based on your definition of success, you create a strong source of motivation. Third, you can break them down by breaking down larger life goals into smaller, more manageable, and actionable goals. Simply put, goals assist you in creating your path.

4. Build a Network of Contacts

If you want to advance professionally in any field, you should have a strong network of people who can assist you and provide advice as you develop your skills. As a result, you will need to maintain a constant network of relevant professionals who can provide you with all the tips you need to succeed in your chosen field. The more people you know in your field, the more likely you are to learn more and develop your skills as your career progresses. According to a survey of Indian professionals, 88% believe that knowing the right people is the key to moving ahead in your career.

5. Always Stay Positive

One of the most crucial things to remember as you try to advance in your career is that staying positive can significantly impact your professional growth. The more upbeat you are, the more motivated you will be at work, eventually leading to great success and career advancement. Therefore, you should do your best to maintain a positive attitude as much as possible to advance in your career.

Developing your professional skills to ensure career advancement is a long journey that will eventually shape your personality and make you a better professional. The best way to advance in your field is to learn from others and your mistakes and approach difficulties with optimism. Make an effort to network with experienced professionals as much as possible, and seek out mentors you can trust and learn from to grow and succeed in your field.

6. Keep on Learning

Education is always a necessary part of career advancement. The more you learn, the more your worldview expands. Additionally, more job opportunities will become available as you gain more knowledge and skills. Volunteer for causes that are important to you. Take on internships if you are not yet employed. If you already have a job, keep looking for ways to learn more. Consider doing outside gigs. If you have time, pursue your passion on the side. All of these activities help you to develop transferable skills.

Career objectives are not something you set once in your life. Your professional goals will naturally change as you grow. You are not required to oppose this. People who choose to remain stagnant make little progress. Make a point of revisiting your career goals regularly to ensure that you are still on the right track.

7. Don’t Be Shy About Asking Questions

You shouldn’t fear or feel bad about asking doubts and questions. But on the other hand, having doubts and getting them answered can help your career grow. So, if you’re unsure about something but don’t want to ask, the best thing to do is look for the answers online. Today, you can find answers to almost everything on the internet.

But things can also go wrong if you get answers from the internet without checking them first. So, explain and check the sources before concluding the solutions. Then, talk to your boss if you still can’t find the answer you’re looking for on the internet. Always remember that your boss once stood where you do now. So most bosses will be glad to answer your questions right away.

8. Be Trustable

Companies and individuals are always looking for people on whom they can rely. As a result, being trustworthy is an excellent quality in a professional. Companies always want to know that they have hired someone who will stay with them for a long time, not someone who will leave at the drop of a hat. As a result, demonstrate to the company that it can rely on you. At the same time, show your colleagues that they can rely on you.

9. Invest in Your Professional Development

Professional growth and development play a very crucial role in individual life. Strive to constantly learn from those around you and invest your time and money in professional development opportunities. There are numerous options for professional development, including formal education, seminars, conferences, and online classes. You can even engage in a knowledge exchange with colleagues with different skill sets than you, in which each of you teaches others about your expertise. In addition, investing in your professional development raises the quality of your work and allows you to compete for higher-level positions.

Many workplaces provide employees with optional professional development opportunities. Participating can demonstrate to your managers that you are taking the initiative to support your growth and development. Some workplaces also offer vouchers or stipends for employees to use toward their education, allowing them to gain current knowledge about their field and improve their work. The more you learn, the more precious you become in your professional life.

10. Create Your Opportunities

To begin, if you want to develop, you must be willing to create opportunities for yourself. Take the initiative to get out of your comfort zone and understand how your organization works. Examine how your company is run and who the key players are. This allows you to design your working style, which must be consistent with the direction of your organization. You can also generate enough opportunities by networking within your workplace. Experiment with your team leader and coworkers frequently, strike up healthy conversations at lunch or schedule quick meetings during breaks. Discussing official and unofficial ideas can assist you in establishing a structured network.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

The Evolution of COBIT 2019 from COBIT 5

The evolution of Information Technology has gone far beyond being an ordinary tool for businesses to make use of. IT practices have been the necessary foundation for several enterprises regardless of their industry or size. While several organizations fail to optimize the capabilities of their IT practices which can leave a business static and make it highly vulnerable to becoming obsolete; there is an urgent need for the development and management of internal controls and essential levels of security to cope with the trends. And hence, COBIT 5 comes into play. In this article, we will learn about the various components of COBIT 2019.

