Event Title: Applying Agile in Real Time
Organized by: St. Peter’s Engineering College – SPECANCIENS (The Alumni Association of SPEC)
Department: AI & DS (Artificial Intelligence & Data Science) and CSG (Computer Science and Game Development)
Date: 16th June 2024
Time: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Venue: Rojamma Hall, St. Peter’s Engineering College
Audience: II Year Students, AI & DS and CSG Departments

Introduction:

On 16th June 2024, St. Peter’s Engineering College in association with its alumni body, SPECANCIENS, successfully organized a technical hands-on workshop titled “Applying Agile in Real Time” for the second-year students of the AI & DS and CSG departments. This workshop aimed to provide students with an understanding of Agile methodologies, specifically focusing on how to practically apply them in real-world scenarios. The session was led by industry experts Thakur Akshay Singh, Program Manager at TCS, and Sashidhar Kadambari, Test Lead at TCS.

Objective of the Workshop:

The primary goal of this workshop was to introduce students to Agile methodologies, which are becoming a staple in modern software development practices. Agile emphasizes flexibility, continuous improvement, and iterative progress, which contrasts with traditional waterfall models. By the end of the session, students were expected to:

• Gain a clear understanding of Agile principles and frameworks like Scrum and Kanban.
• Learn how to use JIRA, a popular project management tool in Agile environments.
• Understand how Agile is applied in real-world industry projects, particularly in managing AI and DS-driven projects.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Agile Methodologies:
   • Introduction to Agile: Basic concepts, principles, and the Agile Manifesto.
   • Popular Agile frameworks: Scrum, Kanban, and Lean.
   • Benefits of Agile over traditional project management methodologies, particularly in handling unpredictable and rapidly changing AI & DS projects.
   • Practical exercises in forming Scrum teams, defining sprints, and managing sprint cycles.
2. JIRA for Project Management:
   • Hands-on session with JIRA, a widely used tool in Agile project management.
   • Introduction to JIRA’s interface, creating and managing backlogs, sprint planning, and progress tracking.
   • Real-time demonstration on how JIRA integrates with continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) tools for a seamless Agile development process.
   • Exercises where students created a mock project and used JIRA to manage tasks through an Agile workflow.

Speakers:

1. Thakur Akshay Singh – Program Manager at TCS: Akshay Singh, with over a decade of experience managing large-scale projects at TCS, shared insights into how Agile is utilized in the IT industry. He discussed real-world challenges, such as dealing with cross-functional teams, meeting client expectations, and managing project risks using Agile techniques. His talk included case studies of AI-driven projects, emphasizing the role of Agile in adapting to changing data models and algorithms during the project lifecycle.
2. Sashidhar Kadambari – Test Lead at TCS: Sashidhar Kadambari focused on the testing aspects within Agile projects, illustrating how Agile integrates continuous testing into the development cycle. He discussed the importance of test automation in ensuring faster releases and more reliable products. His session also highlighted JIRA’s integration with testing tools to ensure bug tracking and test case management are seamlessly managed within Agile sprints.

Workshop Activities:

• Interactive Discussions: The speakers encouraged a highly interactive environment where students were able to ask questions, engage in discussions about real-time project management, and clarify doubts related to Agile methodologies.
• Team-Based Activities: Students were divided into groups and asked to simulate a Scrum process. They had to define a product backlog, assign roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team), and conduct sprint planning sessions.
• JIRA Practice Sessions: The hands-on session with JIRA gave students the opportunity to create a mock project, manage tasks, and simulate a sprint cycle. This activity aimed to provide them with practical skills they could use in real-world scenarios.

Conclusion:

The workshop concluded at 4 PM with a feedback session, where the students expressed their appreciation for the practical knowledge gained and their eagerness to implement Agile techniques in their future projects. The speakers were presented with tokens of appreciation by the department heads.

This workshop not only provided the students with the theoretical knowledge of Agile methodologies but also equipped them with hands-on skills to manage real-time projects effectively. The collaboration between the alumni association and the current students fostered a stronger connection, with alumni like Akshay Singh and Sashidhar Kadambari serving as role models for aspiring engineers at St. Peter’s Engineering College.

The event was a great success and set a precedent for future technical workshops, enhancing the learning experience for AI & DS and CSG students.

Event Organizers: SPECANCIENS – The Alumni Association of SPEC
Department of AI & DS, Department of CSG
St. Peter’s Engineering College