So you’re an Agile BA - what’s next?

Interactive session on Agile.

About the Speaker:

Steph Cooper works with Assurity. She is a skilled programme/project manager, analyst and facilitator who works collaboratively with teams to focus on delivering customer value, applying the ‘right touch’ and navigating the winds of change that affect every project.

She uses visual management techniques to create a common understanding of the project drivers, scope and agreed approach. Using Agile and Lean techniques, Steph turns the focus back to stakeholder engagement and doing just enough to generate the business value, deliver quality software and accelerate the feedback loop.

Steph is a certified Scaled Agile Framework Program Consultant (SPC), Cognitive Edge Practitioner, certified Scrum Master, completed Rob Thomsett's Agile Project Management MasterClass and enjoys the challenge of applying Agile and Lean principles through her work in delivery, coaching, consulting and training.

About the Session (from Steph):

I’ve been inspired by some recent conversations with people in analysis roles who are interested in talking about ‘what’s next?’ As Agile moves into the mainstream, I’m having fewer conversations about ‘why agile?’ and more about continuous improvement and exploring the diverse ways that analysis skills and experience can help with the ‘early delivery of business value’.

Whether it is doing reverse value-stream mapping with one of our DevOps experts, using visualisation at the portfolio level to help with the prioritisation and tracking of work, working with product owners to find the fastest way of validating their assumptions, or helping to nut out a grid of examples for automated testing - I love the incredible range of opportunities that working in agile teams can offer.

In this session we will establish some common ground about key aspects of the Agile BA role, then I’ll ask you to reflect on the nature of your own role, your skills and where you sit in the product, business, technology mix. We’ll look at concepts of mastery and discuss ways you can assess your own skills and grow them to the next level.

Depending on the autonomy of your team, you may also encounter challenges if you try to explore new areas/skills. So we will wrap-up by discussing ways to approach making a change in your role.

In preparation for the session, I’d like you to think about a great blog/ article/ book/ presentation/ video you’ve read or seen in the last year that inspired you in your role as Agile BA. We will share these with each other.