A Brief Understanding of COBIT 5!

Developed by ISACA, COBIT 5 helps businesses to create frameworks, and organize and implement strategies for information management and governance.

The COBIT 5 framework simplifies a set of managerial procedures with each procedure carefully explained together with process inputs and outputs, process objectives, key process activities, elementary maturity model, and performance measures. It additionally gives a lot of recommended best practices for organizational management and control procedure of data frameworks and technology with the point of adjusting the business to information technology. COBIT is probably the most holistic framework that is recognized internationally for achieving organizational information technology goals and objectives.

What is COBIT 2019?

The framework addresses the latest trends, technologies, and security needs for enterprises including other IT management frameworks such as ITIL, CMMI, and TOGAF as it makes an incredible choice to unify processes across an entire organization. Like COBIT 5, It also emphasizes specifically security, risk management, and information governance.

What does COBIT 2019 Include?

In COBIT 2019, new concepts and terminology have introduced the COBIT Core Model, which includes 40 governance and management objectives for establishing a governance program. The framework is intended to give organizations greater adaptability while customizing an IT governance procedure. Like any other framework related to IT, COBIT aligns the business goals and IT goals by establishing links between the two and creating a process that can help bridge a gap between specific silos within IT using their framework or standard.

According to the ISACA, COBIT 2019 was updated to include:

It additionally hosts “focus area” concepts that define specific governance topics and issues, which can be addressed by management or governance objectives. A few instances of these focus areas incorporate small and medium ventures, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and cloud computing. Focus areas will be included and changed as required depending on the trends, research, and feedback. There’s no restriction on the number of focus areas that can be incorporated into COBIT 2019.

COBIT 2019 Certification

Are you a certified professional in COBIT 5 through ISACA or in the middle of getting your certification? Are you already an accredited professional in COBIT 5 through ISACA or in the middle of getting your certification? The COBIT 5 certification course does not expire; ISACA will continue to support the accreditation and delivery of COBIT 5 training and certifications, along with COBIT 2019.

Certifications for COBIT 2019 include:

1. COBIT Bridge Workshop: A one-day course that covers the concepts, models and key definitions in COBIT 2019 with a heavy focus on the differences between COBIT 5 and COBIT 2019.

2. COBIT 2019 Foundation Exam: Prepares attendees for the COBIT 2019 Foundation certificate exam, covering the “context, components, benefits and key reasons COBIT is used as an information and technology governance framework.” You’ll be able to earn your certificate in COBIT 2019 Foundation after a two-day course from an accredited training provider.

3. COBIT 2019 Design and Implementation Exam: this certification will launch in April 2019 and will cover designing a tailor-made best-fit governance system using COBIT.

Design Factors in COBIT 2019!

Eleven design factors are introduced in COBIT 2019. The design factors influence the sort of governance system your organization needs and elevates the required capabilities. The new design factors can also influence the importance of one or more components or require specific variants.

The new design factors are shown in the image below:

COBIT 2019 Core Publications

Good governance is a vital element of strategy formulation and business transformation success, and COBIT 2019 can help chart that path forward. Below are the four core publications.

COBIT 2019 Framework: Introduction and Methodology

The new COBIT 2019 framework explains the governance principles and provides key concepts and examples. This guide also offers the structure of the overall framework, including the COBIT Core Model.

COBIT 2019 Framework: Governance and Management Objectives

This new publication provides a detailed description of the COBIT Core Model and its 40 governance/management objectives. Each objective is defined and coordinated with the related process, enterprise goals, and governance and management practices.

COBIT 2019 Design Guide: Designing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

The new design guide offers prescriptive on how to put COBIT to practical use and how to tailor a governance system to the enterprise’s unique circumstances and context, defining and listing various design factors. This guide also recommends workflows for creating the right-sized design for your governance system.

COBIT 2019 Implementation Guide: Implementing and Optimizing an Information and Technology Governance Solution

The Implementation Guide provides a roadmap for continuous governance improvement. The COBIT implementation is more practical and custom-tailored to specific governance needs.

