Courses

Lean Six Sigma is a methodology for solving problems and improving processes.  It includes strategies and tools for making key business processes more efficient and productive. This course will provide participants with an understanding of Lean Six Sigma methods and will provide participants with tools that can be immediately applied for process improvement projects.



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Certificate Programs

2 Required Courses and 1 Agile Elective Course - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 28/7

The use of Agile as an approach to managing projects has increased dramatically over the last several years. Project Management Institute's (PMI) research has shown that the use of Agile practices has tripled since 2008 and the demonstrated benefits associated with Agile Development can lead to a decrease in product defects, improved team productivity, and increased delivery of business value. PMI.org has recently changed their PMP certification test to include many of the Agile methodologies.

Today’s business environment is fast moving and constantly changing in order to keep up with competitors, new technology and customer demands. Agile is an iterative and incremental approach that can be applied to all aspects of the business. Requirements and solutions evolve through collaboration between self-organizing and cross-functional teams.

Through hands-on group exercises, participants will experience what it means to be agile while gaining an appreciation for key techniques. The program is designed to enable high knowledge retention and to keep attendees fully engaged throughout.

This program consists of two required courses and one additional Agile elective course. The required courses are (1) Introduction to Agile, Scrum, and Kanban (14 hours), and (2) Agile Product Discovery and Story Writing. For the Agile elective, you must take one (7- hour course) from a selection of three Agile practice courses. 

Choose one from the following Agile practice courses: Agile Human Resources (7 hours), Agile Coaching and Leadership (7 hours), or Agile Marketing (7 hours). These courses may be taken individually or as part of the certificate program.

If you are interested in becoming PMI Agile certified, please visit the PMI website for more information.

***Important***2 classes are required for the certificate: (1) Introduction to Agile and (2) Agile Product Discovery and Story Writing. Choose 1 additional Agile course from the other required classes listed below.

 
Inspire a culture of transparence, inspection, creativity, and adaptation. We are currently offering the three Certified Agile Leadership courses, Essentials, Organizations, and Teams. Each of these standalone live-online trainings focus on specific aspects of agile leadership and completion of each earns participants a certificate though Scrum AllianceŽ

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 12/0

 

Contact Hrs/CEUs: 12/1.2 

During this three-day course, attendees gain the knowledge necessary to lead a Lean-Agile enterprise by leveraging the Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®) and its underlying principles derived from Lean, systems thinking, Agile development, product development flow, and DevOps.

Participants in the class gain insight into mastering Business Agility in order to thrive in the competitive market. They discuss how to establish team and technical agility and organize and reorganize around the flow of value. They also learn and practice the skills for supporting and executing Program Increment Planning events and coordinating multiple Agile Release Trains (ARTs). Participants in the class explore the importance of adopting a customer-centric mindset and design thinking approach to agile product delivery. Learners also develop an understanding for implementing a Lean Portfolio Management function in their enterprise.

*Attending the class prepares individuals to take the exam and become a certified SAFe® Agilist (SA).*

Our Mission: To provide a meaningful online results-focused learning experience that will position you for growth opportunities.

Online classes will be interactive and include a mix of pre-work assignments and live-online class discussions. You may participate in active dialogue, reflection, explore real-life scenarios, or group activities to demonstrate your understanding and share meaning. Come prepared to engage and explore new ways of learning and relationship-building.     

 

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 16/0

The Certified Scrum Product Owner ® (CSPO®) course introduces the concepts of agile product management using the Scrum methodology. Product owners have a unique and demanding role on agile teams. A product owner decides what the team will create next in order to deliver more value to the customer.

You will receive:

  • 2-Year membership with ScrumAlliance®

  • Post-class tips, tools and videos

  • Certification from ScrumAlliance®

  • Certificate of Completion, USM

  • 16 PDUs from PMI (Project Management Institute). This class also satisfies 16 of the 21 training hours for the PMI/ACP certification

THERE ARE NO PREREQUISITES - ANYONE CAN ATTEND

 

Taught by course instructor Miljan Bajic, a Certified Agile Coach (CEC), and Scrum Trainer (CST).

 

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 16/0

This ScrumAlliance ® course is a highly interactive, virtual, live online version of the ScrumMaster ® course which blends exercises, games and stories to help you learn about the Scrum Framework, how to apply Scrum to your team, and how to help your organization leverage Scrum while avoiding common challenges and pitfalls. Learn different techniques that you can add to your toolkit to really help make a difference with your team.

As a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®), you'll have the training you need to help your Scrum Team perform at their highest level. Through the certification process, you'll learn the Scrum framework and gain an understanding of team roles, events, and artifacts. As the expert of Scrum values, principles, and practices, the ScrumMaster protects the team from both internal and external distractions.

