Certified ScrumMaster Barks.

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Interested in becoming a Certified ScrumMaster? Come to my next workshop!

Welcome back to another week at www.implementingscrum.com.

This week I am focusing on the newly minted ScrumMaster.

This person has just completed a CSM Class and now has the audacious title of “Certified ScrumMaster.”

Gulp.

The pressure is on, or so it seems.

Or.

Is it?

One of the first things I remind people is the class is not set up to impart enough knowledge to be an effective ScrumMaster on day one.

Read that last sentence again.

You have learned enough to know the basic vocabulary and some of the many issues that you will be facing as you start working in this new role (including things like organizational change, what does “done” mean, and how to help people give and receive effective feedback).

You have been taught enough to cover the requirements of Ken Schwaber, which all Certified Scrum Trainers need to follow.

You know about the secret handshake (which I talk about but would never make them actually do — I listen to feedback then inspect and adapt… hmmm… how agile (smile)).

You can read more about the Certified ScrumMaster course here.

It is important not to fool yourself — or others — about what this certificate means. And, as much as people in other areas of “Agile” stuff complain about the certification and its name…. remember…. this has opened your eyes to possibly a very new world.

In fact, this is just the beginning of a very long journey.

For those willing to take it.

And guess what?

Most are not willing. They will take their certificate, hang it on their cube walls, update their resume, and post it on monster and other places. Some maybe will even go and make sure they get their credits with the PDU’s from the course.

But.

And I do mean BUT.

Do not kid yourself into thinking you can take on the world.

Reality will hit you sooner or later.

I have been doing work in “official” agile land (whatever that is…. for me it is when the light bulb went on for me that this DOES work) for almost 6 years out of an 18 year career in software development.

And.

I learn something new every day.

Seriously.

And.

That is the attitude I encourage a newly minted Certified ScrumMaster to take.

The rest of this posting is for those who “get it” — or are interested — or think they do.

The rest of you, go back to arguing the nuances of the agile practices or stay doing what you have done in the past.

You know… there are people that say, “This can never work in reality.” My response to them is, “In your reality.”

Heh.

OK… I just may actually think that.

This takes courage.

And there are a lot of people who will try to knock you down.

Learn from them.

And.

Learn from the community around you.

Get involved in the MANY yahoo groups out there. The Scrum Alliance (which does not endorse this site!) is also a good place to go. Heck, I have an unmoderated forum on this site which is pretty active. And a great search function on this site. For the bigger picture on all things agile, check out the Agile Alliance website.

Start learning about engineering practices. Remember… Scrum does not address them. This does not mean you can stick your head in the sand and forget about them. Look at my posting on this here.

Start learning about other agile practices.

There are many.

And.

Keep learning.

As people attack you for being called a, “Certified ScrumMaster” after only taking a two day course and paying your fee, remind them that this has helped elevate and promote all the other agile techniques out there (including XP, Agile Modeling, TDD, FDD, and other of the agile alphabet soup names). If the term “Certified ScrumMaster” bugs you or others….call yourself a Scrum Facilitator or Yellow Bearded Dragon or a Miniature Schnauzer (Luke and Leia)).

[tangent on]

Sorry… the last comment was from a recent posting from a list that said dogs could be certified. This was written by Scott Ambler (one of my mentors) who has recently been blasting the agile community about what he considers the absurdity of calling people a “Certified ScrumMaster” after only two days of sitting in a training class. Thus the thing at the end of the last paragraph to his two little doggies. Scott is a great guy by the way and I have learned much from him and others in the agile community!

[tangent off]

Still with me?

Still interested in Agile?

Still interested in Scrum and where it can take you?

Learn.

Stay positive.

And keep your sense of humor.

Gotta run!.Please send comments, questions, criticisms, ideas, or whatever here.

You can also enter The Scrum Community to discuss this entry and other Scrum topics. Thank you!

Originally Published:
August 28, 2007