The Guide provides a roadmap for continuous governance improvement. The COBIT implementation is more practical and custom-tailored to specific governance needs.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

Agile vs Scrum vs Waterfall vs Kanban

All four methodologies are used for software development and project management. While the difference between Agile and Waterfall is made very clear, there are still quite a few doubts when it comes to the differences between Agile, Scrum, and Kanban. Read the article to find out what each methodology is and what they are unique for.

What is Agile?

Agile is an approach to software development that uses an iterative and incremental approach to assist in project completion. The Agile methodology is a flexible way of solving problems in any development process because it is open to evolving environments. It uses feedback from users to improve its product over time and prioritizes based on what adds the most value to the customer. 

The leaders are focused on creating an environment and a team that works together and has a sense of ownership and believes in face-to-face communication. The main focus is to create a product that meets all customer needs as well as the business goals of a company. The Agile Manifesto was created in 2001 to give other software developers and their teams a guideline on ways they could improve their software development process.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is possibly the most widely used subset of Agile because the success rate is quite high. 63% of projects that used the Scrum method were completed on time and were successful. The Scrum process is made of fixed-length iterations known as sprints that go on for about two to three weeks on average. After each sprint, all stakeholders and team members meet to plan their next sprint and continue to do so till the project is complete.

What is Waterfall?

The Waterfall method is considered to be the traditional way of completing projects. It is widely used and follows a linear process through the development cycle. It works on creating a hierarchy or levels of stages that need to be completed in order to finish the project. It is a rigid method of project completion that often leads to delays and failures. It does not leave room for any changes and if the team members want to go back one step, they will have to start from the top.

What is Kanban?

Kanban is another widely used subset of Agile. The main focus of this framework is that it creates a visual representation of what the development teams need to produce when to do it and its quantity. Kanban is focused on making small changes to the current system that will help improve it. Kanban can work alongside existing workflows as well. 

The Kanban method was created in the 1940s when the Toyota Production System decided to follow the same approach as a supermarket did when it came to inventory – they did not put too many of the same items in one go, and replaced them only when it was empty, and so on. It creates a visual representation of the bandwidth, time, and space it takes for each project and different ways to improve its workflow.

Agile vs. Waterfall vs. Kanban vs. Scrum

There are a lot of similarities and differences with each methodology but they all have the same main goal, which is to complete projects. The best way to understand the differences between the four methods in a project would be to understand what is unique about each one.

What is it That Makes Agile Unique?

As discussed above, Agile focuses on taking a more collaborative and self-organizing approach to software development and project management. It is a widely accepted methodology that has various subsets including Scrum and Kanban. It doesn’t come with proper techniques for implementation, just some guiding principles. 

What makes Agile unique is that it is adaptive to change and focuses on team members working simultaneously by breaking the project down into smaller and iterative periods. Agile teams work incrementally so that team members can easily adjust their processes depending on the change in requirements. 

What is it That Makes Scrum Unique?

Scrum is a subset of Agile, which means the guiding principles for project completion and software development remain the same. The Scrum method is typically used to complete projects that require a lot of changes made in a very short amount of time. The sprints or iterations in Scrum last no more than 3 weeks at most. Scrum teams plan and create a backlog before starting a sprint and complete it during the sprint. Then they review their work, create another plan, and start the process again. 

Since the Scrum process is fast-paced, team members hold daily meetings to discuss their progress and issues with the project to help them solve problems as soon as they arise. A Scrum team has a Scrum Master to help facilitate the sprint instead of managing it so that all roadblocks can be removed easily and the sprint can go on without any hindrances.

What is it That Makes Waterfall Unique?

Here, projects are split into linear stages that follow a sequence. Only after Step 1 is complete and reviewed can the development team start working on Step 2. The unique traits of the Waterfall method are that it works with terminal phases because it started as a part of construction and manufacturing. It is distinctly phased out so there is no lack of focus during each stage of development. 

Another unique trait of the Waterfall method is that all project requirements are made extremely clear before the beginning of the project. If a team wants to go back even by one step, they’ll have to start all over again. This makes all documentation of requirements very thorough and accessible through every step of the project completion process.

What is it That Makes Kanban Unique?

Since Kanban is a subset of Agile, the main principles remain the same. The focus of the Kanban framework is to create a balanced work environment and improve coordination among team members. What makes Kanban unique is that its ‘Kanban Board’ helps in visualizing how the team works by splitting the total project into tasks that are completed, tasks that need to be completed, and tasks that are in progress. Each task is recorded and keeps shifting based on the progress it has made. 

