DSDM principles – the building blocks DSDM based upon principles Based upon 8 principles and an underlying agile philosophy, DSDM became a popular agile approach amongst software developers seeking an alternative to rapid application development (RAD) approaches in the years after 2000. RAD approaches did not scale well for people collaborating on a team however. DSDM thus became one of the first agile approaches to be used within the software development community. The 8 DSDM principles underpin the whole framework. Each principle must be adhered to by the project team, as ignoring any of the principles can increase the chance of project failure. The graphic below was created to help you learn about DSDM. If you like it, please show your appreciation by linking back to this page. Now, let’s find out more about the DSDM principles and how teams can ensure they stick to them. The 8 DSDM principles 1. Focus on the business need DSDM has a strong business-driven approach. A < < ims to improve communication by using frequent face-to-face meetings, visual communication (modelling), advance releases of prototypes and workshop sessions. Daily stand-ups DSDM teams can fulfil this principle with several methods. One way is to encourage team interaction through daily stand-up meetings. These informal meetings allow the team to meet and discuss issues or ideas together. Facilitated workshops are also an effective way for stakeholders to improve their understanding and discuss requirements. DSDM teams commonly use modelling and prototyping to further improve communication. These practical methods help replace the need for heavy, useless documentation.Modelling Modelling is a visual form of communication utilizing diagrams. This allows for complex systems, designs and products to be better understood. DSDM makes use of prototyping by creating prototypes of the product early in development, to allow stakeholders to ‘test-drive’ early versions of the solution. The idea is to build something fast, get feedback quickly, and to break it sooner, rather than later. The underlying DSDM philosophy is that if something isn’t going to work, it is better to find that out as soon as possible, and change course sooner, rather than later. Prototyping Prototyping means creating prototypes of the product early in development, to allow stakeholders to ‘test-drive’ early versions of the solution. 8. Demonstrate control It is vital to keep control of the project. DSDM proposes that it is only possible to do this by using a plan aligned to the project aims, with both being accessible to the entire team. DSDM teams, especially the < < < < < < Learn the fundamentals of the P3O project management office. Practitioner Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. WorkshopsIntroduction to Project Management 1-day workshop to learn the basics of project management. Project Management Essentials 2-day workshop to learn how to manage projects without getting certified. Writing Business Cases Half-day workshop to learn to write robust business cases.AI in Project Management Learn how to use AI tools in everyday project work. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) BCS AI Foundation Learn the fundamentals of artificial intellegence. AI Project Governance Framework (AIPGF)Foundation Learn the fundamentals of the governance framework. Practitioner Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. Workshops AI in Project Management Learn how to use AI tools in everyday project work.AGILE AgilePM ® – Agile Project Management Foundation Learn the key principles of Agile Project Management.Practitioner Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. PRINCE2 ® AgileFoundation Learn the fundamentals of the PRINCE2 Agile method. Practitioner Includes Foundation & Practitioner combined option. ScrumScrum Essentials Self-paced training course to learn the essentials of Scrum. Scrum Master Choose Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org Scrum Master training courses. Scrum Product Owner Choose Scrum Alliance or Scrum.org Product Owner training courses.AgileBA > is for students without an existing AgilePM Foundation qualification. Learn the core principles of the Agile Project Management framework and how to flex projects to deliver quickly to customer’s needs. ® >"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"227"},"location":{"@type":"VirtualLocation","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-practitioner"},"image":["https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/training-courses/res/logos/apmg-agilepm-accredited-training-organisation-logo.svg"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-practitioner","price":"","priceCurrency":"","availability":"http://schema.org/InStock","validFrom":"2026-05-27"},"performer":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Tuttle"},"organizer":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Knowledge Train","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-practitioner"}}Select your preferred training course topic.Beginner project management certifications – Agile Business Analysis Foundation AI QUALIFICATIONS & WORKSHOPSIntermediate project management certifications Learn the fundamentals of Agile Business Analysis. Select your preferred qualification or workshop. 15 Oct - 16 Oct Expert project management certifications AIPGF COURSES Agile principles AgilePM Practitioner course (Online)Select your preferred training course below:Conclusion IntroductionSimon Buehring £1,599BCS AI COURSESWhile any project management certification is good to have, some are more specialized than others. It pays to know which project manager certification can be applied to your work, and which are tailored to suit specific industries or work environments. A 19 Feb 2026 Select your preferred training course below:PRINCE2 Agile certification Enrol now for example, is aimed at those who already have a Understand how Agile principles revolutionize project delivery and quality. Read on to learn about their application in various industries. AIPGF COURSESPRINCE2 certification Select your preferred training course below: and what to adapt what they know to suit an Agile environment. Every certification has a different purpose, different prerequisites, and tests different criteria. So, what you really must ask is: “What project management certification is best for me?” AI WORKSHOPSWhat is the best project management certification for me? {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"AgilePM Practitioner course","startDate":"2026-10-15","endDate":"2026-10-16","description":"AgilePM Practitioner course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":"Select your preferred workshop below:A project manager certification can be put into one of three categories: beginner certification, intermediate certification and expert certification. p> A beginner certification is one that has no prerequisites (i.e. it requires no previous experience or knowledge). If you’re new to project management, or if you don’t have any other accreditation, you’ll want to start here. strong>AgilePM PractitionerKnowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Accredited Training Organization.An intermediate certification is a bit of a mixed bag. Some are just extensions of beginner certifications, while others are aimed at working professionals with at least a few