On June 24, 2025, we had the opportunity to share our day-to-day project experience with the master's students of the Information Systems program at Pforzheim University.
The focus was on how agile project management is implemented in practice and which methods actually create added value.
Using concrete examples from our daily work at S-IT, we provided insights into the planning, prioritization, and implementation of software projects. We introduced key elements of agile methodologies, including User Stories, Story Points, and requirement prioritization techniques such as Weighted Shortest Job First (WSJF).
Another key topic was the practical application of Scrum. In addition to covering the fundamental roles and processes, we discussed the challenges that arise in real-world projects and how agile methods can help create transparency and support well-informed decision-making.
Effort estimation using Story Points was also part of the presentation. The underlying Fibonacci scale illustrates that effort is not determined by time alone. Factors such as complexity, risk, and experience play an equally important role when assessing tasks.
The students also gained insights into the tools we use in our daily project work, including Redmine and Jira, which serve as central platforms for planning, project management, and collaboration within development teams.
The discussion with the students that followed was particularly valuable. Their numerous questions and engaging conversations highlighted the strong interest in bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and their practical application in software projects.
We would like to thank Pforzheim University and the master's students of the Information Systems program for the invitation and the engaging discussions. The exchange between academia and industry is an important building block in preparing future professionals for the challenges and requirements of modern software development projects at an early stage.