Why Indian Businesses are adopting Fast Oracles Self-driving Database?

The era of automation and cloud is here. In order to drive success and delight customers, Indian companies are looking to Fast Oracle Self driving databases. 

Data drives the world. Be it consumer insights such as shopping behavior, music preference or payment preferences. Today companies are leveraging the power of technology to crunch large amounts of data. Digital transformation has become an integral factor behind a company’s growth. When we take a closer look at how large amounts of data is processed and stored, we know that the possibilities are endless thanks to automation and cloud.

Companies such as Oracle have been leaders in the space for decades are now combining technology pillars such as machine learning, automation and cloud to provide solutions such as ‘self-drive database’. In simple terms, what it means with minimal human intervention, the power of data, businesses are able to achieve high performance at a lower cost.

Take for example, a clothing brand that wants to improve their point of sale interactions to enhance customer experience. How can they do it? By using the ‘Autonomous Cloud Service’ by Oracle, the brand is able to extract and manage relevant data which can support the end customer experience. All this can be done in an Agile business courses enterprise by unlocking deep insights from large amounts of data.

Furthermore, services such as Autonomous Database not only automate the whole process but also take into consideration data privacy, protection against cyber-attacks, data thefts and storage. Organisations that undergo Agile business training can unlock the true potential of autonomous services.

Some of the key attributes which can help companies invest in such services are:

Automation of Management Processes

Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and Autonomous Database provide companies with integrated solutions such as data management, repair, tuning and upgrade to ensure business continuity and growth. 

Reduces Cost of Operations

Due to minimal or zero human intervention, businesses can focus on leveraging key customer insights derived from data thereby reducing operational costs. 

Data Privacy

Data Privacy has become a top priority for most organisations today and implementing a software database storage solution provides them with the opportunity to safeguard data on cloud against cyber-crimes.

Take Strategic Decisions Fast

In an agile world, a key factor that comes into play is when businesses are provided with an opportunity to take quick, decisions. From a strategy perspective, Autonomous Data Warehouses offer this as a part of the solution.
Conclusion
Using a traditional database is time-consuming, and Indian businesses are catching on. Due to the exponential value that self drive databases provide Indian companies are adopting this in order to accelerate growth.

Top 25 Agile Interview Questions

The Agile Methodology

At the very core of agile methodology lies the flexibility to respond to a change and build something new. It is a response to turbulent and uncertain scenarios that leads to a successful outcome. The ability to adapt and respond is the defining characteristics of the agile methodology.
The agile methodology in project management is a process that helps to manage and complete a project by breaking it into multiple stages. This involves frequent collaborations with various stakeholders and implementing changes in every stage of the project cycle.
Before the commencement of a project, the client’s need and requirements are properly assessed by the team and the objective is defined based on the client’s perception of customer expectations. Evaluating the project work continuously in every stage and making changes as per the new requirements is crucial for a satisfactory output.

Agile Software Development

The agile software development comprises of multiple frameworks including Scrum, Kanban, Feature Driven Development and Extreme Programming. It’s an umbrella term that entails general frameworks and practices for software development.
The software development methods that have a common crucial element of continuous development based on the changing requirements are categorized under agile software development methods. Iterative development is the central ideology of this methodology.
The agile methodology has been a game-changer in the field of software development and project management. `The demand for IT professionals with an in-depth understanding of the concept and its frameworks is paramount and growing by the day.
Agile certification is an easy way to up-skill yourself with relevant knowledge and builds credibility. Demonstrating knowledge in job interviews can be difficult at times and being prepared for the mainstream questions will establish authority in the domain.

Important Agile Interview Questions

Let’s look at some of the most important and frequently asked interview questions for agile developers.

