PMI-ACP

The PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® exam focuses on your ability to apply agile principles and practices in project environments. It doesn't test rote memorization of agile methodologies but rather your understanding of their application and the ability to choose the right approach for a given situation. The main points cover several key areas:

I. Agile Principles and Mindset: This is foundational. You need to understand the Agile Manifesto values and principles, and how they apply to different situations. This includes understanding the iterative and incremental nature of agile projects, embracing change, and focusing on collaboration and customer value.

II. Agile Frameworks and Methodologies: The exam covers several popular frameworks. You should understand their core concepts, differences, and when each might be most appropriate:

• Scrum: This is heavily emphasized. You should know the roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team), events (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective), and artifacts (Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Increment).
• Kanban: Understanding the principles of Kanban, visualizing workflow, limiting work in progress (WIP), and continuous improvement.
• Extreme Programming (XP): Key practices like test-driven development (TDD), pair programming, continuous integration, and refactoring.
• Lean: Principles of eliminating waste, optimizing flow, and delivering value quickly.
• Other Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with other methodologies, such as Crystal, DSDM, and Feature-Driven Development (FDD), is beneficial, though not as deeply covered as Scrum and Kanban.

III. Agile Practices and Techniques: This section covers the specific techniques used within agile projects:

• Requirements Management: How to elicit, analyze, and manage requirements in an agile environment, often using user stories and story points.
• Planning and Estimation: Techniques for planning sprints, estimating effort, and managing backlog prioritization.
• Teamwork and Collaboration: Effective communication, conflict resolution, and fostering a collaborative team environment.
• Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks within an iterative process.
• Stakeholder Management: Engaging and managing the expectations of diverse stakeholders.
• Change Management: Handling changes effectively within an agile project.
• Metrics and Reporting: Tracking progress, identifying areas for improvement, and reporting to stakeholders using agile metrics (velocity, burn-down charts, etc.).
• Continuous Improvement: Using techniques like retrospectives to continuously improve team processes and performance.

IV. Application of Agile in Different Contexts: The exam tests your ability to adapt agile principles and practices to various project contexts, including different team sizes, organizational structures, and types of projects (software development, non-software projects).

In short: The PMI-ACP exam assesses your practical understanding of agile principles, your knowledge of common frameworks, and your ability to apply agile methods in real-world situations. Memorizing definitions won't be enough; you need to understand the why behind the agile practices and how they work together. Focusing on application and scenario-based questions will be key to success.