Scrum training courses

Product development framework

Scrum is a framework used for developing complex products. It was originally developed for software development but has since been applied to a variety of other fields. The Scrum framework is designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing teams to respond to changing requirements and circumstances throughout the development process.

Scrum roles

Scrum is based on the principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation. The framework involves the following roles: the Product Owner, who represents the stakeholders and is responsible for defining and prioritising the product backlog; the Development Team, which is responsible for delivering a potentially releasable increment of the product at the end of each sprint; and the Scrum Master, who facilitates the Scrum events and helps the team to adhere to the Scrum framework.

Iterations

The Scrum framework is organised into sprints, which are time-boxed iterations typically lasting two to four weeks. Each sprint starts with a planning meeting where the team selects items from the product backlog to work on and defines a sprint goal. The team then works on the selected items during the sprint, holding daily stand-up meetings to keep everyone informed of progress and identify any impediments that need to be addressed.

Reviews

At the end of the sprint, the team holds a sprint review meeting to demonstrate the work that has been completed and gather feedback from stakeholders. The team also holds a sprint retrospective meeting to reflect on the sprint and identify opportunities for improvement. The Scrum framework provides a structure for teams to work together effectively and deliver high-quality products in a collaborative and iterative way.

Business analyst role

In the past, the typical responsibilities of a business analyst on projects included examining an organisation’s business requirements and designing remedies for business issues.

Scrum training programs rely on the Scrum Guide, the official Scrum Body of Knowledge. The Scrum Guide was written by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, co-creators of Scrum.

Organisations

There are several benefits that an organisation can gain from using Scrum as its product development method.

1. Faster time-to-market

Scrum’s iterative approach enables teams to deliver working software in a shorter amount of time. By breaking down work into sprints and prioritising features based on stakeholder feedback, teams can quickly respond to changing requirements and deliver value to the customer faster.

2. Improved quality

Scrum’s focus on delivering a potentially releasable increment of the product at the end of each sprint ensures that quality is a top priority. By testing and validating each increment before moving on to the next, the team can catch defects early and ensure that the final product meets the desired quality standards.

3. Increased customer satisfaction

Scrum’s focus on delivering value to the customer means that the team is constantly seeking feedback and adapting to changing needs. This results in a product that better meets the needs of the customer and increases their overall satisfaction.

4. Better collaboration

Scrum encourages teamwork, communication, and collaboration among team members. By bringing together cross-functional teams and breaking down silos, Scrum enables team members to work together more effectively and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings and miscommunications.

5. Greater transparency

Scrum’s emphasis on transparency ensures that everyone has a clear understanding of what is happening with the project. By making the process visible to all stakeholders, Scrum helps to build trust and foster greater collaboration.

6. Continuous improvement

Scrum’s focus on reflection and adaptation means that teams are constantly looking for ways to improve their processes and performance. This results in a culture of continuous improvement, where the team is always seeking to find ways to work more efficiently and effectively.

Overall, Scrum provides organisations with a flexible and adaptable framework for developing complex products, enabling them to respond to changing requirements and deliver high-quality products in a collaborative and iterative way.

Individuals

There are several benefits to an individual of gaining Scrum certification, including:

1. Demonstrating expertise

Scrum certification demonstrates to employers and colleagues that an individual has the knowledge and skills required to effectively implement the Scrum framework. This can enhance their credibility and demonstrate their commitment to delivering high-quality products.

2. Career advancement

Scrum certification can help individuals to advance their careers by opening new opportunities for them. It can demonstrate to potential employers that an individual is committed to continuous learning and professional development, which can be attractive to hiring managers.

3. Improved earning potential

Scrum certification can lead to increased earning potential, as individuals with Scrum certification are often in high demand due to the growing popularity of agile methodologies.

4. Access to a global community

Scrum certification provides individuals with access to a global community of Scrum practitioners, where they can connect with other professionals, share best practices, and stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in the field.

5. Personal and professional growth

Scrum certification can help individuals to develop new skills and knowledge, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and improve their ability to work collaboratively with others. This can lead to personal and professional growth, as individuals become more effective in their roles and better equipped to take on new challenges.

Overall, Scrum certification provides individuals with a range of benefits, from enhanced expertise and career advancement to increased earning potential and access to a global community of practitioners. It can also help individuals to develop new skills, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and improve their ability to work collaboratively with others.