1. What is the normal duration for a scrum sprint?
2. Explain the important benefits of using Pair programming technique.
3. Explain the concept of impediments in scrums with relevant examples.
4. How is scrum different from agile and what are the similarities?
5. How is incremental development different from iterative development?
6. What do you understand by dynamic code analysis?
7. What do you understand about the Scrum poker technique? Is it different from planning poker?
8. Briefly explain the agile manifesto and its underlying principles.
9. Briefly explain the role of Sashimi in Scrum methodology.
10. Mention a few drawbacks of using the agile methodology.
11. Explain the use of burn-up and burn- down charts.
12. What do you know about the scrum master’s role?
13. What is the primary use of the binary interface?
14. Can you explain the concept of spring retrospective meeting?
15. What are the key responsibilities of a Scrum Master?
16. Mention the key differences between Tasks, User stories and Epic.
17. How do the daily standup meetings add value?
18. How will you handle frequently changing requirements in project development?
19. What are some key principles of agile testing?
20. When is it beneficial to use the agile methodology?
21. Mention some of the most crucial agile Matrices.
22. What is the key difference between agile testing methodology and other testing methodologies?
23. Explain the challenges involved in developing agile software from scratch.
24. How do you measure the velocity of the sprint?
25. What do the X and Y-axis of the burn-down charts depict?

Conclusion
These are some of the most important interview questions that should be prepared for by the applicants. It covers a wide range of topics that are related to the agile methodology to help you prepare for all aspects of agile development.

A Look at Ideal Agile Implementation in an Organization!

A Look at Ideal Agile Implementation in an Organization!

They say Agile project management is the new normal. Despite its demerits, it has stood up as the most effective project management concept in the corporate world, managing to deliver work even when there’s no desired outcome specified. In today’s competitive professional environment, the mantra is to start working and worry about the output later.

In simple words, an Agile system involves producing and delivering work in short bursts and then refining it until it matches the client’s often ambiguous requirements.

Based on findings furnished by multiple reports in 2018, Agile is inching ahead as the most reliable project management tool, just behind predictive approaches like Waterfall. However, a majority of those who implement Agile into their workplace do not have much idea about what to expect, how much time it takes for the streamlining, and what an ideal system looks like.

This is why it is important to visualize an ideal Agile implementation framework. Let’s study the four major characteristics or outcomes of the Business Analyst Course in India that have been implemented in the right way. Starting with how success looks like…

Top Characteristics of Ideal Agile Implementation

It is better to understand what went wrong with the implementation in your organization rather than sitting with folded hands and waiting for a rescue team. Let’s have a look.

Agile Creates a Controlled Work Environment

Agile implementation in its ideal form gives more benefits to its users than other traditional project management tools. The biggest advantage is that even though employees might have to push themselves to complete a short burst of tasks for (say) two days rather than stressing over the same tasks over a few weeks, they will feel better after the tasks are done. This prevents burnouts and allows them to have better conditioning during their time off.

For example, in an Agile environment, a team of six employees will aim to complete a set of tasks between Monday and Friday. An ideal implementation will allow them to sign off on Friday and enjoy a weekend without the anxiety that may have arisen had they paused the work on Friday in an attempt to resume it on Monday.

Apart from this, a successful Agile implementation yields many more benefits from a human resources point of view:

  • Workplaces become less resistance to change
  • Employees have clearer career objectives
  • Simplified role transitions as tasks are designed in a way that allows anyone with little experience to assume new duties
  • Problem-solving environment

Allows Hybrid Systems

Any organization that deals with a large number of clients is bound to have some type of project management in place. Based on statistics, the most popular is the Waterfall project management system where it follows a hierarchical flow of duties.

In such scenarios, Agile does not act as a disruptive mechanism. Instead, it allows for collaboration which can only improve the productivity and overall morale of the workforce.

According to Agile coach Johan Karlsson, many aspects of hardware development benefit from Waterfall processes, whereas software development has much to gain from an Agile approach. This is where the hybrid mechanism bears fruit as companies can look at fully utilizing their resources.

In an ideal hybrid case, a Waterfall process is used on the top level and Agile is used for operations-level work. This ensures that there is less to no friction between teams as they embrace both the management techniques.

A Perfect Environment for Employees

According to a recent report by McKinsey and Co., the Agile environment is creating a war for talent. This has led to competitive hiring and an increase in the retention rate of talent that organizations feel are indispensable or “too great to lose.” This is a cause of the very characteristic of an Agile environment.

As is known, employees are given tasks based on their skillset. This means that an employee can choose to excel in a skill that she already has sufficient exposure in, thereby traversing to advanced levels. For instance, a Scrum Master can look at managing his team not just in an Agile environment but also in other project management that his organization may be using. This meta example shows how employees can climb the corporate ladder while focusing on and expanding their gained skillset.

