A few weeks ago I attended a ScrumMaster training/certification course here in Edmonton, administered by Berteig Consulting. We’ve been using Scrum at Questionmark for a couple years now, and are continually trying to improve. I did a podcast interview with Michael McClenaghan back in March talking about some of the challenges we’ve faced along the way.
We recently decided that we should ensure knowledge about Scrum was consistent across the company, hence the training. Last week I received word that I am now an officially certified ScrumMaster!
Some of the key points about Agile & Scrum that were repeated throughout the training:
- Agile is: learning
- Agile is NOT: a defined method for delivery, nor a buffet of best practices
- Scrum is a process that encourages learning!
In a way it’s kind of bizarre that you can be certified in Scrum, because I think you only get a handle on it after some experience – a three day training course probably isn’t enough, though it is a good way to get started.
In that regard, Scrum is kind of like social media – you can’t really be an expert in it because you’re continually learning, and the amount of experience you have is what really matters. Here’s another similarity:
Individuals and interactions are valued over processes and tools.
Social media is all about people and their relationships too!
Who knew Scrum and social media would have so much in common 🙂
MasterMaq's Blog 
Congratulations Mack! You’re right that it seems kind of bizarre that you can be certified in Scrum before you have any experience. Luckily, I think you’re in a good situation – you’ve already worked with it so you’ve got some objectivity to apply to the training.
As you pointed out, Agile is definitely about continuous learning; “inspect and adapt” is the mantra to follow. That’s what I like the most about Agile processes like Scrum – they encourages you to evolve and adapt your process into something that fits your local situation. Of course, the guidelines of Scrum are there because they should fit most situations but they’re certainly not set in stone.
Good luck on your journey with Scrum (and Agile). Let me know if you run into any roadblocks.
Thanks Michael!
I’ve just been exposed to Scrum and I am super attracted to what I’m seeing – I’m really jealous of your certification! Are you aware of any upcoming opportunities in the Edmonton area to get training?
I don’t know of any at the moment Jeff, but keep an eye on the Berteig site for upcoming dates! http://www.berteigconsulting.com/