Curious about whether you will be able to coach new scrum masters after doing the ACSM course? John McFadyen explains. Yes, you can. In fact, I am hoping that you would already be mentoring and coaching new scrum masters before attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master course. A scrum master is a natural coach and will be coaching the scrum tea…

Often, when we enter a new field or explore career opportunities in a specific industry, we look to certification paths to help guide us in the choices we make the training we invest in.Both the Scrum Alliance and Scrum.Org have great certification paths, from practitioner level (scrum master or product owner) through to more advanced professional …

There have been whispers from naysayers that #agile is dead. that #scrum doesn't work. That the fad is over.On the other side of the spectrum, people point out that it took us 25 years before we knew how to leverage electricity effectively. Same for the internet. Same for digitization.So, is #agile dead or is it only beginning to come into it's own…

If you've climbed the corporate ladder as a traditional manager, and then as a more senior leader in the organization, it can be hard to grasp #agile or #scrum because you have no frame of reference for those kinds of values, principles, and a lightweight #productdevelopment framework.You know tight management. You know steering the ship. You know …

It takes years, sometimes a lifetime, to build trust yet you could lose it in a moment of foolishness. All your hard work can come tumbling down with a single or series of mistakes, and it's incredibly hard to regain trust once that has been lost.So, what are the things that we do, consciously and unconciously, that are super destructive in team en…

#scrum is built on #empiricism, also known as empirical process control.The concept of transparency, inspection, and adaptation based on what data and evidence has been gathered throughout the sprint. In other words, we learn through doing and inform what we attempt next using the data and evidence gathered in the experiment.It is widely accepted a…

In 2001, a group of brilliant and experienced software engineers came together to create and articulate what is now known as the #agilemanifesto.4 #agile values and 12 #agile principles that empowered #productdevelopment teams to create products, features and services that truly delight customers whilst departing from the rigid, waterfall-style of …

You will often hear experienced #scrummasters and #agilecoaches talk about the need for #agile leaders to champion #agility rather than just 'buy-into' the concept of #agile.Why is it so important? What kind of impact can a great #agileleadership team have on the successful adoption and implementation of #agile?In this short video, John McFadyen wa…

What is #scrum? Scrum is a lightweight #agileframework that helps #productdevelopment teams solve complex problems and build complex solutions. It helps them navigate complexity and build solutions despite uncertainty. John McFadyen explains.

A #scrummaster is a critical accountability in #scrum, and someone who trains, coaches, and consults / mentors to help the #scrumteam thrive. John McFadyen explains.

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the #projectmanager will work with #project stakeholders, directors and senior managers to scope a project - from start to finish - and then create deadlines and cost constraints for the team to deliver.In an #agile environment, we are dealing with complexity - in essence, we don't know the answer upf…

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the business analyst plays a critical role in helping product stakeholders and customers communicate their problems, wants, and needs to the production team.In #scrum, the #productowner is generally responsible for initiating discussion and conversations with customers, in collaboration with #develope…

20th century traditional #management and #projectmanagement is a very defined, rigid and process-driven style of working. It also inherits the culture of command and control thinking, management, and dependencies.If you grew up in a command and control environment, you simply think very differently to someone in an #agile environment and it is very…

Traditional #projectmanagement thrives in a simple or complicated environment.For example, if you are transporting bricks from A to B, and you have done this a thousand times before, #projectmanagement is a great answer. You know how to do the work, you know the best way to do the work, you know who is best positioned to do the work, and you know h…

Why is scrum so popular in #productdevelopment environments? Why has this lightweight #agileframework proven to be the most widely adopted product development framework in the world? In this short video, John McFadyen explains why Scrum has proven itself to be one of the most reliable, effective product development frameworks in the world.About Joh…

#productdevelopment has a strong foundation in manufacturing, specifically #lean manufacturing, that has evolved from the days of #toyota and the subsequent iterations, improvements and evolutions that have contributed to the world of #agile.Whilst the #agilemanifesto was created by a team of brilliant and experienced software engineers, a lot of w…

Scrum has the widest application on Earth, with the #scrumframework being deployed in pretty much every industry, application, and country imaginable. That said, it's often personal experience with #scrum that makes the greatest difference to #agilepractitioners. In this short video, John McFadyen talks about the best application of #scrum he has p…