Another major advantage that often gets overlooked is Agile’s ability to break complacency. In every work sector in the world, employees feel that they hit a state of complacency after some time in a specific role. Since Agile expects team members to extend their skillset based on the feedback loop with the client, employees stand to gain better work experiences.

Changes in the Organization Culture

In a mature Agile environment, the employees are not the only ones who receive the benefits. Everyone from the team members to the management to the human resources experiences a shift in how they work, which is often very sudden and different than what they had been doing in the past.

It not only engages every person involved in a company but also brings out the best in them. As a result, it transforms from being an average company to one that is full of energy and productivity.

Just as Agile uses a feedback system to improve project deliverability, its environment is based on the same system. Agile identifies great talent and that in turn helps the environment flow like a stream of water.

All said and done, it is pragmatic to note that Agile is a talent-based system. You cannot expect a company to move mountains with Agile implementation if the members do not possess the skills required to even initiate a project. Therefore, to implement an ideal Agile environment, talent acquisition is an essential requisite.

What have been your experiences when it comes to Agile implementation? Share them in the comments section below to start a discussion.

"Agile Requirements With Karl Wiegers: What’s The Big Deal? "

Software companies are using Agile methodology and even the BAs are calling their work ‘Agile Requirements’. According to Karl Wieger, there is a huge difference between the activities for requirements on traditional and agile projects. Rather the work specified as “agile requirements” is not very conceptually different having evolved from the traditional waterfall methods. The major areas where requirements activities are handled differently are discussed below.
Responsibilities and roles:
In Agile the elicitation, specification, reviews and analysis of requirements is a collaborative team-process with the product owner, analyst, key stakeholders, developers, and other business user representatives.
The roles in Agile need the PO to be responsible for the backlog of products and preparing the user stories for implementation. The developers ensure the information of the user stories is sufficient for development. Some projects may have the BA as a PO while others may use a dedicated BA to help the PO prioritize and elaborate user stories.
Timing:
Timing of the requirements is crucial to projects. Traditional methods create a detailed project requirement report at the very beginning including the basic sequencing, estimation and prioritization chores. Agile, however, relies on a just-in-time approach where requirement details are generated before the implementation of sets of functionalities.
This approach no doubt ensures the information is up-to-date. But, it can be blind to the dependencies of requirements and implications on the architecture. That’s why the teams look at the broad project scope and architectural requirements in early iterations. Adding functional requirements happens on an on-going basis and in small doses of releases, unlike the traditional processes. While agile can produce more small marketable releases in one project cycle any error in the requirements of a traditional project can be expensive to re-work or re-do.
Both methods focus on risk mitigation to enable forward movement on the project. However, agile teams anticipate rework, refactoring and testing making them ready to accept iterations and rework.
Fig-1. Standard requirements that occur with agile iterations.
Deliverable Forms:
User stories are in reality use case individual flows. The traditional BA may use cases to flesh out the functional requirements. In contrast, an agile project uses the specific requirements of a user story in writing the granular acceptance tests and ensuring the right implementation of the story.
Using the very same information one method describes what to build while the other specifies how to know if you’ve built it right and functional. Tests are very useful in discovering the chinks in specifications. Using just one method is hence a limited view. Ideally, the incorporation of both views is good. However, Agile teams are limited by the roles of the team and specify that the product owner writes the acceptance criteria and user stories.
Terminology:
While traditional methods use functional requirements and use cases Agile projects call them acceptance criteria and user stories. No matter what you call the terms it is essential that apt communications help the testers and developers do their job better. This leads to efficiency and effective productivity.
Detailing and Documentation:
Light-weight documentation is the norm on Agile projects unlike the document-reliant traditional practices since developers and customers frequently communicate and collaborate.
The requirements are precisely developed by the BAs or as a team responsibility through recorded conversations and very few standard regulation-required documents.
Many Agile user stories list the help of the analysis visual model and acceptance criteria to list the highest/ riskiest-impact functionality. The costs of acquiring information are high and to save time projects should adapt to just-enough recorded documentation for risk management.
Prioritization:
In Agile, backlog prioritization is continuous and undergoes many iterations. Items remain on the backlog when under-development and get discarded if not workable. This is not the case with the traditional methodology where the requirements are prioritized at the project onset and not really reviewed frequently. The impact of prioritization on ALL projects needs dynamic management of the backlog as an essential best-practice.
Concluding Notes:
Projects need to define their business-value and ensure that their business-processes and project activities add value to their prioritized practical methods. While Agile is certainly beneficial for projects the BAs practices and principles falls more into a traditional role. It is also true that most Agile teams lack BA specific organic expertise.
To learn how the “agile requirements” are somehow different and special do an Agile course at the reputed Imarticus Learning Academy.