Another aspect of the Kanban method is that it limits the workflow so that the team members do not get overwhelmed. There are only a certain amount of tasks in progress at any given time, depending on the number of members in the team. Kanban does not necessarily need to have a process of its own, it can work along with existing processes by helping continuously improve their processes with regular meetings based on the Kanban board.

Final Thoughts

Even though all four of the methodologies are focused on achieving the same goal, they take different approaches to getting it done. To understand which methodology works best for your company and how to properly implement it in your teams so that you can gain the most out of it, there are various industry-recognized Agile Certification Courses that will help you along the way.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

Which Are the Highest Paying Management Jobs in the USA?

Do you want to move up in your profession and get a management job that pays well? Good news! If you have the proper training and education, you can work your way up to the top jobs in management. If you want to advance in your management career, you can choose from several high-paying jobs. When you understand your possibilities, it can be easier to pick which stance to pursue. To assist you, we have curated a list of the highest-paid management jobs in the USA, including their primary duties and average salaries. 

Let us understand the highest-paying management jobs booming in the USA.

Which Are the Highest Paying Management Jobs in the USA?

In the United States of America, more than 7.28 million people work as managers. If you are a strong team leader who enjoys overseeing large projects and making tough decisions, you will be well suited for a management role. Furthermore, management jobs are often financially rewarding. So, look at the following top ten highest-paying manager jobs in the USA, which are playing significant roles:

1. Chief Executive Officer

In the United States, there is a very high demand for CEOs. CEOs, also called executive directors, managing directors, or presidents, run a company or organization as a whole. From 2021 to 2031, the number of jobs for top executives is expected to grow by 6%, which is about as fast as the average for all jobs. Over the next ten years, there will be an average of 318,100 openings for top executives each year. Chief Executive Officers in the USA make an average salary of $109, 906 per year.

Here are the things that the CEO is in charge of:

◉ Set up and carry out the goals, policies, and procedures of a department or organization

◉ Manage and keep an eye on an organization’s finances and budget

◉ Evaluate financial statements, sales reports, and other performance indicators

◉ Manage the general things that have to do with making products and giving services

◉ Converse with other executives, staff, and board members about how things are running in general

2. Sales Manager

Sales is a core component of the American economy, employing a substantial chunk of the working population in the United States. As a result, being a sales manager is a viable career path in management. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, sales manager employment is expected to grow 5% between 2021 and 2031. If you enjoy the challenge of selling and the opportunity to inspire others, a career as a sales manager will allow you to earn a six-figure salary while utilizing your natural salesperson personality. A Sales Manager’s annual salary is approximately $76,204.

The sales manager is responsible for the following tasks:

◉ Increase the number of customers by using direct sales techniques, cold calls, and business-to-business marketing visits

◉ Sales figures are projected and analyzed to determine the profitability of products and services

◉ Address and resolve customer complaints

◉ Monitor consumer preferences to inform sales and marketing strategies

◉ Manage the finances of the sales team, including budgeting and expense approval

3. Financial Manager

The job perspective for financial managers is good. From 2021 to 2031, the demand for these jobs is expected to grow by 17%, which is higher than the average for most professions. In addition, financial managers work in many places, like banks, investment firms, and insurance companies. The average salary of a financial manager in the United States is $101,862 per year.

Financial manager typically do the following:

◉ Make financial statements, reports on business activity, and projections

◉ Monitor financial data to ensure that legal requirements are met

◉ Analyze market trends to make the most money and find ways to grow

◉ Supervise the people who do budgeting and financial reporting

◉ Review the financial reports of the company and look for ways to cut costs

4. Tax Manager

According to global outplacement, the position of “tax manager” is one of the hottest jobs in the United States. Tax managers work for organizations to handle tax reporting, ensure compliance with tax laws, and assist with public stock offerings and mergers. According to research, over 18,522 tax managers are currently working in the United States. Tax managers earn an annual salary of $100,403 on average.

