Agile/Scrum Training Classes in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Learn Agile/Scrum in Grand Rapids, Michigan and surrounding areas via our hands-on, expert led courses. All of our classes either are offered on an onsite, online or public instructor led basis. Here is a list of our current Agile/Scrum related training offerings in Grand Rapids, Michigan: Agile/Scrum Training
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6 October, 2025 - 7 October, 2025 - Introduction to Spring 6, Spring Boot 3, and Spring REST
25 August, 2025 - 29 August, 2025 - VMware vSphere 8.0 Skill Up
18 August, 2025 - 22 August, 2025 - DOCKER WITH KUBERNETES ADMINISTRATION
21 July, 2025 - 25 July, 2025 - Python for Scientists
4 August, 2025 - 8 August, 2025 - See our complete public course listing
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A project manager acts as the primary link between business and technical teams. A project manager is responsible for maintaining the project schedule, developing project estimates, working with external teams and tracking project issues. The project manager belongs to either the technical team or the project management office (PMO). The project manager works with business teams, technical teams, business counterparts, testing resources, vendors and infrastructure teams.
A project manager is often challenged with diagonally opposite views from the business side and technical side. A project manager’s success depends on balancing the needs and emotions of both sides.
Understanding the Requirements
A project manager must familiarize with the project’s requirements as defined by the business or product managers. This will help you understand the business vision behind the project. You will need this knowledge while negotiating with the technical teams.
Understanding the Technical Landscape
A project manager must also understand the technical systems, resource skills and infrastructure capabilities available for the project. Business teams come up with expectations that are sometimes beyond the capabilities of the technology team. It is the responsibility of the project manager to understand the technical capabilities available to the project.
Walkthrough of Business Requirements
This is a critical step in the project delivery process. The project manager must invite members from the business team, technical team, testing team, infrastructure team and vendors. The project manager must encourage the various stakeholders to ask questions about the requirements. Any prototypes available must be demonstrated in this meeting. The project manager must find answers to all questions resulting from the requirements walkthrough. The project manager must get the final version of the requirements approved by all stakeholders.
Managing Conflicts in Timelines and Budgets
All project managers will face the conflicts arising from shortened timelines and limited budgets. Business teams typically demand many features that are nearly impossible to deliver within short timeframes. The project manager must work with business and technical teams to prioritize the requirements. If the project is executed in a product development organization, then the project manager could utilize agile methodologies to deliver projects incrementally. In this case, the project manager may be required to act as a scrum master to facilitate scrum meetings between various stakeholders.
The Art of Saying “No”
As a project manager, you may be forced to say “no” to demands from both business and technology teams. However, it is important to create a win-win situation for all parties when you are faced with conflicting demands. You can work with the stakeholders individually before bringing all parties together. Most stakeholders prefer to work together. The success of a project manager depends on how effectively he or she can bring out the best in everyone, driving everyone towards a common goal.
Finally, the job of a project manager is not to satisfy the demands from all corners. The project manager must identify the essential deliverables that will meet the business needs, with a solid understanding of what is possible within the limits of technology.
Related:
I will begin our blog on Java Tutorial with an incredibly important aspect of java development: memory management. The importance of this topic should not be minimized as an application's performance and footprint size are at stake.
From the outset, the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) manages memory via a mechanism known as Garbage Collection (GC). The Garbage collector
- Manages the heap memory. All obects are stored on the heap; therefore, all objects are managed. The keyword, new, allocates the requisite memory to instantiate an object and places the newly allocated memory on the heap. This object is marked as live until it is no longer being reference.
- Deallocates or reclaims those objects that are no longer being referened.
- Traditionally, employs a Mark and Sweep algorithm. In the mark phase, the collector identifies which objects are still alive. The sweep phase identifies objects that are no longer alive.
- Deallocates the memory of objects that are not marked as live.
- Is automatically run by the JVM and not explicitely called by the Java developer. Unlike languages such as C++, the Java developer has no explict control over memory management.
- Does not manage the stack. Local primitive types and local object references are not managed by the GC.
So if the Java developer has no control over memory management, why even worry about the GC? It turns out that memory management is an integral part of an application's performance, all things being equal. The more memory that is required for the application to run, the greater the likelihood that computational efficiency suffers. To that end, the developer has to take into account the amount of memory being allocated when writing code. This translates into the amount of heap memory being consumed.