What Does a Sourcing Manager Need to Know About Scrum

The sourcing manager’s role can be quite arbitrary and is very important especially in Agile and Scrum practicing ones. Traditionally the role of a manager was boxed into middle management and senior management categories who decided the quantity of work that needs to happen and who or how to go about achieving these desired attributes. So should the procurements manager also be Scrum compliant? Should the PO and the team be a part of the procurement strategy as envisioned in Scrum? And, is there a clash between the SM and sourcing manager’s responsibilities? Let’s explore.
Sourcing Manager Vs Product Owner:
Scrum principles have a clear mandate for the SM, PO and the Scrum team. The PO is responsible to bring clarity between the team and the client. As a PO the job role is definitely about the value of the products and customer needs. It also encompasses the work-prioritization schedules which the team self-organizes and executes. It has little to do with the sourcing of items; third-party vendor development etc and the sourcing manager would do well to remember that work-control is part of the Scrum team’s responsibility and does not need delegation of jobs.
Sourcing Manager Vs SM:
The role of the SM is a multi-tasking sourcing manager in the making. The SM role is designated to develop and enhance the self-organized capacities of the team in producing sellable products quickly. As there is a huge area that envelopes the duties already being executed by the SM the sourcing manager would do well to remember that he bats for the management team. He can build value and enable both the SM and team by removing hurdles, ushering in improvements and practicing Scrum values more diligently. He is the enabler and management’s teacher on Scrum Teams.
The Sourcing Manager’s Role:
As part of the mid-level management team, the sourcing manager would need to keep the complete picture in mind and enable the building of great customer experience, rapid quick-release marketable products, and building capacities in the organization. As you ascend to higher levels it becomes more about strategy-making, enabling decisions, and bettering the organizational key parameters and productivity.
It is important for the sourcing manager to understand that to build organizational capacity upwards from the Scrum team, it is vital to enable horizontal capacity building. The Agile principles also place emphasis on customer collaboration and changes being systemic. This does interfere with the important negotiation of contracts. If the sourcing for technology, and product development enablers are product and project related, it will make perfect sense to allow the Scrum team to decide on sourcing.
How to be an Agile sourcing manager:
In Agile practice on a Scrum framework the collaboration of multiple vendor and requirements, delineating the procurement process, collaboration strategy decisions, maintaining cordial relationships between team and vendors and ensuring loyal vendor and customer experiences are goals for every ideal sourcing manager or/and SM. The Scrum teams are then free to take decisions on delegated work achievement in a self-organized and managed manner as a team.
Vendor selection is crucial in sourcing. If from a third-party the negotiation starts with the PO and the need for finance. Procurement applications like the Source web can be very helpful in sourcing. To place emphasis on quality, timely-deliveries, procurement lead-time, vendor capabilities, site requirements, pricing, and such parameters the reverse auction strategy works very well within the Scrum framework.
The true enabler in sourcing is removing the hurdles in terms of financials to enable the Scrum team to perform optimally. Since Scrum and Agile are best practices, that teach everyone on the team to be multi-purpose, multi-tasking and self-enabling progressive team members one will require even the management to be Agile. The main role the sourcing manager would then be a wee bit of the PO, SM and traditional Manager’s role rolled into one!
Conclusions:
The Scrum team activities do not include procurement and the management would need to ensure sourcing, procurement or contracts specialist to fill the sourcing and procurement void. Thus the sourcing manager is the management’s tight rope walker on a Scrum team who ensures the Agile multiple C’s of collaboration, communication, contribution, and management cordiality.
To learn more about Scrum, Agile and best practices in project management, Imarticus Learning scores high as a reputed training partner. Enroll and use the opportunity to grow yourself.