A tax manager responsibilities are as follows:

◉ Accurately preparing and timely filing federal and state tax returns

◉ Following changes in tax legislation

◉ Creating tax strategies to help clients stay tax-compliant

◉ Identifying and developing tax solutions

◉ Responses and schedules are being completed in preparation for income tax audits

5. Architectural and Engineering Manager

Engineering and architecture projects require a significant amount of effort. As a result, architectural and engineering managers are in high demand. Architectural and engineering managers’ employment is expected to grow by 6% between 2016 and 2026. Moreover, the expansion of employment will largely reflect the expansion of the industries in which these managers work. Architectural and engineering managers earn an annual salary of $124,804 on average.

Architectural and engineering managers typically perform the following tasks:

◉ Create detailed plans for the creation of new products and designs

◉ Determine the staff, training, and equipment requirements

◉ Propose budgets for projects and programs

◉ In charge of research and development projects that result in new products, processes, or designs

◉ Examine the technical accuracy of their employee’s work

6. Medical Manager

Working in health care can be extremely rewarding in a variety of ways. Medical and health services managers plan, direct, and coordinate healthcare providers’ business activities. According to Policy Advice, by 2023, “the nation’s health spending will total $4.3 trillion.” On a global level, the US is one of the countries that spend the most money on health care. On average, 56,600 openings for medical and health services managers are expected each year over the next decade. As a result, we can anticipate future career growth for medical managers. The average salary of a medical manager is $102,059 per year.

Typical roles and responsibilities of a medical manager are:

◉ Taking care of how a clinic, office, or hospital department works day-to-day

◉ Training both new and current workers on new rules, policies, and procedures

◉ Attending board meetings regularly

◉ Making sure that patients and their families in different units get good care

◉ Making sure that nursing units and departments follow legal policies and laws and are up to date on them

7. Computer and Information Systems Manager

If you want to work in technology, becoming a computer and information systems manager is a perfect way to make money while doing something you enjoy. Because it is an excellent position that will allow you to play a critical role in directing all organizational computer-related activities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, managers of computer and information systems make very good money. Computer and information systems managers earn $97,797 per year.

Here are the top responsibilities performed by computer and information systems manager:

◉ Reviewing the organization’s computing needs and consulting with end-users and key stakeholders to determine computing plans

◉ Managing all computer-related personnel, such as programmers, support specialists, analysts, and others

◉ Managing cybersecurity protocols, backup procedures, and other data integrity and security processes

◉ Budgeting for information technology, scheduling computer and system upgrades, and managing network access for all users are all responsibilities

◉ Investigating new technologies to ensure that the organization is current on technological innovations

8. Compensation and Benefits Managers 

Compensation and Benefits Managers play a critical role in attracting and retaining the talent that keeps a company running. There are currently 6,472 compensation and benefits managers working in the United States. Because compensation and benefits manager positions typically pay well, competition for jobs will be fierce. They earn an average annual salary of $94,712 per year.

A compensation and benefits manager’s responsibilities include the following:

◉ Assessing and changing existing compensation and benefits programs, policies, and procedures

◉ Creating and putting in place new compensation and benefits programs, policies, and procedures

◉ Ensuring that all programs, policies, and procedures are following current legislation

◉ Negotiating benefit plans and resolving benefit-related issues with third-party services

◉ Helping the HR team with recruitment and talent management

9. Project Manager

Project managers and project management skills are in high demand. They can be found in nearly every industry and business. They are critical in assisting the companies they work for to achieve business objectives and strategic goals. Emsi Burning Glass predicts that project manager jobs will grow by 2.3% over the next ten years. A project manager’s annual salary in the United States is $83,690.

The core responsibilities of a project manager are as follows:

◉ Planning everything from execution to delivery

◉ Guiding the team to achieve a common goal

◉ Managing the resource of time

◉ Monitoring progress and tracking roadblocks

◉ Managing the deployment deliverables

◉ Managing documentation and reports

◉ Coordinating with the clients

Obtaining a PMP certification provides professionals with excellent career opportunities. Furthermore, it enhances your project management skills and demonstrates your ability to manage difficult projects.

10. Construction Manager 

Construction Manager jobs are in high demand as the demand for new construction, rehabilitation, and renovation projects grow. It is a position in charge of supervising and managing construction projects. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, construction manager employment is expected to grow by 10% from 2018 to 2028, with approximately 46,200 new jobs available. This is 5% more than the overall average for all occupations.

