Trainer vs. Agile Coach vs. Agile Project Management Class - A comparison:

Copyright Agile Media Consulting 2013

In my previous post I talked about the importance of an Agile coach if you want help for your teams in an Agile transformation, introduction to Agile, or with implementation and optimizing of teams. Below I am going into the cost and ROI ($$$) that you get when hiring a Scrum Trainer (Agile Trainers are usually Agile Coaches as there is no trainer certification for Agile but just for Scrum which is just one tool under the Agile umbrella). I compare that to what you get when hiring an Agile coach and also give a low-cost alternative with our 8-week Agile PM class for start-ups that includes limited coaching:

Scenario 1 - Hiring a Trainer to get team certified:

Cost: $1,500 per team member for one or two-day certification = theory only (which can amount to $30,000 for certification alone in team of 20 that is made of executives, managers, developers, QA, designers, etc) which makes this the most expensive option

Benefit: very limited as after the certification there is no support, I honestly have to hear about a trainer making a huge impact unless they stay for or collaborate with coaches

Note: no customization, very limited application and no continued support; teams come to me usually after not knowing how to apply and optimize process after training which is just an introduction and does not lead to implementation; also beware of trainers who want to certify everyone which is useless but helpful for them as that is how they make money.

Scenario 2 - Hiring a Coach to assess,train and coach:

Cost: a. pilot project 4 weeks embedded $24,000 on average if full-time or $12,000 embedded part-time  for smaller organizations

Benefit: trained and optimized teams with embedded coach on site. Note: for larger transformations between 6-12 months embedded coaching is recommended part- or full-time

Note: Make sure to discuss options and a plan upfront to make sure success is calibrated and expectations can be met. Coaches cost on average $150-200/hr in the Los Angeles area although a lot of times there is an estimation by project and per project fee. Make sure to discuss ROI. I finalize the contract after I assess the organization and can make promises based on what I need to provide for a successful completion. My goal is always to provide the most ROI and a company can spend $100,000 on an average 4-5 months project and see millions in ROI on average. 

Scenario 3 - 8-week Agile Project Management Course: 

Cost: $2,000!!! (not a typo) per person in a class of up to 15

Benefit: same as scenario 2 as you get training for one person and coaching for one team. Great alternative for smaller companies and start-ups. Big bonus: free access to Pivotal Tracker for duration of course and beyond thanks to partner company Pivotal Labs.

Note: It is a group course with up to 15 class members that does only allow for one team for each company to be built and only limited time for assessments. Also training is available at $2,000 per person and not the entire team. It is perfect for smaller start-ups (2-10 people) and not larger companies. 

Any questions? Contact me today or our partner company at Coloft for sign-up info on the course: agileprojectmanagement.eventbrite.com

Best,

Patricia Anglano

Agile Coach and Agile Blogger

President/Founder Agile Media Consulting LLC