645.780.81 - Agile Systems Engineering

Expanded Course Description

Due to the compressed summer schedule, we will dispense with live presentations to the instructor in lieu of team recordings in MS Teams VTC.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules in the menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Agile & Lean Fundamentals
• Agile's Capacity to Engage Complexity
• Project Characteristics Govern
• Lean Concepts of Flow & Agile in Government
• Self-Organizing and Self-Managing Teams
• Quality in the Agile Space and the Evolving Role of Technical Leadership
• Agile Planning Means Planning to Discover
• Designing for Value
• Bringing Everything Together for Agile Systems Engineering
• Agile at Scale

Course Goals

To identify and describe the characteristics and responsibilities of a systems engineer or technical leader engaged with a project using Agile Methods, and be able to apply that knowledge within a team to develop an Agile Systems Engineering course of action for the fictitious company AVI.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Explain the foundational principles that underlie the broad suite of agile and lean development constructs relevant to systems engineering.
• Identify which types of development projects are best suited for incorporating agile and lean methods.
• Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of how industry is currently adapting their systems engineering processes to agile development projects.
• Apply the principles of agile and lean methods to real-world system engineering challenges.

Textbooks

This course will use Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products by Jim Highsmith (must be purchased through bookstore) as the course textbook, along with reprints of relevant articles, papers, selected textbook chapters and videos.

Other Materials & Online Resources

All additional course readings are available directly through the Canvas course site as EReserves.

Required Software

Webcam and microphone are required (if provided with computer, this is usually adequate along with adequate lighting and no background sound interference). Word, PowerPoint, Excel.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 10-13 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: complete the assigned readings and watch/listen to video lectures and other posted videos (4-5 hours /week); collaborate on team-based work in MS Teams VTC  and as well as its shared workspace; work as individuals on bi-weekly essays (3-5 hours/week); attend virtual live team sessions ~ every two weeks to present and record in MS Teams VTC your findings and analysis for deliverables listed below (2-3 hours/week).

This course consists of five requirements:

Quizzes (15% of final grade)

There are 12 quizzes in the course, in modules 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Quizzes cover material from the current week’s lectures and readings, and also material presented in earlier modules. Quizzes are not timed and are online through Canvas.

Essay assignments (15% of final grade)

Individual essay assignments are in modules 1, 3, 7, 9, and 11. The essay assignments challenge you to think through and analyze the concepts you are learning and to discuss how you would apply them to real-world situations.

Team Action Assignments (TAAs) (35% of final grade)

The TAAs and TPs collectively are the most significant assessment tools for this course. You will be placed into a group with other students in the class and work together with this group over the entire semester. The TAAs are in Modules 2, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Each TAA will require a group presentation recorded in MS Teams VTC. Details from each TAA are contained in the respective modules; however, know that you will be called upon to apply agile concepts to scenario materials (available in Module 2).

Team Presentation (TP) (15% of final grade)

In Module 3 you will be assigned a TP due in Module 5. The team project is to be completed within the same groups you are working with for the TAAs. The TP requires you to develop some materials around the scenario information provided in Module 2 and to apply concepts you are learning in the course as you develop the materials. Each of the two TPs will require a group presentation recorded in MS Teams VTC.

Grading Policy

The majority of graded work in this course is team-based, with the remainder focused on measuring individual understanding.

Course Evaluation

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I/We will post grades one week after assignment due dates.

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

Course Policies

All team-based recordings in MS Teams VTCs students must keep their cameras on throughout the presentation.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.