Construction Manager duties include the following:

◉ Supervising and directing construction projects from start to finish

◉ In-depth review of the project to schedule deliverables and estimate costs

◉ Monitoring compliance with building and safety regulations by supervising all onsite and offsite constructions

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

How Do Project Managers Use Meeting Management Techniques

Business Organizations comprise many teams working on different projects. Projects are simply said to be tasks to be completed within a stipulated time. While working on a project, it is important to deal with information exchange and communication. Project team meetings help improve communication and collaboration among team members. The way the team meetings are handled should be effective so that every team member will have access to express their thoughts. In addition, it helps in communicating suggestions and feedback. The PMP certification is the world’s leading project management certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI). PMP Course guarantees extensive preparation where a candidate masters the practical application of project management processes. This Invensis blog on “How do Project Managers Use Meeting Management Techniques?” will explain techniques to follow in your project management meeting.

What is a Project Meeting?

A project meeting is an activity of delivering the information to the various team members and stakeholders involved. These meetings take place at a specific time and with no prior planning. A project meeting is the form of communication between the team members, managers, clients, and other stakeholders to share their thoughts, suggestions, and feedback. While working on a project, meetings will be there frequently and regularly in a week or a month. There will be several meetings available before starting the project and while working on the project. The project meeting covers various topics, including the project’s scope, timetable, expenses, challenges, benefits, and progress.

The main goal of the project meeting is to improve the communication between the team members and discuss the goals of the project along with the current progress. The meetings help identify any challenges involved and rectify them with the right solution. Project Managers will be responsible person for conducting meetings. Project meetings will be either informed earlier or planned suddenly. The duration of the meeting, plan, and members in the meeting is announced before the meeting. In recent times, most meetings are online with the help of audio and video conferencing modes. But, the aim or focus of the project meeting will be the same.

Now, it is time to understand the importance of managing the meetings.

Importance of Meeting Management

Whether a virtual meeting or a physical meeting, effective techniques help complete them. A meeting is important to deliver information and communicate among the team. So, it is essential to manage the meetings to produce effective outcomes from the meeting. Several types of meetings are available where the techniques used should be appropriate. Failed meetings don’t produce any result and will cost time and effort. The team members collaborate during the meeting, and the knowledge sharing focus in team meetings. But most of the team meetings failed to meet the expected results. Thus, project managers should manage meetings, and hence, meeting management skills are essential for them. Following are a set of techniques for effectively managing the team meetings.

Moving on, we will discuss how Project Managers Use Meeting Management Techniques.

Meeting Management Techniques

A project manager will be the facilitator of the meeting. Hence, the project manager should be capable of managing the meetings with essential techniques. The following techniques help in effectively managing the meeting.

Developing the Objectives of the Meeting

Objectives of the meeting are the most essential. The purpose of the meeting planner is known with the help of the objectives of this meeting. The objectives of the project include crisp sentences regarding the meeting and expected outcomes. Finally, the meeting objectives deliver along with the meeting agenda to understand the meeting.

Developing Meeting Agenda

One of the most important meetings management techniques is the meeting agenda. It is a short description that explains about the happening in the meeting. The plan helps maintain the flow of the project meeting to achieve the outcomes. It also helps discuss only the required information and complete the meeting in the right duration.

Send the Agenda and Objectives Before the Meeting

The schedule and the created objectives are accessible to the team in advance. It would help them in preparing for the meeting. Without the plan and objectives, they will not know anything about the meeting. Therefore, the people should collect suggestions in advance of the meeting. If the suggestion is acceptable, then the plan will modify.

Invite Only the Crucial People

The project meetings are crucial, and hence only the right people are present to attend the meeting. Therefore, people active in meeting the project meeting objectives are only present. If the person in charge is unavailable, the delegation should be given to someone capable of filling the gap. People are present via mail and should get confirmation of attendance.

Schedule the Meeting Environment Effectively

There are several modes of meetings like physical meetings, video conferencing, and audio conferencing. A suitable mode of communication is chosen and notified to the team members involved in the meeting. The meeting’s location, time, and duration are also communicated to the team. 

Keep Time-Bounded

Not everyone is only based on meetings. People will have different other tasks following. Thus, meetings should start and complete on time. The duration of the meeting plan should not exceed. The meeting agenda and objectives will be highly helpful in complying with the time duration of completion. The delay of the meetings avoids by following the plan.

