What is Agile?
Agile is a software framework of behaviors and approaches encouraging in-time production, which enables customers to receive quality software sooner.
Discuss the differences between Agile and traditional Project Management (Waterfall)?
Agile involves iterative project implementation approaches, whereas traditional methods include various project life cycle phases.
What are Agile frameworks?
There are several other frameworks in addition to Scrum, such as:
- Test-Driven Development
- Kanban
- Feature-Driven Development.
Agile Interview Question
When should you use Waterfall over Scrum?
Usually, Waterfall is used when the requirements are simple, fully defined, predictable, and understood, and will not change.
How long does the scrum cycle last?
The life of the Scrum cycle depends on the project size and team size. The team size may vary from 3 to 9 members. Usually, it takes 3 to 4 weeks to complete a Scrum sprint.
What is the scrum of scrums
Suppose seven teams are working on a project and each team has seven members. Each team leads its particular scrum meeting. To coordinate among distinct teams, a separate meeting has to be organized, that meeting is called Scrum of Scrums.
An ambassador represents its team in the scrum of scrums.
Primary points discussed in the meeting are:
- Team progress after the last meeting.
- The task to be done before the next meeting.
- The hindrance that the team faces while completing the last task
Advance Agile Interview Question
Define epic, user stories, and tasks?
A software feature defined by a customer and itemized in the product backlog is known as epic. The subdivisions of Epics are known as stories.
User Stories: User stories are prepared according to the client’s perspective such as project or business functions, and delivered in a particular sprint.
Task: Th user stories are further broken down into various task
Differentiate between Incremental and Iterative development?
Iterative method: It is a continuous software development process where the software development cycles (Sprint & Releases) are repeated until the final product is achieved.
Release 1: Sprint 1, 2… n
Release n: Sprint 1, 2 …n
Incremental development: It segregates the functionality of the system into increments or portions. In each increment, the functionality segments are delivered through cross-discipline work, from the requirements to the deployment.
What do you mean by scrum poker technique or planning poker?
The card-based estimation technique is based on a general agreement, which is known as scrum poker or planning poker. Some features of it are:-
- The first step is for the story of the agile user to be read by the client. Then the estimator understands the features.
- There are various planning cards with different numbers for each estimator. The different numbers are the story points.
- Until a general agreement is reached, this process is repeated.
Agile Interview Question
What is the right moment to use the agile model?
There are specific developments and methodologies that can use Agile like crystal methodologies, lean software development feature drove growth, and dynamic development.
stories that are approved.
- Work category allocation – the work category allocation will provide a clear idea about where you are investing your time and also about the priority of the work.
- Defect removal awareness – active members can produce quality products.
- The cumulative flow diagram -It is the uniform workflow checked in which the x-axis represents time, and the y-axis stands for the number of efforts.
- The sprint burndown matric – Helps in keeping track of the completion of the work with the sprint.
- Business value delivered – this is an entity that is concerned with the work efficiency of the team. It is used to measure, and 100 points are associated with every project.
- Time coverage – The time period is measured with the help of the ratio of the number of lines of code that is called by the test suite by the number of relative lines of codes.
- Defect resolution time – This is concerned with the process where the team members detect and fix bugs. There are several processes involved in fixing a bug.
- Clearing the picture of the virus
- Schedule a fix
- Fixation of a defect is done.
What do you mean by release candidate?
To ensure that during the final development stage, there is no major problem left behind a code or version or a build is released, which is known as a release candidate. This is equivalent to the final build, and it is used for testing.
What is Zero sprint in Agile?
A zero sprint can be defined as the pre-step to the first sprint. Things such as setting up the environment to develop, prepare backlog, etc. that need to be performed before the start of the initial sprint and can treat it as Sprint zero.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What does story point mean in the scrum?
The Scrum unit which is used to estimate the effort required to finish or implement a backlog is referred to as a story point in the scrum.
Why do user stories are not estimated in working hours?