Ten Contracts For Your Next Agile Project!

An iterative approach like Agile Project Management, guides a project throughout the production process, just like in Agile Software Development, where several iterations are reviewed and critiqued by stakeholders before moving onto the next step of the project. There are different types of contracts governing various types of agile projects. Such contracts or agreements may seem to be a set of guidelines or rules to be followed, but they hold significance as fixed instruments, which can lead to unfavorable consequences if not obliged to. Agile contracting lets the parties focus on the result of the Agile in a collective manner.
Here are ten contracts for your next agile project:
1. Fixed Price
Here the risk is mostly associated with the developer or supplier who agrees on the deliverables. The customer intends to have this sort of a contract since the target price is fixed; the developer tries to complete the project at a lower cost than the target cost and the satisfaction of the customer is guaranteed. After all, that is the prima facie of developers. However, if the project takes longer or costs more than the fixed price, then the cost is borne by the developer leading less scope for changes in this type of contracts.
2. Incremental delivery contracts
The project is broken down into segments, wherein the customer reviews the development stage at predetermined review points. Both parties evaluate the pros and cons at each review point and then decide on the further steps. At the end of each successful review point, both parties have incentives. Each increment subsequently improves the overall development of the project that ultimately is a result of cooperation leveraged in incremental delivery contracts as opposed to the rigidly fixed price contracts.
3. Time and materials
It is one of the most convenient forms of contracts wherein the supplier makes the payment for the amount of work or service that is done using necessary materials for creation. Since the customer holds the edge of changing minds, the supplier enjoys this type of contracts. However, such agreements sustain firmly on the legitimate efforts of the supplier to cut down the cost for the benefit of the longevity of the arrangements.
4. Time and materials with fixed scope and a cost ceiling
In this form of contract, if the supplier completes the task early, the payment will be made only for the actual efforts. There is no scope for incentives for finishing the project early. Having said that since the cost of the project is capped, the supplier will aim to achieve the maximum capped cost of the project.
5. Time and materials with variable scope and ceiling
As a consequence of the capped limit, the financial risk associated with the customer is less. The variable range and capped budget bring a collaborative approach from both supplier and customer to complete the project. This sort of contract is ideal for budget oriented projects. A constructive relationship upholds this type of contracting in achieving desired business.
6. Bonus/Penalty clause
As the name suggests, the supplier will be rewarded with the bonus upon early completion of the task and will be penalized for late deliveries. Such contracts reduce the potential risk of late deliveries for the customers. Penalty clause makes the supplier forsee the consequences related to delay and drives towards completing the task on time or even early.
7. Joint Ventures
The two parties involved in the agile project agrees upon to invest in a project with mutual interest. Though the development phase of the project may not be rewarding for either of the parties involved. There must be a return on investment for both parties either from the revenue or by the end result of the project. Here the project itself to be considered as a separate company which needs to be developed and marketed for a common benefit.
8. Money for nothing changes for free
This type of contract was created by Jeff Sutherland, which involves two clauses. The first clause is altered for free. This clause essentially leverages space for any new features to be added in a project without charging any fee for the changes made. Secondly, money for nothing clause is a win-win situation for both supplier and customer. Here the supplier separates the different segments of a project and delivers the most prioritized segment first.
9. Fixed profit
Every project ideally has a predetermined cost and profit estimation. By using fixed profit contracts, the parties involved in making the said project, agree upon a fixed amount regardless of the time period of the work completed. Since there is an incentive set for both, parties like the customer save cost, and the supplier has the chance of seeing higher profits.
10. Sprint contract
A sprint contract is ideal for Scrum projects wherein a project is broken down into bits. An agreement between the product owner and a team performing a sprint is known as a Sprint contract. The team tries to convince the product owner by delivering expected quality work in one sprint.
In a nutshell, having proper contracts reduces the risk associated with your clients, as it increases human accountability at both ends. Though your agreement does not serve as your project manager, it certainly acts as a risk mitigation technique. So even if you have a cordial relationship with your clients, a contract in place never hurts!
To know more about the Contracts for your next Agile Project, you can also consider our Business Analyst Certification.