Memory is split into two types: stack and heap. Stack memory is memory set aside for a thread of execution e.g. a function. When a function is called, a block of memory is reserved for those variables local to the function, provided that they are either a type of Java primitive or an object reference. Upon runtime completion of the function call, the reserved memory block is now available for the next thread of execution. Heap memory, on the otherhand, is dynamically allocated. That is, there is no set pattern for allocating or deallocating this memory. Therefore, keeping track or managing this type of memory is a complicated process. In Java, such memory is allocated when instantiating an object:
String s = new String(); // new operator being employed String m = "A String"; /* object instantiated by the JVM and then being set to a value. The JVM calls the new operator */
IT Job Roles and Responsibilities
1. Project Manager
A project manager, in this case, is someone that plays a managerial role in a company’s project. In fact, this is one of the most important IT job roles. The manager is responsible for his or her team. He or she makes sure that deadlines are met, and the project proceeds as planned. It mainly includes planning, design, initiation, monitoring, execution, and control.
2. IT Director
In most cases, the term director is associated with big positions in a company, and is often associated with a board role. As one of the top IT job roles, the IT director is responsible for planning, managing and executing the core-infrastructure of a company. The primary role of the IT director is to oversee all the technology operations within the firm. The director then evaluates what his or her team does to make sure that the activities are in line with firm’s main objectives. On top of that, the IT director makes sure that all departments have their technology needs met by his or her team.
3. IT Manager
The rank of an IT manager is definitely lower than that of a director, however, the role is still very crucial for any IT department. Every IT department has staff members that are meant to deliver results at the end of the day. The IT manager supervises most of the workers in the IT department. He or she is in charge of motivating them and making sure that they do what they are supposed to do. The IT manager’s roles include monitoring, planning, coaching, disciplining employees, and counseling.
4. Software Engineer
This position can also be referred to as a software architect, system engineer or application programmer. The main work typically involves creating and programming system-level software such as database systems, operating systems, and embedded systems. Their primary role is to ensure that they understand how both software and hardware work and to use them appropriately. However, the responsibilities don’t stop there. The software engineer is also required to interact with both colleagues and clients to explain which system or solution is going to be more suitable for use.
5. Systems Analyst
A systems analyst can also be called a solutions specialist, product specialist or a systems engineer. Their primary work mainly involves identifying, analyzing, and coming up with new information systems that will provide a viable solution. This is mostly done as a response to the requests of customers or just for the business. They also have to make sure that they determine the costs and total time required to bring the information systems into effect.
6. Helpdesk Support
There are times when your team could encounter system problems. Perhaps, a piece of hardware or software has malfunctioned. You need helpdesk support to deal with such issues. This is a professional that knows about common computer problems. Without them, business operations could stall because an employee can be stranded, and there’s no one to help.
7. Network Designer
As much as helpdesk support can solve most IT problems, there are other issues that they can’t solve. You may experience system shutdowns or slow internet. In that case, you need an expert in maintaining communication systems. These professionals will also be responsible for setting up cyber security systems for the organization.
IT involves many job roles and responsibilities that all work hand-in-hand to deliver results. As you begin your business, you should know about these roles so that you can know which ones are going to be the most suitable for your firm.
One of the biggest challenges faced by senior IT professionals in organizations is the choice of the right software vendor. In the highly competitive enterprise software industry, there are lot of vendors who claim to offer the best software for the problem and it can be really daunting to narrow down the best choice. Additionally, enterprise software costs can often run into millions of dollars thereby leaving very little margin of error. The real cost of choosing a wrong software can often result into losses much more than the cost of the software itself as highlighted by software disasters experienced by leading companies like HP, Nike etc. In such a scenario, senior IT professionals despite years of expertise can find it very difficult to choose the right business software vendor for their organization.
Here are some of the proven ways of short-listing and selecting the right business software vendor for your organization,
· Understand and Define The Exact Need First: Before embarking on a journey to select the software vendor, it is critical to understand and define the exact problem you want the software to solve. The paramount question to be asked is what business objective does the software need to solve. Is the software required to “reduce costs” or is it to “improve productivity”? Extracting and defining this fundamental question is the bare minimum but necessary step to go searching for the right vendor. It will then form the basis of comparing multiple vendors on this very need that your organization has and will help drive the selection process going forward. The detailed approach involves creating a set of parameters that the software needs to meet in order to be considered. In fact, consider categorizing these parameters further in “must-haves”, “good to have” etc. which will help you assign relevant weights to these parameter and how the software’s fare on each of these parameters
· Building The List of Vendors Who Meet The Need: Once you have defined your need and distilled that need into various parameters, it’s time to built the list of vendors who you think will meet the need. This is akin to a lead generation model wherein you want to identify a large enough pool and then filters your list down to the best ones. There are multiple ways of building a list of vendors and more often than not, you must use a combination of these methods to build a good enough list.
