ScrumMaster Certification with scrum.org – Exam Preparation (2 days)

Background

The use of agile development methods such as Scrum continues to grow apace. This is based on extraordinary benefits in productivity, quality, predictability and flexibility being experienced across diverse companies and industries. Scrum has now entered the mainstream, with the majority of software development organisations worldwide using it in at least some projects. ScrumMasters are in big demand and a rigorous certification is increasingly important in accessing these new and exciting opportunities.
The creators of Scrum, Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber, have defined the key concepts and practices of Scrum and introduced a certification scheme for ScrumMasters. This ensures that this mainstream agile approach is understood by those wishing to lead or work with/in Scrum teams. This course provides a deep-dive into these topics, and includes classroom type training, interactive exercises and simulations, sample exam questions and in-depth discussions with experienced Scrum practitioners/trainers. Covering all material required in the ScrumMaster syllabus and much more, this course will give you the knowledge needed to pass the online exam and begin applying Scrum in your work environment.

Some comments from past attendees on this course:

• “I got 98%! Thanks for the great training” Dublin Feb 2014.
• “course was excellent, really informative, enjoyable and expertly delivered” – Cork, Nov 2013
• What was good about the course? “Everything. The whole lot!” Dublin, Jan 2014

Who Should Attend

This course is intended for prospective ScrumMasters, Project Managers, Team Leads and cross-functional team members such as Developers, Architects, Testers, DBAs, Business Analysts and project support personnel who will benefit from an understanding of Scrum.
For details on the Professional ScrumMaster Exams, see www.scrum.org

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course you will be able to:

• Define the key agile values and principles
• Understand the benefits of Scrum and Agile methods
• Explain the theory behind Scrum and why it works
• Describe the Scrum framework including
  • Roles: Product Owner, ScrumMaster, Developer
  • Events: Sprint Planning, Review, Retrospective, Scrum
  • Artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, Definition of Done
• Define and use user stories
• Perform estimation in an agile environment
• Avoid the common pitfalls with Agile/Scrum

 

Topics Covered

1. Introduction to Agile

• Agile values, principles and practices – managing complexity with empiricism
• Plan driven versus Agile – how Scrum is different from traditional project management
• The Agile Manifesto
• Exercise: The Name Game
• Business benefits of Agile
• Exercise: Value Flow Game
• Common Agile Practices

2. The Scrum Framework

• Roles – Characteristics & Demands of the Scrum Roles and self-organising teams
• Ceremonies – Purpose, Format, Facilitation
• Artifacts – How backlogs, information radiators and explicit policies such as Definition of Done help a team be effective

3. Requirements Management and Planning in Agile

• Themes, Epics, Features and User stories
• Exercise: Using User Stories to Manage Requirements
• Rightsizing Work – Delivering Product Increments
• Exercise: Breaking up Work and Defining Spikes
• Estimation with Story Points and Planning Poker
• Exercise: Using Planning Poker

5. Scrum Simulation

• Here we simulate a scrum project, taking on the roles, using the artifacts and experiencing the ceremonies defined in the Scrum Framework

6. Certification Exam Preparation

• Exam Tips and Techniques
• Recap of the Scrum Framework and the Scrum Guide
• Sample Exam Questions & Open Assessments