How to Answer: What experience do you have working with lean or agile methodologies?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Program Manager job interview.
21. What experience do you have working with lean or agile methodologies?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
Many projects are managed using various agile methodologies that deliver value incrementally. Additionally, some companies have adopted lean practices to increase efficiency. It is common for companies to blend best practices from several methodologies into hybrid models that are customized to support the needs of specific teams and their stakeholders. Candidates are asked this question to determine their relative level of experience managing projects using a variety of methods.
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022
Remember To
Remember to provide a sense of scale for the efforts you were responsible for. Program managers typically have responsibility for several projects at a time, and interviewers value candidates that have experience coordinating complex initiatives in a scaled environment such as companies with an official project or program management office or those who have adopted SAFe (scaled agile framework).
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022
Answer Example
"I have worked with several agile methodologies including scrum and kanban. As a program manager, I regularly coordinate with the scrum masters and product owners of the agile teams I work with. I manage budgets, ensure resource availability, and report progress to our PMO.
I regularly facilitate scrum of scrum meetings with our scrum masters and product owners. In those meetings, we coordinate aspects of our projects that overlap, and we share best practices. We review each team's burndown charts and adjust strategies as necessary. These meetings help to ensure we were working in the right way, and that we are focused on the right work at the right time."
Written by Karrie Day on June 3rd, 2022