months of project management experience. For this article, we’ll consider intermediate certifications as those that have some entry requirements but don’t require you to be an expert in project management. > is for students already holding an AgilePM Foundation qualification. You learn to flex projects to quickly deliver to customer’s needs. Expert certifications are still rare. There are only a handful, and those that do exist are less of a learning opportunity and more a badge of excellence rewarded to project managers who take a keen interest in project management theory.Lean principles >Knowledge Train is an AgilePM Accredited Training Organization.Choose from these project management certifications Simon Buehring strong>AgilePM Practitioner (with Foundation)Knowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Agile Accredited Training Organization.19 Feb 2026 > is for students without an existing AgilePM Foundation qualification. Learn the core principles of the Agile Project Management framework and how to flex projects to deliver quickly to customer’s needs. >"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"227"},"location":{"@type":"VirtualLocation","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course"},"image":["https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/training-courses/apmg-agilepm-accredited-training-organisation-logo.svg"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course","price":"","priceCurrency":"","availability":"http://schema.org/InStock","validFrom":"2026-05-27"},"performer":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Tuttle"},"organizer":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Knowledge Train","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course"}}Knowledge Train is a Better Business Cases Accredited Training Organization.Discover how Lean principles focus on customer satisfaction and drive organizational goals. Learn more about Lean and Lean Six Sigma here.Self-paced APM PFQ blended online Knowledge Train is a P3O Accredited Training Organization. £749 +vat 09 Nov - 11 Nov Knowledge Train is an AgilePM Accredited Training Organization. AgilePM Foundation course (Online) Knowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Agile Accredited Training Organization. Self-paced £1,359 Knowledge Train is an Agile BA Accredited Training Organization.PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner (with Foundation) self-paced online £1,599 BCS accredited training partner for Business Analysis.£1,399 +vat Enrol now Knowledge Train is an Agile BA Accredited Training Organization. Knowledge Train is a Change Management Accredited Training Organization.Self-paced AgilePM Practitioner (with Foundation) self-paced online Knowledge Train is an MSP Accredited Training Organization. {"@context":"http://schema.org","@type":"EducationEvent","name":"AgilePM Foundation course","startDate":"2026-11-09","endDate":"2026-11-11","description":"AgilePM Foundation course","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-foundation","eventStatus":"EventScheduled","eventAttendanceMode":"OnlineEventAttendanceMode","audience":{"@type":"Audience","name":" £1,299 +vatp>This Agile PM Foundation course is for students wanting to learn the core principles of the Agile Project Management framework based upon DSDM. DSDM is the only dedicated agile framework designed for both agile delivery and agile management. Knowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Accredited Training Organization.Beginner project management certifications> This category includes only those certifications that have no entry requirements and are suitable for new project managers or those who have some prior experience in project management and want to gain their first certification. p>Students can gain their Agile PM Foundation certification by either attending an AgilePM Foundation course or by taking an Agile PM Foundation online course. Knowledge Train is an AgilePM Accredited Training Organization.APM PFQ >"},"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":"4.8","reviewCount":"227"},"location":{"@type":"VirtualLocation","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-foundation"},"image":["https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/training-courses/res/logos/apmg-agilepm-accredited-training-organisation-logo.svg"],"offers":{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-foundation","price":"","priceCurrency":"","availability":"http://schema.org/InStock","validFrom":"2026-05-27"},"performer":{"@type":"Person","name":"Susan Tuttle"},"organizer":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Knowledge Train","url":"https://www.knowledgetrain.co.uk/agile/agile-project-management/agile-project-management-course/agile-pm-foundation"}} The Association for Project Management offers the excellent Knowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Agile Accredited Training Organization.Project Fundamentals Qualification . The APM PFQ certification is for newcomers to project management. Knowledge Train is a Better Business Cases Accredited Training Organization.Candidates gain the APM PFQ certificate by learning basic project management concepts and terminology which will help you make a positive contribution towards any project. 09 Nov - 13 Nov This certificate is becoming very popular in the UK because it comes from the Knowledge Train is an AgilePM Accredited Training Organization.APM AgilePM Practitioner (with Foundation) course (Online) , the Chartered Institute for Project Management. Knowledge Train is a PRINCE2 Agile Accredited Training Organization.To gain your APM PFQ certificate, the typical learning path is to take £1,784 APM PFQ training Knowledge Train is a Lean Six Sigma Accredited Training Organization. which takes 2 days, or 25 hours if studying online. £2,099 PRINCE2 Foundation BCS accredited training partner for Business Analysis.In the UK, a PRINCE2 certification is considered the industry standard in project management. The Enrol now PRINCE2 Foundation Knowledge Train is a Change Management Accredited Training Organization. certification tests your knowledge of the PRINCE2 principles, practices, processes, and terminology of the PRINCE2 methodologyKnowledge Train is an MSP Accredited Training Organization. . The certification is ideal for anyone who is new to project management making it a popular choice for employers and new project managers alike. AXELOS Peoplecert accredited training organisation for ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library). The PRINCE2 Foundation certificate is by far the most common project management certification in the UK. AXELOS Peoplecert accredited training organisation for ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library). Knowledge Train is an AIPGF Accredited Training Organization. Knowledge Train is an AIPGF Accredited Training Organization. BCS accredited training partner for Business Analysis. WHAT YOU WILL GET Our courses and workshops include: Certification exam(s) where applicable Accredited training course materials Expert, experienced trainers to support you Course manual where applicable. SELF-PACED ONLINE TRAINING COURSES Self-paced online training courses (e-learning) include: Certification exam(s) where applicable Accredited training course materials Support from expert, experienced trainers Latest educational technology.