Scrum and Agile Training

This week the Q&A series is all about Scrum!  The Scrum Alliance is answering the questions for us this week, so let’s get started.

What exactly is Scrum?

Scrum is an agile framework for completing complex projects. Scrum originally was formalized for software development projects, but works well for any complex, innovative scope of work. The possibilities are endless. The Scrum framework is deceptively simple.

·         A product owner creates a prioritized wish list called a product backlog.

·         During sprint planning, the team pulls a small chunk from the top of that wishlist, a sprint backlog, and decides how to implement those pieces.

·         The team has a certain amount of time, a sprint, to complete its work - usually two to four weeks - but meets each day to assess its progress (daily scrum).

·         Along the way, the ScrumMaster keeps the team focused on its goal.

·         At the end of the sprint, the work should be potentially shippable, as in ready to hand to a customer, put on a store shelf, or show to a stakeholder.

·         The sprint ends with a sprint review and retrospective.

·         As the next sprint begins, the team chooses another chunk of the product backlog and begins working again.

The cycle repeats until enough items in the product backlog have been completed, the budget is depleted, or a deadline arrives. Which of these milestones marks the end of the work is entirely specific to the project. No matter which impetus stops work, Scrum ensures that the most valuable work has been completed when the project ends.

Who uses Scrum?

Rethink what Scrum could mean for your complex project. Whether you're building the next iPad app, shipping dog food across the country, or running a charity event, Scrum can help. Scrum offers benefits for any kind of team, including improved teamwork, better communication, and faster results.  The answer to this question is really that anybody can.

Do I receive PDU credits for a CSM course?

Yes. Please follow PMI's procedure for Category B: Continuing Education. According to the PMP handbook: 'Contact hours of project and/or program management education may be earned by attending relevant educational courses offered by organizations not registered with PMI. The good news is that we’re a registered PMI member, so taking the CSM course through us will allow you to obtain the proper continuing education requirements.

How can I get started?

The best way to get started is to join our Certified Scrum Master course on 9/24-9/25.  Join CSM Tom Mellor and Brian Levy for an exciting two days of training.

Speaking of Brian Levy, he was here this week with another Agile Practices for Managers class, and again it was a huge success!  Check out the pictures from the class below.

Brian Levy instructs the class on Agile Practices for Managers

In-class discussion

Next week the Q&A series will return with a deep dive into Cisco Authorized Training.

-Matt