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University of Maryland, College Park

Data Science and Agile Systems for Product Management

University of Maryland, College Park via edX

Overview

Modern systems today must be designed for agility in order to outpace the competition. Concepts like Agile, DevOps, and Data Science were once considered only for the technology-based companies. Today that means every company. Because there is no greater currency than timely information for optimizing operations and meeting the needs of customers.

Modern product management requires that every development and operations value stream is identified and continuously improved. This means using Lean and DevOps principles to streamline handoffs and information flows across teams. It means reorienting towards self-service and automation wherever possible. And to avoid incrementalism, it means a robust Agile development process to keep innovations important and aggressive enough to make noticeable improvements in value delivery.

Agile systems in a DevOps environment requires that products are built completely differently from a traditional designs. Modularity, open set architectures, and flexible data management paradigms are a starting point. The evolutionary nature of the product with so much change enables functionality, design, and technology to drive and influence each other simultaneously. And beneath it all is a data collection and feedback loop essential for anticipating and reacting to business needs both for operations and marketing.

Data science and analytics are the lifeblood of any product organization, and enable product managers to tackle risks early. Luckily, new technologies allow us to collect and integrate data without extreme upfront constraints and onerous controls. This means all data is fair game, and when tagged and stored properly, can be made available at nearly any scale for preparation, visualization, analysis, and modeling.

We’ll teach you the paradigms, processes, and introduce some key technologies that make the data-driven product organization the optimal competitor in the market.

Syllabus

Module 1: Agile Systems Engineering

Module 2: DevOps Principles for Business Agility

Module 3: Data Science for Product Risk Management

Module 4: Implementing Data-Driven Controls using Technology and Teams

Taught by

John Johnson

Reviews

4.7 rating, based on 121 Class Central reviews

4.6 rating at edX based on 11 ratings

Start your review of Data Science and Agile Systems for Product Management

  • Anonymous
    I had the privilege of taking the Data Science and Agile Systems for Product Management course at the University of Maryland, and it exceeded all my expectations. This course is an absolute game-changer for anyone looking to bridge the gap between d…
  • This is my third course from University of MAryland on edX. First two were:
    1) Product Management Fundamentals
    2) Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management

    I found these course and especially this one very excellent course with helpful content and would recommend to anyone interested in learning more about product management.
  • Anonymous
    This course was very challenging to me. I learned a lot but I truly thought I was going fail this course but I pushed through and passed and earned the verified certificate. I suggest that you take plenty of notes and pay attention to how the questions are worded. I found that some are worded different than listed in the course notes and can cause you to miss that question if you misread. Also ensure to review the slides and extra course materials provided.
  • Anonymous
    It was by far my hardest course but it was worth it, Gained a lot of knowledge and skills. The instructor was very informative and broke everything down perfectly.
  • Anonymous
    I was initially very excited about this module, and I found that it included a lot of useful information. However, some of the content didn’t seem essential (as the professor also noted), which made the module feel a bit confusing and less focused. As a result, I lost some of my initial enthusiasm and ended up pausing my progress for quite a while.
  • Anonymous
    It has a lot of good information, but probably too packed. Some of the quiz questions on Final Exams did not seem to match the videos/transcript
  • Anonymous
    It has a lot of good information, but probably too packed. Some of the quiz questions on Final Exams did not seem to match the videos/transcript
  • Dario Alejandro Castillo Castillo
    The course is great it explains several topics about agile and data science. My prefer section is the data science, with clear examples it is explained how to handle data before getting insights about a product. However, some concepts in the agile section are not according to the Scrum guide, for example the "hardening Sprint" is not included in the Scrum guide and a hardening Sprint does not exists officially in Scrum.
  • Anonymous
    The Data Science and Agile Systems for Product Management course provided an excellent blend of technical knowledge and practical frameworks essential for modern product managers. The integration of data science principles with agile methodologies helped clarify how data-driven decision-making can enhance product development cycles. The course content was well-structured, starting with foundational concepts and progressing to more advanced topics like predictive analytics and lean experimentation.
  • Anonymous
    Professor John Johnson is a great instructor and I am glad to have him for the most important course in the series. I am blown away by the amount of knowledge to absorb in this course. You can learn a lot and there is an ethos and mindset that permeates the course. I expected it to be more technical but times have changed.
  • Anonymous
    I would rate the "Data Science and Agile Systems for Product Management" course from the University System of Maryland via edX as highly valuable. The course provides a solid foundation in both data science concepts and agile methodologies, making it ideal for anyone interested in product management. The materials are well-structured, the instructors are knowledgeable, and the practical examples make it easier to grasp the real-world applications of these concepts. The course is challenging yet rewarding, and I feel more confident in using data-driven decision-making and agile frameworks in my professional work. Overall, it’s a great learning experience for aspiring or current product managers.

  • Anonymous
    A really good course to gain some perspective on Agile and Data Science. There is a ton of information to cover and concepts to grasp. Professor Johnson was extremely good and well versed in the subject matter. His enthusiasm for the material made it easier to stay focused and appreciate each topic from the different lessons.
  • Anonymous
    Great course and really helpful in unpacking the concepts of Agile systems engineering and data sciences.
  • Anonymous
    You will learn a lot! The material is all together for you to review. You can download the slides, go through the knowledge checks, and cross reference with industry books. Also its easy to switch between computer and phone interfaces. I am not p…
  • These are the best in online courses that i have ever seen everything is detailed and free , everyone out there please come and join us here at Harvard University you will achieve everything , stop crying of tuition yet you can complete your dream course here thanks alot everyone and whoever came up with this idea thanks.
  • Anonymous
    Un curso dirigido a la práctica con casos reales de proyectos implementados y el proceso y uso de la ciencia de datos ágiles usada en ellos.
  • Profile image for Christian Moore
    Christian Moore
    The course was structured extremely well with the video, text recap and then knowledge quiz at the end. The instructor kept it interesting and had a good mix of theory and knowledge from his actual experience in the industry. A great dive into the field.
  • Saadat
    This course provides an excellent introduction to applying data science techniques within the context of product management. The focus on Agile systems is also very beneficial for understanding how to manage product development iteratively and efficiently. The content is well-structured, with practical examples and real-world applications that make complex concepts more accessible. I found the balance between theory and practice to be ideal for both beginners and those with some experience. The course could benefit from more hands-on activities or project-based learning to reinforce key concepts. Overall, a valuable course for anyone looking to enhance their skills in data-driven product management.
  • Profile image for Erica Rizzotto
    Erica Rizzotto
    My first course/certificate for an online class. I wasn't sure what to expect. I enjoyed the videos, notes, and the mix of recap checkpoints and quizzes. I have several years of experience in Product Management, but had no formal training. This class tied a lot of pieces around agile, product management, data science- all together.
  • Anonymous
    Great class. Lengthy at times but overall very informative and thorough. Great examples to support materials.

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