Sharpen Your Knives -Making Agile a Reality

According to the reports of a joint study by Forbes magazine and Scrum Alliance, Agile-suites have become the buzz word of the latest models for SME businesses and across sizes that include startups, large companies with cross-functional teams, and everything in between. Being so is synonymous with faster marketing times and efforts, improved financial results, rapid innovations, and better workplaces.
Management practices today demand the implementation of effective change management, constant changes in requirements of the backlog, and snapping free of traditional ladders in organizations to scale and transition to a Scrum-Agile environment.
The Agile transitioning parameters:
The all-important parameters when training and recruiting for a successful agile organization are:
Developing talent:
Upskilling and certifications are the norms today with many large organizations retrenching the employees who do not up-skill. Agile environments require developing Scrum minded talent. An aspirant for agility needs formal training, a can-do attitude, creativity, and innovative capacities to learn rapidly, enthusiasm for the Agile thinking, knowledge of Scrum practice, change management skills and effective CSM’s motivation.
Stability and Loyalty in employees:
Crucial to all growth is its dedicated workforce. One of the best means to earn these parameters is to retrain employees interested in change and the benefits including financial ones that such changes can bring in.
CSM/ Coach Motivation:
Being transitioned needs a knowledgeable, certified coach or SM to lead by example. Staff motivation and retention sees an upswing when the organization is committed to collaborative work culture, where loyalty and retention may depend on the rewards, biasing Scrum environments effectively, re-skilling and training and many more such factors.
Employee Skills:
Retraining employees is possible by doing advanced courses at Imarticus who are reputed globally for their excellent courses. Agile does encompass technological changes incorporation and cross-functional knowledge of fields like Big Data analytics, Deep and neural networking,  AI, ML and visualization techniques which will need to be over-hauled and re-trained for effectiveness.
 Perceptual changes:
The very success of the technology and framework lies on adapting the uniform mindset required to become self-organized. Lip-service is insufficient and involvement from the grassroots levels up-wards will need drastic Agile changes in perception.
The benefits that accrue:
1. Scrum tools ease the process of managing the Scrum projects even if they work remotely.  These tools are reliable, help the teams to work, aid team collaboration, and facilitate the team’s and organizational productivity: Ex: Jira, Scrum Vivify, Manuscript, Scrum DO, Axosoft, Targetprocess, QuickScrum, Yodiz, ScrumDesk,   ScrumWise, Zoho sprints, and ClickUp.
2. The Scrum success story has spurred recruitments in large, medium and startups including Philips, Honeywell, Dell, Siemens, Accenture, Capgemini, Allstate Insurance (India), Informatica, and Zensar Technologies. Scrum tools are conducive to remote-working and are extremely reliable across platforms, technologies, and types of teams. Life in an Agile-Scrum cross-functional team of experts is an excellent aid in collaboration, communication, and contribution of the true Scrum team members. No one is different in the framework and success depends on the team performance spurred by an able SM.
3. Scrum has the potential the playing ground of organizations and is poised to affect everyone in the environment.
Why being Agile has become popular:
The changes brought about by the transformation are welcomed by employees and organizational management alike because

  1. The agile work-hierarchy has turned flat and encourages the thinking of all as Scrum team-members who are equal and work collaboratively.
  2. Over half the organizations have transitioned successfully.
  3. The framework has included effective Scrum mentors and Agile coaches to help and aid the teams to perform better.
  4. Re-training is easy by doing a formal course at Imarticus.
  5. Agile framework and Scrum values have very many benefits for the organization including efficiency and productivity with rapid time-boxed frequent viable products releases.
  6. The methodology is actually a philosophy that is equally applicable in personal tasks and life.

Conclusion:
Agile running on a Scrum framework is akin to sharpening the blades of success. Everyone from a flexible director and project manager, the self-organized Scrum team, the crucial strategy of an Agile Coach’s role, and the transforming mindset are set to impact everyone in the chain and across processes. Do a good pro degree with Imarticus in the classroom mode to get your CSM or Agile Scrum certification and contribute positively to your team and organization.