Yes, Scrum training is popular and has been growing in popularity in recent years. As more organisations adopt agile methodologies and the Scrum framework, there has been increasing demand for professionals trained in Scrum.

The Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org are two of the most widely recognised and respected organisations offering Scrum training, offering a range of courses for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and Developers. These organisations have reported significant growth in the number of certified professionals in recent years.

Additionally, many universities and professional development organisations now offer Scrum training programs, further increasing the accessibility and popularity of Scrum.

Overall, Scrum is a valuable training option for professionals who want to improve their expertise in the Scrum framework and agile methodologies, and it is becoming increasingly popular as more organisations recognise the benefits of adopting agile methodologies like Scrum.

There are several different Scrum training options that individuals can pursue to expand their knowledge and expertise in the Scrum framework. Scrum training is usually offered for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, or Developers.

Here are some of the most widely recognised and respected Scrum training options.

Scrum Master training

Certified Scrum Master® (CSM®)

This training from the Scrum Alliance is aimed at Scrum Masters who are responsible for facilitating Scrum teams and implementing the Scrum framework.

Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM)

This training from Scrum.org is aimed at Scrum Masters who want to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Scrum framework and their ability to apply it in real-world situations.

Scrum Product Owner training

Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®)

This training from the Scrum Alliance is aimed at Product Owners who are responsible for maximising the value of the product and ensuring that it meets the needs of the customer.

Professional Scrum Product Owner™ (PSPO)

This training from Scrum.org is aimed at Product Owners who want to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Scrum framework and their ability to apply it in real-world situations.

Scrum Developer training

Certified Scrum Developer® (CSD®)

This training from the Scrum Alliance is aimed at Developers who are responsible for developing software in the Scrum framework and ensuring that it meets the needs of the customer.

Professional Scrum Development™ (PSD)

This training from Scrum.org is aimed at Developers who want to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the Scrum framework and their ability to apply it in real-world situations.

Scrum Essentials™

Scrum Essentials™ training is aimed at individuals wanting an introduction to Scrum, or individuals working alongside Scrum or agile teams who need to learn the language of Scrum.

Other Scrum training

There are also other Scrum training courses that are less commonly pursued, such as the Certified Agile Leadership (CAL) certification and the Scaled Professional Scrum (SPS) certification.

To learn about Scrum you can enrol on an instructor-led Scrum course, or self-paced online Scrum course. Instructor-led Scrum training takes place either in a physical classroom or a classroom using advanced virtual learning technology.

A physical classroom course requires you to travel to the venue. In a virtual classroom course, you participate using a computer and headset (and optional video camera) over the internet.

Instructor-led courses

All instructor-led Scrum training courses are taught by experienced Scrum trainers. Take instructor-led Scrum training if you can commit to a fixed classroom schedule.

To check whether there is an instructor-led Scrum course near you, or a virtual instructor-led Scrum course, check the dates on the Scrum Master or Product Owner pages.

Self-paced online courses

If you cannot commit to a fixed classroom training schedule, you can also gain Scrum certification by enrolling in a self-paced online Scrum Essentials™ course.

Scrum is a framework for agile project management that was first introduced in the 1990s. Here’s a brief history of Scrum:

Early development

The Scrum framework was first developed by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the early 1990s. They drew inspiration from a variety of sources, including lean manufacturing, which emphasises the elimination of waste and continuous improvement.

Formalisation of the framework

In 1995, Schwaber and Sutherland presented the Scrum framework at the OOPSLA conference. They later collaborated to publish a paper titled “SCRUM Development Process,” which formalised the framework and provided guidelines for implementing it.

Agile Manifesto

In 2001, Schwaber and Sutherland were among the 17 authors of the Agile Manifesto, which outlined the principles of agile software development. They later formed the Scrum Alliance, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting Scrum and providing certification for Scrum practitioners.

Growing popularity

Over the next several years, Scrum gained popularity as more organisations recognised its benefits for software development and project management. Scrum was increasingly used in industries beyond software, including manufacturing, education, and healthcare.

Evolution of the framework

The Scrum framework has continued to evolve over the years, with new practices and tools being added to support its implementation. For example, the Scrum.org organisation was formed in 2009 to promote a more consistent and rigorous approach to Scrum certification, and the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) was developed to support the use of Scrum in larger organisations.

Today, Scrum is widely recognised as a leading framework for agile development, and it is used by organisations of all sizes and in a variety of industries. The Scrum framework is continually evolving, with new practices and tools being developed to support its implementation and to help teams work more efficiently and effectively.