It is not mandatory to estimate user stories in terms of man hurt as it will mean a lack of product quality, which is to be delivered to the customer. In the case of the working hour, more attention is given to the budget and cost of management.
This is why the story point is necessary as it provides concepts regarding efforts, which are required, and also the complexity of the work.
In which process a Scrum master recommends follow-up action items?
The finest way to follow up action items is to establish a follow-up of the works to be done by the team members. And the scrum master will collect this information.
Agile Interview Question
What are the most critical agile Matrices?
The following are the critical agile Matrices .
- Velocity – To have a clear about your progress, capacity, and much more keeping track of the velocity is essential. It can be measured by adding all the estimates of the stories that are approved.
- Work category allocation – the work category allocation will provide a clear idea about where you are investing your time and also about the priority of the work.
- Defect removal awareness – active members can produce quality products.
- The cumulative flow diagram -It is the uniform workflow checked in which the x-axis represents time, and the y-axis stands for the number of efforts.
- The sprint burndown matric – Helps in keeping track of the completion of the work with the sprint.
- Business value delivered – this is an entity that is concerned with the work efficiency of the team. It is used to measure, and 100 points are associated with every project.
- Time coverage – The time period is measured with the help of the ratio of the number of lines of code that is called by the test suite by the number of relative lines of codes.
- Defect resolution time – This is concerned with the process where the team members detect and fix bugs. There are several processes involved in fixing a bug.
- clearing the picture of the virus
- Schedule a fix
- Fixation of a defect is done.
- Report of resolution is handed.
What are the essential qualities a good Agile tester should have?
A professional Agile tester should have the following qualities
- Should quickly understand the necessities.
- The agile tester knows Agile principles and concepts well.
- As requirements change continually, the tester should understand the risks involved in it.
- The ability to communicate among business developers, associates and tester is a must.
Mention the challenges involved in developing Agile Software?
The various challenges involved in developing Agile Software includes
- More testing and customers involvement
- Impacts management more than developers
- Each feature needs to be completed before moving on to the next
- All the code has to work fine to ensure the application is in a working state
- More planning is required.
Advance Agile Interview Question
When not to use Agile?
Before using Agile methodology, you must ask the following questions:
- Is functionality split-able
- Are requirements flexible
- Is customer available
- Is the team skilled enough
- Is it time constrained
Explain what does it mean by product roadmap?
A product roadmap refers to the holistic view of product features, which creates the product vision.
What is the product burndown chart?
It is the description in the form of a graph that shows implemented product backlog is called a burndown chart.
Agile Interview Question
What is a sprint burndown chart?
A graph is the representation of the no. of the implemented sprints and non-implemented sprints in the scrum cycle.
What is the Release burndown chart?
The graph is set to be a Release burndown chart when it is used to depict the pending release.
Explain some standard metrics for Agile?
The common metrics for Agile is as follows:
- Velocity -It is the average of points from the last 3 to 4 sprints. It is measured with the summation of all the approved story estimates. It provides an idea of progress, capacity, etc.
- Cumulative Flow Diagram: Using the cumulative flow diagram, the user can perform an inspection of the uniform workflow. In this graph, the x-axis represents time, and the y-axis represents the number of efforts.
- Work Category Allocation: It is a critical factor that provides quick information of the time investment, i.e., where the time is being investigated, and the elements prioritizing the tasks.
- Time Coverage: It is the time that is given to code during testing. It is the percentage that is calculated as a factor of the lines of code called by the total number of relative lines of code and the test suite.
- Business Value Delivered: It denotes the working team’s efficiency. These objects are assigned numerical values 1,2,3 and so on according to the priority levels, ROI, and complexity.
- Defect Removal Awareness: It is the factors that help the working teams to deliver a quality product. It helps to identify the number of defects, their awareness, and removal plays a critical role to provide a high-quality product.