The Framework That Changes Everything

Everybody is talking about Scrum-Agile principles, its framework, and success. Well, Scrum is not a technology suite. Rather it is an implementation toolset to revamp the way organizations function and think. And this framework when looked at from its core aims and values needs to be adopted across the organization and affects every employee. Scrum has the answer to implementing productive AI, ML, VR or AR technologies and changing the very way we think across industrial infrastructures, technologies applied and size of organizations. Everyone is set to benefit and think in Scrum.
The implementation benefits:
Scrum efficiency brings great results to teams who use Agility related principles on the Scrum framework because in this philosophy it is all about being effective and robust as a team and managing projects under a talented SM to infuse the mindset, values, and practices into the equal-members Scrum team. They flourish on getting self-organized, communicating effectively and contribute through being constantly contributive in all transactions private and team-wise. Thus the talent pool allows efficient scaling and functional management.
Drawbacks:
The framework is a recent addition and is yet evolving to deal with rapid technological changes, increase in data capabilities and scaling issues. Though compatible with many evolving technologies the basic Agile premise of the main project being sub-divided into achievable product backlogs dealt with in short sprints with Scrum values implies that a uniform Scrum mindset is being applied across all processes of the organization. This is hard to achieve and can negatively impact performance, productivity, and efficiency when not adhered to. And this is true also because of the vast variety of verticals, processes, and ownership to which it is being applied.
Key Scrum functions:
Since nearly all industries wish to implement the Scrum benefits, we need to look at the core functions listed below.

  • Revamping team structures: The movement to cross-functional teams and hiring an effective CSM is at the core of up-scaling.
  • Scaling design: This cannot be isolated and needs to factor in the various strategies, compliance, and inter-departmental integration to induce Scrum oneness across the framework.
  • Monitoring the product backlog and release management: This factor is crucial in large projects and best achieved with an efficient CSM, the Scrum team and product owner working together effectively.
  • A productive backlog: This crucial element needs team consensus, constant CSM monitoring, and a knowledgeable CSPO.
  • Mentoring Support: The CSM is the unofficial manager of the team leading through effective Scrum value implementation and lies at the very heart of success as a team.

Why Scrum is popular:
Here is how Scrum is instrumental in such success.

  • The Scrum growth has been exponential in terms of its adoption by nearly 65 percent in the IT sector.
  • Scrum is effective in handling timely schedules, and preventing project costs overrun which is an important factor according to the McKinsey report for project failures.
  • The framework is simple and compatible with all verticals and sectors as long as you have an efficient SM.
  • The Scrum-Agile framework has been tried and tested across large, medium, small and startup environments successfully.
  • The SM is essentially the Scrum values leader and unofficial team manager to induce the Scrum state in all processes and persons associated.
  • Scrum requires smaller teams and results in higher efficiency and productivity across departments.
  • Scrum basic assumptions are collaborative teamwork in the framework where all are equal, self-organizing and responsible for team performance.

Conclusion: 
The software when working for Agility in Scrum incorporates items like product backlog and sprint planning features important to developing the framework for Scrum operations. But Scrum goes beyond the IT industry and can be used as an effective management practice in all sorts of situations and even in personal life. Scrum is a philosophy and is definitely set to impact all who learn it across all levels of the organization.
In parting, to imbibe Scrum effectively one will need formal training. It should involve hands-on practice on industry-relevant situations and is a process that benefits from the mentorship of a certified SM. It is also important to get your training at a reputed organization like Imarticus Learning where the Scrum Alliance issues your certification. You also earn a 2-year alliance membership for free which provides you with efficient peer-support when you implement Scrum values and transition teams to an Agile state. Why wait? Grab this opportunity today.

How Startups E-Commerce Firms Will Be Campus Hiring In 2019?

Those who graduate in 2019 may receive lucrative offers from startups and e-commerce companies. Well-known companies like Amazon, OYO, Droom, ShopClues, and Shadowfax will be partly staffed through campus hiring. Noteworthy is the fact that they are aggressively growing, full of funds and are adding to the institutes in their talent search.

Pay Packets and Areas of Hiring

Departments and sectors like product management, business development, marketing, finance, HR, operations, software development, digital transformation, and data analytics are expected to see payouts to the tune of Rs 30 lakhs per annum according to business schools and the companies.

The List of Who, Where and How Much?