Assigning Roles for Meeting

The meeting should be interactive. To achieve this, each and everyone involved should communicate in the meeting. The roles are assigned to the people to focus on the meeting. The focus will be on the meeting without diverging, and hence the meeting will be productive. The interaction between the team members registers with such roles assigned to the meeting.

Ask for Suggestions and Feedback

The team members’ suggestions and feedback are taken at the end of the meeting. People’s opinions will always help improve the project. The collected suggestions and feedback are reviewed and discussed in person or at the next meeting. If time persists, the feedback review at the meeting end to get comments from other meeting members.

Take Notes During the Discussion

The meeting not only focuses on discussing but also to progress in the project. Therefore, every member of the meeting must take notes discussed during the meeting. It would help understand the points discussed in the meeting and implement them in the projects. The notes may be in digital form or hard copy. 

Conclude and Wrap the Meeting with a Documentation

After the completion of the meeting, the meeting should conclude effectively. All the points discussed in the meeting should wrap during the end and documented. The documents should communicate to all the people who attended the meeting. A copy store for future reference.

Now, we have a clear idea of How Do Project Managers Use Meeting Management Techniques? in an effective manner. It is time to conclude the discussion.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading

PSPO Study Guide: The Best Plan to Crack PSPO Exam

Quality is at the heart of Scrum’s approach to delivering successful business outcomes. Businesses are seeking professionals to ensure high-quality results. Companies validate a professional’s experience through certifications. Passing the PSPO test requires enrolling in Scrum Training for conceptual clarity. It will help you grasp the fundamentals of PSPO and study fast and smart.

Professional Scrum Product Owner: A Quick Overview

Earning Professional Scrum Product Owner certification validates your understanding of Scrum and the Product Owner’s responsibilities. Additionally, with PSPO certification, you will receive a salary hike and other benefits. PSPO certification training helps you master all the required concepts. Compared with other certifications, PSPO is more useful. PSPO assessment material stays updated, matching current trends to remain relevant and useful.

Do you think it’s worthwhile to pay for PSPO certification?

This is an excellent alternative if you’re a business analyst. Especially for those who want to begin working on Scrum projects but don’t want to take the PSM exam. It’s a reputable certification, and its inexpensive cost makes it an excellent deal.

Read More: 

Scrum.org Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I)

Scrum.org Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO II)

For the PSPO exam, I recommend that you prepare for and pass the PSM I exam, which covers around 75% of the questions. The PSM exam is just as easy to pass as the PSPO exam.

Best PSPO Certification Preparation Resources

Is There a PSPO I Exam Guide? If so, how do I begin?

Becoming an expert scrum product owner requires planning and preparation. If you want to do well on the test, follow this path. The following are the steps that will assist you:

◉ Using the Scrum exam syllabus, plan the time you have until the exam to create a study plan.

◉ The PSPO study guide contains all the information you need to know about Scrum.

◉ It is well-known that Scrum exams ask questions based on hypothetical situations. Therefore, attempt to relate each topic to a business problem when learning. As a bonus, this will help you learn more about the topic and better answer the question.

◉ A greater grasp of each topic can only be gained if all the exercises are completed.

◉ Using example questions to answer exam-oriented PSPO tasks is a great help. On the internet, they’re a breeze to get off the ground.

◉ Sign up for PSPO practice exams of the highest quality. Questions are of a high standard and similar to the real exam. It will give you the impression that you are taking a genuine exam.

◉ At the end of each practice test, identify the areas you need to improve to ace the exam. Then, for each subject, go to the PSPO study guide.

◉ Repeatedly take the PSPO first-time practice exams to improve your score.

◉ Attempting the PSPO practice test is an opportunity to learn something new each time. Therefore, improve your score as often as possible. Your exam results will improve as a result.

◉ Scrum simulator, an online practice exam, is part of our curriculum. These tests outperform online holding sheets by a wide margin.

PSPO Study Aids and Other Resources

Many online and offline tools help you prepare for Scrum.org’s PSPO certification. To assist you with your test preparation, here are a few helpful links:

Self-study:

Check Scrum.org’s official website for all the resources you need to prepare for the exam. This website has sample questions and practice tests very close to the real exam. Our practice exams are based on real-world scenarios. Therefore, a candidate can prepare for the real exam by taking these practice tests.