- Defect Resolution Time: It is the process through which the members of the working teams detect the bugs and set priorities for defect resolution. It is the method of fixing bugs or defect resolution compromises of multiple processes such as schedule defect fixation, clearing the defect picture, completing defect fixation, generation, and handling resolution reports.
- Sprint Burn Down Matric: The graph represents the total number of sprints implemented or non-implemented during a Scrum cycle. It helps you to track your work in the sprint.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What is the difference between Agile Vs DevOps
The differences between Agile vs DevOps are:
| Features | Agile | DevOps |
| Usage | Developing Software | Deploying software |
| Developer tasks | Every person can handle all the tasks | Separate teams for operations and developments |
| Performance | Since every developer can progress the task, the agile approach is preferred | Teams need to communicate in order to proceed to the next step |
| Communication | Scrum-based approach to communicate | Regular meetings are held |
| Programming knowledge | Much needed as it includes development | Deployment needs less programming knowledge when compared to the development |
| Focus | Quality focussed software development | Improve deployment frequency |
Are there any agile certifications?
Agile and Scrum certifications are hot in the market and organizations are expecting the candidates to hold one or more out of it. Agile Certifications and scrum certification are generally preferred by organizations are listed as follows:
- ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner)
- PSM (Professional Scrum Master)
- ASM (Agile Scrum Master)
- CSM (Certified Scrum Master)
- Safe Agilest
What are the major agile quality strategies?
The major agile quality strategies are:
- Re-factoring
- Small feedback cycles
- Iterations
- Dynamic code analysis
Agile Interview Question
Name some project management tools used in agile?
Project management tools used in Agile are listed below:
- Version one
- X-planner,
- Ice scrum,
- Rally Software,
- Agilent,
- Agile
Define Product backlog and Sprint Backlog?
- A product backlog is maintained by the project owner that contains every requirement and feature of the product.
- A Spring backlog is treated as a product backlog subset that contains requirements and features related to a particular sprint only.
What is Pair Programming and state its benefits?
Pair programming is a technique in which two programmers work as a team where. One programmer writes code and the other one reviews that code. They both can switch their roles.
Knowledge transfer is smooth: One experience partner can teach another partner about the codes and techniques.
Code quality: As the second partner simultaneously reviews the code, the chances of mistakes being occurred will reduce.
Agile Interview Question
What is refactoring?
Modifying code without a change in its functionality to improve the performance is called refactoring.
How can QA add value to an agile team?
QA provides additional value to the story thinking differently about distinct scenarios. It gives quick feedback to the developers on whether the new functionality is working fine or not.
What is the Application Binary Interface?
Application Binary Interface defines an interface to compile application programs or the low-level interface between an application and the operating system.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What is a tracer bullet?
Tracer bullet examines the working and examines the feasibility of an end-to-end process. It is the spike with the current set of practices or architecture.
What is the increment Explain?
The increment can be defined as the total of all backlog items of a product during a sprint. Being cumulative, each increment consists of its previous sprint increment values. It should set to be in the available mode in its subsequent release as it is a step to reach the goal.
What is Kanban?
Kanban is a tool that helps teams to keep an eye on the work for measuring its progress. Apart from the progress, the status of a development story can be seamlessly described with the help of the ‘kanban board’.
Agile Interview Question
How to manage remote teams?
In the case of outsourced resources, using remote project management tools will help you meet the required remote team management. It helps you know how to get them on board, and manage people, tools, and resources.
What is meant by the sprint retrospective meeting?
It is the meeting conducted in the last part of the sprint after the review meeting of a sprint. The whole team will participate in this discussion, which lasts for 2 to 3 hours.
Can we apply agile methodologies to other testing apart from development and software testing?
The file testing methodologies of Agile can be applied in the case of biomedical, biophysics, biochemistry, and those places which are having insufficient data and the project needs to complete with a small team.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What does the term impediment mean?
Any obstacles that do not allow a smooth flow of work, which results in the underperformance of the team to perform tasks in a better way is known as an impediment.