The September unicorn OYO will be looking to recruit around 400 personnel from reputed institutions like the ISB, IITs, IIFT, IIMs, TISS, XLRI, NITs, and ICAI. They will be offering sign-up bonuses for select candidates. They were recently recipients of 800 million dollars in funds and recruited 200 persons in 2018.
Amazon has been aggressively offering placements to the summer 2020 batch. Artificial Intelligence, visualisation and cloud technology, machine learning, and data analytics have emerged as priority sectors for Business Analyst Courses Online hoping to receive their offers.

Agile Startups like Amazon with a compound growth calculated annually of 40% in hiring and institutes like the IIM Bangalore, see high interest in the Agile environment. This is an obvious ramp-up of hiring and talent acquisition through summer placements by startups and companies in e-commerce which far exceeds hiring expectations. Amazon’s success-run in India has prompted it to hire superstars for their fast-evolving Agile environment through campus recruitments.
Agile business scrum prodegree with SAP would make perfect sense for being hired by Drrom the marketplace for automobiles. They are scouting for fresh talent in marketing, technology and product management from reputed institutes. They will be visiting the IIT s at Roorkee and Delhi, ISB, FMS, IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Ahmadabad, Kashipur and Indore, and IIFT.
Imarticus Learning may hire 30 candidates from Mithibai, Don Bosco Institute of Technology, HR College, Welingkar, and KJ Somaiya, in 2019.
Shadowfax from logistics may hire 20 students in 2019 from the visiting NITs, IITs, BITS through AccioJobs also a startup handling campus recruitments. Salaries could range for starting salaries and up to 20 lakhs and are role based.
ShopClues the e-commerce market space has doubled its offers and is scouring the IITs in Delhi, Bombay, FMS, IIFT, ISB and reputed 2 or 3 tier town reputed institutes. The roles on offer are software engineer, designers in user-experience, analytics specialist, data scientist, product manager, digital marketer, and category manager.
Expansion does depend on quality manpower after all!

Reference:

https://tech.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate/startups-e-commerce-firms-plan-to-step-up-campus-hiring-in-2019/66551215

How Can You Paint Yourself Outside from Agile career Development ?

Agile or scrum methodology is transforming the way organisations do business today. In order to thrive in this environment, one must be able to look at an Agile career trajectory.
Being agile has become an important attribute for any individual in today’s digital era. In order to match the pace of a digital transformation journey of an organisation, teams within the place must have the ability to cope with change. Coping with change entails, taking risks, learning new things and creating a lasting impact on the business and its growth.
Suppose you are working for an organisation that is undergoing massive changes in their structure. For you to access your own career trajectory, you must be able to adopt an agile outlook by asking the right questions such as ‘What is my foreseeable future here?’, ‘What is my learning curve and success quotient?’, ‘What are the needs of my customer and how can I meet them?’, ‘What are the potential risks involved?’.
Today, workplaces are dynamic, vague and flexible and to match the pace, individuals must look externally as well as internally before aligning their career goals. Individual development must undergo a similar agile transformation to switch gears effectively.
Successful career navigators have the ability to adapt to the changing business environment, customer needs, and competition and are able to process real-time information before making decisions and proceeding further.
As an individuals, here are the top things you can do after undertaking any agile business analyst courses

Embracing Risks

The ability to think on your feet and embrace risks comes easily to agile analysts. Using the sprint methodology, at every step of the way you will be able to assess pitfalls, take decisions and mitigate the loss thereby producing faster results.

The Future Is Agile

Pursuing an Agile career early on will have rewarding prospects in the future as workforces are moving towards an agile environment. From agile workspaces, teams with agile competencies, the future of workplace is about agility.

Providing Exponential Value

As an agile business analyst you will be able to understand the customer needs, collaborate, hit milestones and achieve results faster, thereby creating an added value for your clients.

Thrive In Change

You will not only embrace change, but you will also be able to thrive in it in an agile methodology. Teams working in an agile fashion have the opportunity to re-prioritise and refine, test several times and providing incremental growth before going live.

Conclusion

Businesses today are increasingly looking at individuals who are willing to ‘sprint’ with them. In an environment where change is dynamic, volatile and evidently present, being an agile analyst is rewarding.