In a traditional #projectmanagement environment, diligence, compliance and obedience are valued. Your job is to do as you are told, within the time and cost constraints provided, and make sure that you deliver the work that has been allocated to you.Simple. Straightforward. Predictable.In an #agile environment, we are asking deeply experienced and …

#scrum consists of a small team between 6 and 10 people who are responsible for #productdevelopment that creates, captures and delivers value for customers.The #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping to create an environment where the team can excel and thrive. In many ways, it is a #leadership position, although it's tricky because they don'…

In traditional #projectmanagement environments, the #projectmanager will work with #project stakeholders, directors and senior managers to scope a project - from start to finish - and then create deadlines and cost constraints for the team to deliver.In an #agile environment, we are dealing with complexity - in essence, we don't know the answer upf…

As an #agilecoach and professional #scrummaster, it is natural to tap into the power of #scrum and use the same format as the #sprintretrospective to reflect on what has happened, what was anticipated, and what can be learned from the experience.Reflection, critical analysis, and problem-solving capability development are incredibly important in al…

In an #agile environment, a #scrummaster plays a critical role in helping to create an environment where individuals and teams can thrive. A foundation that promotes excellence and taps into the power of a culture that values continuous improvement.Such an environment promotes collaboration, creativity, and the creation of valuable products, featur…

As the #scrumguide will tell you, #scrum is relatively straightforward and simple to understand yet incredibly difficult to implement and sustain.Why? Because it involves people, that are complex and intelligent and creative, and it involves complex environments, which are uncertain and volatile and ambiguous.Tough gig.So, what does it take to succ…

The #agilemanifesto was created in 2001 by a team of brilliant software engineers with deep expertise in product development and software engineering.We often forget that #agile, as a movement, was inspired by great work in other areas that informed how we might shift from #projectmanagement into creating products and services that truly delight cu…

The #agile purists sometimes forget that the organizations that dominate markets and win customer hearts and minds have been around for decades.Whilst they are deeply committed to traditional #management and #projectmanagement practices, slowly, they are beginning to embrace the opportunities offered by #agile #productdevelopment.That transition ca…

When navigating the Scrum and Agile landscape, two roles stand out: the Scrum Master and the Product Owner. Each has a unique focus, impacting not just the product but the very dynamics of the team. 🚀👥 💡 The Product Owner wears the strategic hat – focusing on the ‘what,’ ‘why,’ ‘when,’ and ‘which’ of the product we’re building. A Product Owner is A…

#agile is an evolution in #productdevelopment that helped us move from strict, rigid frameworks like traditional #projectmanagement environments into a space where we could focus on delighting customers with products, features and services that they deeply value.One of the foundation principles of #agile is the need for continuous improvement throu…

In an #agile environment such as #scrum, the #scrummaster is often the unsung hero of the #scrumteam and is responsible for helping the team create an environment where others can excel.Because they aren't directly responsible for delivery of a product or service, it can sometimes be difficult to measure their impact in a #scrum team, and how their…

In the early days of #agile, the founding fathers of the #agilemanifesto were inspired by a number of #agileframeworks, processes, and methodologies.#scrum, for example, had been in practice since 1995 and was continuously proving itself in the toughest applications on earth, whilst the world of #lean manufacturing was making great strides in #prod…

As a #scrummaster and #agilecoach, you get to witness the very best of #agile in action and see how powerful teams can literally put a ding in the universe when they have a shared purpose, a custom-designed style of working, and observe #agile values and principles.How is that different to a strong #projectmanager leading a strong #projectmanagemen…

In 2001, a group of brilliant and deeply experienced software engineers came together to create the #agilemanifesto. A radical departure from rigid, process-driven rules into the realm of agility based on values and principles.Since then, many people have built on the great work of the original #agile manifesto and developed theories, hypotheses, a…

It is very actionable. The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course is designed to help you make the transition from apprentice Scrum Master to advanced Scrum Master by providing you with the insights, tools, techniques, and actionable practices required to practice successfully within a working environment. To become an Advanced Certified Scr…

