In April 2023, I had the pleasure of hosting a 2-day workshop on Agile & Scrum Fundamentals for the Project Delivery team at QBE Insurance. The goal of the workshop was to introduce key Agile principles and provide hands-on experience with the Scrum framework, ensuring that the team could adopt these practices in their projects to improve delivery and collaboration.

As Agile methodologies continue to revolutionize the way organizations approach project management, this workshop aimed to equip the team with the tools and mindset necessary to work more efficiently and iteratively. Throughout the two days, we explored Agile principles, Scrum roles, and practical Scrum ceremonies, allowing the team to apply the concepts directly to their ongoing and future projects.

The workshop kicked off with a deep dive into the Agile Manifesto and its core principles, focusing on collaboration, adaptability, and delivering value early and often. The team learned how Agile practices can help reduce risks and enhance transparency in project delivery, particularly in complex environments like insurance.

Agenda Highlights:

• What is Agile? An introduction to Agile methodologies and their core principles, including customer collaboration, iterative development, and flexibility.
• The Scrum Framework Detailed walkthrough of the Scrum framework, including the roles of Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team.
• Key Scrum Ceremonies A focus on the critical Scrum ceremonies such as Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospectives.
• Agile Artifacts Overview of key Scrum artifacts like the Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment, and how these help manage and track work in Agile environments.

One of the most engaging aspects of the workshop was the hands-on activities, where the attendees were split into smaller teams to simulate a full Scrum cycle. From Sprint Planning to the Sprint Review, the team gained practical experience in breaking down work into manageable tasks, prioritizing items based on value, and delivering an increment of work in a short, iterative sprint.

By the end of the workshop, the team had a solid understanding of the Scrum framework and how it can be leveraged to improve collaboration, flexibility, and project delivery. The Agile mindset fostered during the workshop encouraged open communication, better decision-making, and a focus on delivering business value — all critical elements in project delivery within a fast-paced industry like insurance.

The workshop also fostered a culture of continuous improvement, a core principle of Agile. The Project Delivery team left with new strategies to embrace change, adapt to evolving requirements, and deliver more value faster. By applying the Scrum framework, they are now better equipped to handle the dynamic nature of their projects and enhance stakeholder satisfaction.