o Use Industry Reports: We discussed the IT intelligence offered by leading industry firms Gartner and Forrester in How To Keep On Top Of Latest Trends In Information Technology. These firms based on their access to leading software vendors and CIO network publish vendor comparison research reports across specific verticals as well as specific technologies. Gartner’s Magic Quadrant and Forrester’s Wave are a very good starting point to get an insight into the best software vendors. For example, if you were looking for a CRM solution, you could look for Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for CRM and look at the vendors that make the list. These reports can be pricey but well worth the money if you are going to invest hundreds of thousands in the software. Having said that, you don’t have to trust these report blindly because how these firms define the best software may not match how you define the best software for your organization
o Competitive Intelligence: If you are a smart professional, you are already keeping tabs of your competition. Chances are that if you are a big organization, you might see a Press Release either from your competitor or their vendor announcing the implementation of new software. Extrapolate that across 5-10 key competitors of yours and you might discover the vendors that your competitors are choosing. This gives you a good indicator that the vendors used by your competitors must be offering something right.
Tech Life in Michigan
Company Name | City | Industry | Secondary Industry |
---|---|---|---|
Lear Corporation | Southfield | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. | Livonia | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Spartan Stores, Inc. | Byron Center | Retail | Grocery and Specialty Food Stores |
Steelcase Inc. | Grand Rapids | Manufacturing | Furniture Manufacturing |
Valassis Communications, Inc. | Livonia | Business Services | Advertising, Marketing and PR |
Autoliv, Inc. | Auburn Hills | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Cooper-Standard Automotive Group | Novi | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. | Bloomfield Hills | Retail | Automobile Dealers |
Con-Way Inc. | Ann Arbor | Transportation and Storage | Freight Hauling (Rail and Truck) |
Meritor, Inc. | Troy | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Visteon Corporation | Van Buren Twp | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Affinia Group, Inc. | Ann Arbor | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Perrigo Company | Allegan | Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech | Pharmaceuticals |
BorgWarner Inc. | Auburn Hills | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Auto-Owners Insurance | Lansing | Financial Services | Insurance and Risk Management |
DTE Energy Company | Detroit | Energy and Utilities | Gas and Electric Utilities |
Whirlpool Corporation | Benton Harbor | Manufacturing | Tools, Hardware and Light Machinery |
Herman Miller, Inc. | Zeeland | Manufacturing | Furniture Manufacturing |
Universal Forest Products | Grand Rapids | Manufacturing | Furniture Manufacturing |
Masco Corporation Inc. | Taylor | Manufacturing | Concrete, Glass, and Building Materials |
PULTEGROUP, INC. | Bloomfield Hills | Real Estate and Construction | Real Estate & Construction Other |
CMS Energy Corporation | Jackson | Energy and Utilities | Energy and Utilities Other |
Stryker Corporation | Portage | Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals and Biotech | Medical Devices |
General Motors Company (GM) | Detroit | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
Kellogg Company | Battle Creek | Manufacturing | Food and Dairy Product Manufacturing and Packaging |
The Dow Chemical Company | Midland | Manufacturing | Chemicals and Petrochemicals |
Kelly Services, Inc. | Troy | Business Services | HR and Recruiting Services |
Ford Motor Company | Dearborn | Manufacturing | Automobiles, Boats and Motor Vehicles |
training details locations, tags and why hsg
The Hartmann Software Group understands these issues and addresses them and others during any training engagement. Although no IT educational institution can guarantee career or application development success, HSG can get you closer to your goals at a far faster rate than self paced learning and, arguably, than the competition. Here are the reasons why we are so successful at teaching:
- Learn from the experts.
- We have provided software development and other IT related training to many major corporations in Michigan since 2002.
- Our educators have years of consulting and training experience; moreover, we require each trainer to have cross-discipline expertise i.e. be Java and .NET experts so that you get a broad understanding of how industry wide experts work and think.
- Discover tips and tricks about Agile/Scrum programming
- Get your questions answered by easy to follow, organized Agile/Scrum experts
- Get up to speed with vital Agile/Scrum programming tools
- Save on travel expenses by learning right from your desk or home office. Enroll in an online instructor led class. Nearly all of our classes are offered in this way.
- Prepare to hit the ground running for a new job or a new position
- See the big picture and have the instructor fill in the gaps
- We teach with sophisticated learning tools and provide excellent supporting course material
- Books and course material are provided in advance
- Get a book of your choice from the HSG Store as a gift from us when you register for a class
- Gain a lot of practical skills in a short amount of time
- We teach what we know…software
- We care…