What do mean by sprint planning meeting?
The meeting that involves the entire scrum team from product owner to scrum master and other team members is known as a sprint planning meeting. It is arranged to discuss the important feature of the team and also the items of the product backlog.
Mention the places where the Scrum and Kanban methodologies are used?
When shifting to the prominent and appropriate process is required, then you use Scrum. When the need is to improve the process that is running provided with lesser changes, then Kanban is used.
Agile Interview Question
What are the essential qualities to have as a Scrum Master?
Understanding the purpose and expectations, as well as sharing knowledge, are the primary qualities of a Scrum Master.
Is canceling a Sprint possible? Who can cancel a Sprint?
Only the Product Owner can cancel the Sprint. It can be canceled before the Sprint timebox limit ends.
What is Agile Methodology?
Agile Methodology is a practice that involves a continuous iteration of development and testing throughout the SDLC (Software development life cycle). In the agile process, both development and testing take place simultaneously.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What are the pros and cons of Agile Methodology?
Pros:
- More flexible: It is more flexible because it adapts to changes more rapidly than other product management approaches.
- The product gets to market faster: It focuses more on working deliverables, not on perfect deliverables.
- Better Communication: It ensures better communication between customers and developers.
Cons:
- Poor resource planning: In most cases, developers don’t know what their end result will be, it’s hard to determine the cost of the product at the start of SDLC.
- Limited documentation: Generally, in agile methodology documentation becomes less detailed and often falls to the back burner.
- Trickier decision-making: It requires an expert to make crucial decisions.
What are burn up and burn down charts?
Both of these charts are used to track the progress of the project.
Burn-up charts are used to represent how much work is completed in the project whereas burn-down charts represent how much work is pending in the project.
What do you mean by zero sprints in agile?
In agile methodology, zero sprints refer to the first steps that need to be taken before beginning with the project like setting up the development environment, installing various dependencies, preparing backlogs, etc. Generally, this is done before the actual development process starts.
Agile Interview Question
What are some cons of using Scrum?
- Scrum can only be successful only with experienced team members.
- A Less experienced scrum master can become the cause of the collapse of a project.
- Adopting Scrum in a large team can be challenging.
- Daily meetings sometimes frustrate team members.
What are the principles of Agile Software Development?
1. Highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of business valuable software
2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development
3. Deliver working software frequently
4. Business people and developers must work together with transparency on daily basis throughout the project
5. Build projects around motivated individuals
6. The best form of communication is to do face-to-face conversation
7. Working software is the primary measure of progress
8. Able to maintain a constant pace
9. Continuous attention to technical excellence
10. Simplicity – the art of maximizing the amount of work not done – is essential
11. Self-organizing teams
12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes and adjusts its behavior accordingly
What are the main roles in Scrum?
Scrum consists of three main roles:
Product Owner: Product Owner usually represents the Client and acts as a point of contact from the Client side. The one who prioritizes the list of Product Backlogs which Scrum Team should finish and release.
Scrum Master: Scrum Master acts as a facilitator to the Scrum Development Team. Clarifies the queries and organizes the team from distractions and teach the team how to use scrum and also concentrates on Return on Investment (ROI). Responsible for managing the sprint.
Scrum Development Team: Developer’s, QA’s. Who develops the product. Scrum development team decides the effort estimation to complete a Product Backlog Item.
Scrum Team: A cross-functional, self-organizing group of dedicated people (Group of Product Owner, Business Analyst, Developer’s and QA’s). Recommended size of a scrum team is 7 plus or minus 2 (i.e., between 5 to 9 members in a team).
Advance Agile Interview Question
What approach do you follow when requirements change continuously?
In Agile methodology, change in requirement is possible. It’s not like other traditional methodologies where the requirements are locked down at the requirement phase. Every team member should be ready to handle the changes in the project.