You will receive:

  • Qualification for ScrumMaster® Certification Exam (passing the exam is a required follow-on step for certification)

  • All exam and certification fees included

  • Two year membership for the Scrum Alliance

  • 1 on 1 Tutoring until you pass your test

  • Post-class tips, tools and videos

  • 14 PDUs from PMI (Project Management Institute). This class also satisfies 14 of the 21 training hours for the PMI/ACP certification

THERE ARE NO PREREQUISITES - ANYONE CAN ATTEND

 

Taught by course instructor Miljan Bajic, a Certified Agile Coach (CEC), and Scrum Trainer (CST).

 

4 Required Courses and 1 Elective Course - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 49/6

Most of us spend nearly all of our working hours communicating with others. Whether we are instructing a staff member on how to complete a project, brainstorming ideas with colleagues, giving a formal sales presentation, writing an e-mail or business letter, or meeting customers' needs, effective communication skills are essential to our professional success and satisfaction.

This certificate program allows individuals to develop the confidence and clarity in communication to complement their professional skills and support their career growth.

Through presentation, discussions, and exercises, you will explore the theory and practice of effective workplace communication.

***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete four required courses (see list at bottom of page) and one elective course. To satisfy your certificate elective, choose from the following classes. You may also select any other instructor-led class or test prep to satisfy your elective requirement.

       Leading Through Influence                                                            Business Writing: Refresh the Basic Rules

      Constructive Conflict Resolution                                                    Flexible Leadership

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 30/0

The Certificate Program in Grant Writing provides an intensive opportunity to acquire the knowledge and practice the skills necessary to succeed in today's competitive grant writing environment.

A winning grant proposal can help your program survive or grow. It can be the frosting on the cake that helps elevate your program to the next level. In order to attract the interest of funders, organizations must demonstrate substantive programming, good supporting data and financial viability, and they must package this complex information in a clear and convincing style. Research to find a likely funding source and a proposal that will meet unique guidelines and rise above the competition are also crucial to success.

Please bring a computer to the class as well as a project to work on. If you don’t have a current project, the instructor will provide practice materials.

Successfully completing all criteria in the Grant Writing Certificate will earn the University of Maine System Micro-Credential Grant Writing pathway badges (Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3).

***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete one required course (see list at bottom of page) and zero elective courses.

6 Required Courses and 1 Elective Course - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 79/6

Whether you desire a career in Human Resources, require continuing education credits to remain certified, or just want to stay current in this ever-changing field, earning a certificate can help you achieve your goal. Taught by highly experienced human resource professionals, this certificate program offers a comprehensive view of professional development in the practical application of total rewards, performance management, training and development, employment law, recruitment, fringe benefits, and labor relations. This program is designed for entry to mid-level managers of human resource departments, recruiters and staff specialists, small business owners, and individuals looking to enhance their skills in human resource management.

***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete six required courses (see list at bottom of page) and one elective course. To satisfy your certificate elective, choose from the following classes. You may also select any other instructor-led class or test prep to satisfy your elective requirement.

       Leading Through Influence                                                            Business Writing: Refresh the Basic Rules

      Constructive Conflict Resolution                                                    Flexible Leadership

***Please Note***Some required course names in the Human Resource Management certificate program have changed, please see below. If you have already completed the courses under the former name, you have completed the requirement and do not need to re-take the course.

Compensation Concepts has changed to Total Rewards: Compensation and Benefit Strategy

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 46/0

Expand your Lean Six Sigma skills to support deployment of lean processes, provide leadership for complex projects, and increase your statistical toolkit.

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Support Lean Six Sigma (LSS) Deployment in an Organization - Use methods for aligning Lean Six Sigma initiative to business strategy, draft LSS project charters and apply the LSS project selection & prioritization process

• Plan and execute DMAIC projects and Kaizen events - Project management, team member selection, kick off preparation & launch of a successful project

• Effectively manage team dynamics and understand how to work with multiple levels of leadership to remove barriers and achieve project success

• Provide leadership for complex, high-visibility projects across multiple organizational functions and departments

• Apply Six Sigma methodology and tools, such as data collection strategies (sample sizes), graphical analysis, Voice of the Customer (VOC), process mapping, measurement system analysis (MSA), process capability analysis, sources of variation, failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA), solution creation and selection, and statistical process control (SPC)

• Apply statistical analyses to determine the relationship between key inputs and process outputs and compare data sets (Hypothesis testing, t-test, Simple Regression, Multiple Regression, ANOVA)

• Use state of the art statistical software (Minitab 17) to manage and analyze data and present it in a form that supports driving decisions and actions for improvement

• Develop Control Plans and SOPs that support sustainable continuous improvement

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt is a prerequisite of Lean Six Sigma Black Belt



***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete one required course (see list at bottom of page) and zero elective courses.