PSM Certification

It’s strongly recommended to earn before PSPO certification. Preparation for PSM certification is difficult compared to PSPO as several topics overlap.

The following are the main PSPO certification topics:

a) Product Scrum Master (PSM) preparation is sufficient for agile product management. Also, think about how a product owner may see the lifespan of a product in an agile setting. Learn about the Business Model Canvas and the Value Proposition if you have the time. You must understand how a product owner establishes client categories, critical tasks, and many more.

b) To improve the product’s value, put yourself in the shoes of a Product Owner, and imagine how you would do it. To evaluate the ROI of your product, you must identify and measure critical metrics.

c) PSM training is adequate for Scrum Theory and Empiricism. To a large extent, Product Backlog Management (PBM) preparation would address this topic. Study user stories, acceptance criteria, and other methods of the estimate, such as planning poker, while you’re at it.

d) Release Management: This topic focuses on the methods a Product Owner might use to release a product. The “Scrum Crazy New Product Owner” blog provides excellent coverage of this subject. In addition, learn about velocity, the cone of uncertainty, customer absorption, and more.

Scrum.org offers free open examinations that evaluate your fundamental grasp of the terms “scrum master” and “product owner.” Make as many attempts as possible.

An individual should exhibit the following five characteristics of a Product Owner:

Courage: The Product Owner should help the scrum team members to have the courage to work on difficult problems and to do the right thing.

Focus: Product Owners are responsible for ensuring that the Scrum team stays focused on Sprint’s work and the team’s overall goals.

Commitment: They must create an atmosphere where the Scrum team members commit to achieving the team’s goals.

Respect: Scrum team members should treat each other with courtesy and consideration.

Openness: Scrum team members and stakeholders should be transparent about their work and its issues.

PSPO Exam tips

Here are some suggestions for passing the PSPO certification exam:

1. Ensure that you devote equal weight to all topic areas, as questions will be asked from each. Nevertheless, the weighting changes roughly, as shown below. Please note that they are based on the responses of numerous PSPO participants:

Agile Product Management: 20 percent

Value Driven Development: 20 percent

Scrum Theory and Experimental Evidence: 15%

Scrum Architecture: 15 percent

15 percent Product Backlog Management

Release Administration: 10 percent

5% of the Open Assessment at Scrum.org is comprised of other items.

2. Ensure that you are attentive and focused during the exam. Also, take the examination at a time that is most convenient for you. For example, move to a quiet location where you won’t be disturbed while taking the examination.

3. Read each question carefully before responding. They may attempt to deceive you by asking you questions that use the words “never,” “always,” “not,” or “which of the following cannot be available?” 

Therefore, pay close attention to the keywords of the question.

4. The exam also has multiple-choice questions. Therefore, ensure you’ve read all options before answering.

5. Pay close attention to questions about certain topic areas.

PSPO Exam Structure

There are eighty multiple-choice, multiple-answer, and true-false questions in all. Which comprise the Professional Scrum Product Owner examination

◉ Passing score: 85 percent

◉ Time limit: 60 minutes

◉ English is the only language accessible.

◉ To pass the examination, you need (technically) merely an internet connection (and of course, you have to pay for the exam 200 USD)

Why PSPO Certification?

Scrum is an innovative framework for introducing agility to product development. Due to its strong capabilities, many industries use Scrum, especially software development. A Product Owner is central to a Scrum team that aims to maximize a product’s value and optimize developers’ work. A product’s success is less if the product owner fails to fulfill one’s task. Therefore, there is a growing demand for product owners and those who design the product to comprehend the original form of Product Ownership in its entirety and benchmark their knowledge. Scrum.org’s PSPO certification is the best certification available for Scrum Product Owners. In addition, the advantages of this certificate are listed below. Here is a listing:

1. The PSPO examination requires an extensive understanding of the original version of Scrum. Therefore, has a stringent passing rule of 85 %. To score such high marks, one must be an expert in Scrum. Thus, this certification is more valuable than other certifications in the market.

2. PSPO does not mandate any specific training courses.

3. After obtaining the certificate, there is no need to renew. It is a lifetime certificate.

4. Once you pass the exam, your name is on the PSPO list on Scrum.org’s website. Whenever one wants, one can verify your qualifications.

5. The evaluation requires no prerequisite requirements.

Source: invensislearning.com

Continue reading