The team should work closely with the Product Owner to understand the scope of requirement change and to negotiate to keep the requirement changes to a minimum or to adopt those changes in the next sprint. Based on the requirement changes Test Team could update the Test Plan and Test Cases to achieve the deadlines. The team should understand the risk in the requirement change and prepare a contingency plan. It is a best practice not to go for the automation process until requirements are finalized.
What is a Sprint?
In Scrum, the project is divided into Sprints. Each Sprint has a specified timeline (2 weeks to 1 month). This timeline will be agreed by a Scrum Team during the Sprint Planning Meeting. Here, User Stories are split into different modules. The end result of every Sprint should be a potentially shippable product.
Qualities that a good tester must-have?
A competent tester should;
• Be aware of all principles, concepts, and values
• Be capable of understanding requirements fast
• Prioritize work on a requirement basis
• Have excellent communication skills.
Advance Agile Interview Question
What is the story point estimation?
In Agile Scrum, we use story points (SP) as a unit for measuring the work. Each story has given a specific estimate in the form of SP.
What are the different estimation methods in agile?
1- Planning Poker
2- T-Shirt Sizing
3- Dot Voting
4- The Bucket System
5- Affinity Mapping
6- Ordering method
Why will you be working with a stakeholder that is not easy to work with?
Stakeholders are important to the project because they have great authority and their consent plays a vital role in this. They don’t get easy to handle sometimes. Here’s what I do in those situations-
- Know their problem
- Unarguably accept authority
- Evoke some negative feelings
- Be frank and tactful about the decisions
- Ask for ideas and get interested
- Enhance connectivity
- Praise them and build the connection
Agile Interview Question
How do you make things a priority?
Prioritizing activities is very important in a project and it’s very detailed. This helps to ensure that the project is finished on schedule and successfully. Follow these metrics to set work goals-
- List the responsibilities and the duties
- Know what’s important and what’s urgent
- Define the value for each task
- Be able to adapt and remain flexible
- Estimate efforts and position tasks in order
- Be clear on when to reject requests.
How do you know this is an off-track project?
As a project manager, you must be a structured person with several strategies in place during the project so that you can test if the project is off-track. Most project managers are actively tracking the project by project schedules and keeping track of targets and objectives set at particular dates. Using monitoring apps such as the Kaban Board can be helpful in checking that the project is going smoothly because it is a live-updating system and color code for individual team members allows you to see how each person is doing in their work and whether there are any risks that they may go off course.
When running a project, what are the risks you might face?
Sample Response – Here are some rising risks in a project –
- Costing
- Timeline
- Recourse
- Performance
- Market Hazard
- Strategic Threat
- Legal Hazard
- Operational Hazard
- Governorship
- External Risk
Advance Agile Interview Question
Why do you think a project manager should be proactive?
Proactive leaders are more likely to predict threats, and to incorporate threats management strategies. Proactive participants may have better control over the tools and activities involved in the project. They can better keep track of all problems and activities related to minor enhancements and adjustments for higher efficiency and efficiencies. They also constantly organize developer meetings to discuss their issues, share best practices, and brainstorm solutions. They often equate the time and expense of every week spent on tasks with the numbers given.
What do you mean by Application Binary Interface (ABI)?
ABI is an interface that is involved to compile application programs or the low-level interface that exists between an application and the operating system. Hence, in different system platforms, ABI is considered as a specific defined requirement that is used for portability of application in binary form.
What are some disadvantages of agile testing?
Here are some major disadvantages of agile testing –
- If a big project occurs, we may have a problem estimating the total efforts that we need to put in the completion of the project.
- We cannot always focus on design and documentation.
- If clients’ requirements are not understood by developers properly, then the end product will not be able to satisfy customers.
Agile Interview Question
What are the advantages of using agile testing?
Here we are going to mention some important key points regarding agile testing –
- Customers welcome changes
- Face to face conversation for good communication
- Clients are allowed to make cooperation with developers
- A big free clean mode
- 100% customer satisfaction
- Promotion of sustainable development.