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 35/0

You will learn many of the Lean Six Sigma techniques, problem-solving methods, and statistical tools including:

• DMAIC methodology to scope and define improvements

• Project charter and tracking

• Process mapping, process monitoring, and control

• Problem analysis tools and graphical data analysis

• Solution generation techniques

• Cost/benefit analysis; Risk planning and testing

• How to apply Lean concepts (designed to accelerate the speed of processes and reduce waste) such as 5S, waste reduction, Value Stream Mapping, and mistake proofing

• How to effectively manage team dynamics when working on projects and process improvements

Green Belt certification will give you all the skills needed to be an effective project leader. Green Belt certification also fulfills part of the requirements for Black Belt certification.



***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete one required course (see list at bottom of page) and zero elective courses.

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 16/1.6

Lean Six Sigma is a methodology for solving problems and improving processes. It includes strategies and tools for making key business processes more efficient and productive. This course will provide participants with an understanding of Lean Six Sigma methods and will provide participants with tools that can be immediately applied for process improvement projects.



***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete one required course (see list at bottom of page) and zero elective courses.

1 Required Course and 0 Elective Courses - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 40/0

Mediation introduces you to alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and the process and skills of mediation. It provides 40 hours of training, which is a state and national standard for entry-level mediators. The course is designed for individuals who are interested in mediating or applying the process of mediation to their profession or in their workplace.

Course work addresses:

• Definition, roles, and skills of the mediator

• Stages of the mediation process

• Conflict diagnoses and interventions

• Diversity and bias awareness

• Professional standards and ethics

• Effective communication interventions

• Power imbalance identification and management skills

Upon program completion, participants are eligible to receive CEUs/4.0 - CLEs/16 - General Credits/13 - Ethics Credits/2 - Harassment/Discrimination Credits/1



***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete one required course (see list at bottom of page) and zero elective courses.

 

3 Required Courses and 1 Elective Course - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 56/6

 
Organizations value effective project managers. Gain a complete comprehensive skill set necessary for mastering the life cycle of a project. The process starts with examining the situation and organizing the team; moves through identifying tasks and estimating resources; and concludes with setting schedules, managing risk, and completing a plan.

***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete three required courses (see list at bottom of page) and one elective course. To satisfy your certificate elective, choose from the following classes. You may also select any other instructor-led class or test prep to satisfy your elective requirement.

       Leading Through Influence                                                         Business Writing: Refresh the Basic Rules

      Constructive Conflict Resolution                                                 Flexible Leadership in Every Situation


Agile


The Project Management Institute of Maine supports continued networking and growth for Project Managers and others.

Digital Badges

Digital badges are now available through the University of Maine for this Project Management pathway. Anyone completing one or all of the required Project Management courses are eligible for a badge. See the badge associated with each level below and click on each for more information.

Introduction to the Practice of Project ManagementEffective Project ManagementImplementing Project Management
   
 Certificate in Project Management 

 

Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 36/0

Typically, it is not the content of the work or tasks that causes problems with supervisors and managers. It is the people interactions; it is shifting one’s focus from doing the work to getting the work done through others.

Throughout the seven classes we will build on your mastery as you practice supervisory competencies that lead to effective supervision.

Going from Peer to Boss we will explore the various roles, characteristics and expectations of supervisors through discussions, real life case scenarios, and self-assessments.

Building Engagement Successful work is about creating results together. In this session we will explore how building trust, having coaching conversations, working through conflict, contribute to building an engaged staff.

The Art of Feedback Giving and receiving feedback is a core skill of supervision. Whether you are managing an individual or team’s performance, understanding how to formulate feedback and understanding how feedback is commonly received is critical.

Delegation Knowing when, what, who, and how to delegate is critical to the success of any supervisor. In this session we will explore why a supervisor may or may not delegate; what and what not to delegate, a strong delegation process, and how to follow-up.

Performance Management we will explore the accountability pathway, causes and interventions for suboptimal performance, building a pathway for appropriate and effective corrective action and dealing with difficult employees and their forms of resistance.

Coaching to Transform Performance in this session we will learn the use of powerful questions to move staff to a self-directed, solutions-oriented process and the model for having effective coaching conversations.

5 Required Courses and 1 Elective Course - Required Hrs/Elective Hrs: 30/6

This certificate program provides supervisors and managers with practical skills for the day-to-day responsibilities of managing staff. Topics include techniques for communicating expectations to employees, giving performance feedback, and getting your own job done while leading others. This program is designed for entry- to mid-level supervisors and managers, small business owners, technical staff, and individuals interested in leadership roles. We recommend that students start the supervision program with Stepping Up to Supervisor followed by Using Feedback Effectively.

***Please Note to Complete Certificate Program***You must complete five required courses (see list at bottom of page) and one elective course. To satisfy your certificate elective, choose from the following classes. You may also select any other instructor-led class or test prep to satisfy your elective requirement.

       Leading Through Influence                                                            Business Writing: Refresh the Basic Rules

      Constructive Conflict Resolution                                                    Flexible Leadership

***Please Note***Some required course names in the Supervision: Individual certificate program have changed, please see below. If you have already completed the courses under the former name, you have completed the requirement and do not need to re-take the course.

Dealing with Poor Performance has changed to Managing Performance Accountability