Curious about how the ACSM course will impact your #scrum career journey? John McFadyen walks us through what you'll be able to do after attending the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course. In order to attend the course, you first need to be a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) with approximately a years' worth of experience working as a scrum ma…

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM) certification from the Scrum Alliance is fairly young compared to the Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master certifications. It was designed to be a bridge between the Certified Scrum Master course and the Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master course. After a year of expe…

What is John McFadyen's favourite #scrumcourse to teach? As a #CST or #certifiedscrumtrainer, John delivers a multitude of #scrumtraining with official certification from #scrumalliance. In this short video, John explains which of the courses are his favourite to teach.About John McFadyenIf you are interested in becoming an agile coach and value me…

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures.

Allow me to ask you an important question “Have you ever purchased a product solely because its documentation was immaculate, not caring about its functionality or value? I bet you’re struggling to recall such an instance. I cannot imagine a single example in my many years of leading Scrum and Agile teams. If you can think of such an occasion, I’d …

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what the #agilemanifesto means by the #agilevalue of Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.About John McFadyenIf you are inte…

Agile is built on values and principles, which can be tough to understand if you come from a traditional project management environment filled with rules and procedures. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what the #agilemanifesto means by the #agilevalue of Responding to change over following a plan.About John McFadyenIf you are interested…

The Advanced Certified Scrum Master or A-CSM course is an official certification for advanced scrum masters from Scrum Alliance. The course is intended to elevate your foundation scrum master skills to more advanced, professional scrum master levels.In this short video, John McFadyen talks about what you will learn on the A-CSM or Advanced Certifie…

Scrum Alliance was formed by the cocreators of Scrum, Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber, and later the Scrum.Org was founded by Ken Schwaber. Both are internationally recognized certification bodies and both do a great job at creating courses that prepare people for the world of #scrum.In this short video, John McFadyen addresses the question about …

The CSM or Certified Scrum Master course is an internationally recognized course for aspiring or novice scrum masters. It aims to prepare them for the #scrummaster accountability and teach them the basics necessary to succeed in the role. In this short video, John McFadyen explains what you will learn on the CSM course.About John McFadyenIf you are…

Curious about the impact an Advanced Certified Scrum Master (ACSM) course will have on your earning potential? John McFadyen takes some time out to explain how the course will benefit you. Very few companies will increase your salary based on your attendance of a course, regardless of how long that course takes. What companies do reward is increase…

It depends on your current skills, experience and mindset. If you find that you have mastered the basics of Scrum and are actively looking for more advanced knowledge, tools, and techniques to overcome the challenges you face within a working environment then you're going to find the course challenging but enjoyable. If you have little to no experi…

Part 8 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers common interview questions that we found on the web. So, you're about to be hired as an in-house #agilecoach or as an external consultant and you are asked why the organisation should consider #agile as their preferred method of #productdevelopment. What do you say? Why shoul…

Part 7 in our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers common interview questions for #agile #coaches that we found on the web. So, you're an #agilecoach and you are working with several teams across the organisation. Each stage of #productdevelopment may be different for each of the teams you serve, so how do you manage t…

Part 6 in our series of #agilecoach #interviewquestions. John McFadyen takes some time out to walk you through how he would answer these questions as an experienced #agile #coach. So, in this scenario, you are asked how you would help an individual who recently joined the team. As a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, it is your responsibility to create a…

Part 5 in our series of #agilecoach #interviewquestions where John McFadyen answers some of the most common questions asked of aspiring agile coaches in an #interview. Sometimes, as a #scrummaster or #agilecoach, you walk into an environment where everyone embraces #scrum and actively lives the #agile values and principles. If that's you, great, yo…

Part 4 of our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers some of the most common #interview questions asked of aspiring agile coaches. John is not a fan of the concept of #agiletransformation because it implies some kind of off-the-shelf #agile solution that companies simply adopt overnight. There are pre-packaged #agilefram…

Part 3 of our #agilecoach #interviewquestions series where John McFadyen answers #agile coach interview questions we found on the internet. This question drew a bit of scorn from John as #agilecoaches and #scrummasters are not responsible for managing changing requirements in the middle of #productdevelopment. That is on the #productowner and #deve…