Scrum Training today is available in many different flavors and formats around the world.
People are always debating the values of “certification” and this will be an endless discussion. While everyone is having these discussions (yawn to me), I continue to travel the world training people on Scrum. And other agile techniques. I also *use* this stuff daily to run my company (more on this in another posting) and coach individuals to help us both keep improving our skills.
Welcome back to the ImplementingScrum site. If this is your first time here, take a peek around. There is a TON of information here. This site has been around for almost five years now, and while some of the ways I implement techniques today are different (they keep improving) the comic strips here usually start some good conversations.
So I selected one of the most popular and un-politically-correct comic strips from a posting I published a LONG time ago (take a look at it here — cute, and wow that was so long ago in this internet age we live in today). I have mostly been using things like Twitter and FaceBook (and others) to get information out — but also realize this channel of communicating with people (via the blog) is important… so it is [again] restarting with more postings of my [possible rants] in the future!
And. I titled this blog posting pretty provocatively.
I know the combination of un-politically-correct and provocative will help open conversations. Who knows what kind of conversations, but hey that is up to you!
THAT is the important thing with this blog. People either love it or hate it, but talk about it.
So… Let’s bring that to the topic of “Certified Scrum Training – Debunking the Bullshit.”
This should be fun, huh? I figure if you are still with me than you are wondering why this is important.
I am a Certified Scrum Trainer and that is a trademarked name from the Scrum Alliance, the body that certifies people who have taken my class as Certified ScrumMasters.
It does not certify competency. It cannot. OK… Like it or leave it, that’s an established fact (that people will debate!).
It does certify people who have taken the workshop have paid their money, the Certified Scrum Trainer has paid the Scrum Alliance a $50.00 fee so that they can take the assessment and become members (all Certified Scrum Trainers must do that). And you can do a lot more with the Scrum Alliance — and should. Here is some good background information from the Scrum Alliance FAQ that tells you how to move forward with them after you are a Certified ScrumMaster.
There are still a limited number of Certified Scrum Trainers in the world. The market is showing that there is still a pretty strong demand for this type of Certification. Why is there a demand? People want it (possibly not the people taking the workshop — could be their bosses or organizations are forcing them to attend or organizations want to send one person expecting that the newly Certified ScrumMaster can train the rest of the organization). All of those statements are up for debate, and will always be debated.
Fine.
Move on with the debate.
So if it is so controversial, why do I do it?
I LOVE teaching this workshop. I have fun. I learn. Every time. Every place.
Here is a current description of what it is like to take the workshop with me… www.michaelvizdos.com/experiential-csm.
It has evolved (and will continue after each workshop, as no one is ever the same).
People who have taken the Certified ScrumMaster Training Workshop with me are usually satisfied. I know I cannot solve problems for all of the attendees — that is not the purpose.
The purpose of the Certified ScrumMaster Training Workshop that people attend with me today (and remember it continues to evolve) is to learn about Scrum in an experiential way. They should be able to answer questions about Scrum on their own by the end of the two days — using the framework and experiences from attending.
People who attend my Certified ScrumMaster Training Workshop receive a lot of value — because it is an environment where people can learn (from me and mostly the other attendees). My training is different than any other Certified Scrum Trainer. It should be (other organizations disagree and that is OK).
I also tell every attendee that this will not make them experts at being a ScrumMaster, Product Owner, or Team Member.
In fact, I now understand that each individual will walk out at the end of the two days latching onto only one or two things that we discussed AND that fits into their current world paradigm (it used to bug me, now it does not).
Wow.
Two days… and only one or two key things (that was said and they heard what they wanted to hear).
Is this cutting through the bullshit of debates and bla bla bla out there about Scrum Certification?
I am sure there is SO much more that can (and will be) said on this topic. Like I said up front, this is a provocative and controversial topic.
And the purpose of this blog over the years has evolved into learning about how to have tough conversations about Software Development.
Yes… Scrum can be used outside of Software Development (another topic for later again!!) but here’s the thing…
Talk about this stuff all you want.
Get out there and practice it.
Thank you!
Looking forward to hearing comments, suggestions, and ideas on here, in FaceBook, GooglePlus, or however else you want.
Talk.
But do.
Go….
Holy cow….
Just confirmed that I will be teaching a course in Zurich (Switzerland for the geo-challenged) on April 16-17, 2009.
It will be an affordable European CSM class in a very unique setting with limited access.
Let me know if you are interested…
I may not even publicly say where it is located (it is THAT cool!). It’s not on my site yet but contact me for more info.
More later…
Just thought I’d share that with you as some late-breaking news for my European friends (or others who want to hit an uuuuuuber-cool place for a CSM class!).
- mike
Thanks for reading the latest blog entry at www.implementingscrum.com.
One of the things I hear a lot about (both inside and outside of our little industry in the world) is the differences between coaches, consultants, and mentors.
Which brought me back to a discussion I had a few years ago with John Snuggs (shout out!) who used to poke me about wearing my “Captain Obvious” hat.
Which then lead to the super-hero-wearing-ScrumMaster in the comic strip above.
And.
Then the elephant.
Huh?
What does that elephant represent?
In America, we talk about this thing called, “An elephant in the room” which is something reallllllllllly uncomfortable that everyone knows is there but is afraid to bring it up. Make sense?
Sooo… besides being the elephant in the room… what does Captain Obvious need to teach us about Scrum “Coaches” versus “Consultants” versus “Mentors”?
This could be one of those epic postings with me talking about the ins-and-outs of the three words and how they not only sound different — but in the real world ARE different.
So.
Question to you… and I will talk and post more about this… in the comments section write more about the good, the bad, and the ugly about the differences you see in either the people you hire, work with, or ARE.
Elephant recognized.
Let’s hear more about what this means to you. And your teams. And your organizations.
And of course… this is leading somewhere. It always does.
And it usually surprises even me (heh).
Time for Captain Obvious. Pointing out the elephant in the room.
- mike vizdos
www.michaelvizdos.com
www.implementingscrum.com
Hi,
Lyssa Adkins and I are co-facilitating a Certified ScrumMaster class in Richmond this coming Monday and Tuesday (January 26-27, 2009).
If you are interested in seeing us in action, and learning a LOT (us included!) please visit www.michaelvizdos.com/enroll to sign up.
Thank you.
- mike vizdos
…. umm. Gotta think of the right word.
How about this.
I am working with some other Scrum Trainers right now in preparing something that is so mind-blowing in our community that well, the repricussions may be felt around our little universe.
Really.
It is THAT big.
Our Sprint One on the project we are working on will be completed and ready to roll into Production — immediately following our first iteration — will be unveiled on January 5, 2009.
This is an opportunity of a lifetime.
Just as the journey to get us all here today has been fun — you WILL receive new tools and knowledge that has yet to be released into the wild.
Woot.
There will be a sign-up page for this coming soon.
So this list can continue concentrating on announcements and cartoons, while this new list will allow you to gain greater power, have better sex, and start changing the world.
OK.
So maybe not have better sex… but I always wanted to say that in a blog posting (smile).
More soon.
YOU ROCK!
Thank you,
- mike vizdos
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