Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) Certification Training

Embark on a journey of discovery as we delve into the Agile Manifesto’s 12 principles and 4 core values through our popular in-class activity known as “Draw and Demonstrate.” In this engaging exercise, you will form groups and artistically represent all 12 principles to enhance your understanding.

What You Will Gain

By the conclusion of this activity, you will have acquired the following knowledge and skills:

1. Comprehension of the 12 principles and 4 values delineated in the Agile Manifesto.
2. The ability to illustrate the advantages of “responding to change” within Agile, as opposed to “following a plan” in traditional project management.
3. Insight into how the Scrum values (courage, focus, commitment, respect, openness) intertwine with the Scrum artifacts, events, and roles.
4. Familiarity with and explanation of the three foundational pillars of Scrum: Transparency, Inspection, and Adaptation.
5. A clear understanding of the distinctions between a framework and a methodology, along with an appreciation of why Scrum is classified as a framework.
6. Knowledge of five effective ways to cultivate an Agile mindset.
7. Illustration of two key differences between Agile and Scrum, along with a rationale for why these terms are not interchangeable.

Key Topics Explored

• The Agile Manifesto
• 12 Agile Principles
• 4 Core Values of Agile
• Fundamentals of Scrum, including the 5 Scrum Values

Dive into the world of Scrum and its pivotal roles through engaging, role-based activities. In these interactive sessions, each group will partake in a simulation game known as “Candy Catch,” comprising three iterations. The Scrum Master and Product Owner (selected by group members) will collaborate to guide the team in achieving the highest target in the shortest time.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will attain the following insights and competencies:

1. The ability to conduct a retrospective and generate a list of three techniques to enhance team performance and reduce turnaround time.
2. A comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities associated with the Scrum Master and Product Owner positions.
3. Proficiency in outlining three distinctions between the roles of a Scrum Master and a Product Owner, alongside a grasp of why these roles should not overlap.
4. Insight into how a Product Owner serves as a bridge between the development team and the stakeholders.
5. A clear comprehension of why a Scrum Master is not an active participant but a facilitator in Scrum events and ceremonies.
6. Knowledge of three disadvantages of having a development team with fewer than three members or more than ten members.

Key Topics Explored

• Roles and Challenges of the Scrum Master
• Roles and Responsibilities of the Product Owner
• Roles and Responsibilities of the Development Team

Step into the world of Scrum ceremonies by participating in the Scrum Paper Plane game. This immersive experience will allow you to gain hands-on knowledge of how the five Scrum ceremonies function. Over the course of three sprints, each lasting 15 minutes, you will prepare user stories that encompass features, functionalities, and acceptance criteria.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the following aspects:

1. The ‘why’ and ‘how’ of sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, and retrospective.
2. Insights into why the scope and duration of a sprint remain fixed.
3. Strategies to prevent sprint backlog spillover, with a list of three effective approaches.
4. The ability to define sprint goals and an in-depth discussion of the five advantages of having a sprint goal.
5. A profound comprehension of how the Scrum Master and the Product Owner should collaborate with the team, accompanied by a list of five points to enhance such communication.
6. A detailed exploration of three detrimental impacts of sprint cancellation, along with preventive measures.
7. Identification of ten sprint anti-patterns (e.g., sprint cancellation, variable sprint length) and a comprehensive understanding of how these patterns affect project delivery and turnaround time.

Key Topics Explored

• Sprint Planning
• Daily Scrum
• Sprint Review
• Sprint Retrospective

Delve into the world of Scrum artifacts by immersing yourself in our simulation game, “Crime Teller,” which provides a hands-on experience of how Scrum functions in real projects. This engaging activity is divided into three sprints, during which participants will actively apply various Scrum artifacts, including product backlog refinement, to unravel a captivating “crime” story.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a profound understanding of the following aspects:

1. Identification and demonstration of five key attributes of a well-structured product backlog, such as estimations and prioritization.
2. Discussion of the responsibilities of the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and the Development Team in the creation and maintenance of a product backlog.
3. A clear comprehension of the purpose of a product backlog and the best practices for product backlog refinement.
4. Analysis and discussion of the optimal timing and capacity allocation for product backlog refinement.
5. Demonstration of three essential activities that occur during a sprint review, including considerations related to budget, timeline, and release scheduling.
6. Identification of five sprint review anti-patterns, such as delayed acceptance, and an exploration of their adverse effects.

Key Topics Explored

• Product Backlog
• Sprint Backlog
• Product Increment

Immerse yourself in the Scrum life cycle by participating in the engaging “Coin Game.” In this interactive module, participants will connect the various ceremonies to craft effective sprint goals. This session is dedicated to exploring the common challenges encountered during sprint execution, equipping team members with the skills to enhance their performance.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire in-depth insights into the following:

1. Differentiating between resolution meetings and daily standups.
2. Recognizing the advantages of productive collaborations with product owners.
3. Identifying three drawbacks of excessive collaboration with product owners.
4. Demonstrating three methods to overcome barriers and foster effective collaboration within the team.
5. Creating a sprint burndown chart to visualize progress and make informed decisions.
6. Exploring three strategies to boost team efficiency and productivity.

Key Topics Explored

• Sprint Execution Planning
• Flow Management
• Resolution Meetings
• Communication (Taskboard, Sprint Burndown Chart using story points, hours of effort)

Embark on a hands-on learning journey with the “Marshmallow Tower” game, where you will delve into the realms of daily scrum and sprint retrospective within the context of real Scrum projects. The challenge is to construct the tallest tower using minimal resources in the shortest time frame, with acceptance criteria provided by the instructor.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The significance of a 15-minute timebox for daily scrum meetings.
2. Distinctive features setting daily stand-ups apart from traditional meetings, with a list of three differences.
3. The roles undertaken by the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development Team during daily scrum, including two responsibilities for each.
4. A clear comprehension of the three pivotal questions that shape the daily scrum agenda.
5. Two roles and responsibilities of the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development Team during the sprint retrospective.

Key Topics Explored

• Activities in Daily Scrum
• Activities in Sprint Retrospective

Dive into the world of Definition of Done (DoD) and Acceptance Criteria through an engaging activity known as the ‘Crazy Juggler’ game. In this immersive experience, you will be tasked with passing a set number of balls to non-adjacent team members within a specific time frame and collecting them in a paper bag once they meet the ‘done’ criteria.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a deep understanding of the following:

1. The Definition of Done at three distinct levels: user story (e.g., writing code), sprint, and release (e.g., preparing release notes).
2. Identification of three advantages of the Definition of Done and an explanation of why it can evolve over time.
3. Proficiency in creating a checklist with a minimum of seven entries that embodies an ideal Definition of Done.
4. Awareness of three potential risks associated with an inadequately defined Definition of Done.
5. Recognition of five key characteristics that define good acceptance criteria.
6. Understanding of the stakeholders who should be involved in crafting the acceptance criteria.
7. Identification of three adverse consequences resulting from the failure to adhere to the acceptance criteria.

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Done for a Feature (User Story or Product Backlog Item)
• Definition of Done for a Sprint
• Definition of Done for a Release
• Comparison of Definition of Done and Acceptance Criteria
• The Concept of ‘Done’ vs. ‘Done-Done.

Get acquainted with the crucial notion of the ‘Definition of Ready’ by engaging in our Lego blocks game. During this interactive session, participants will work together to construct a city using Lego building blocks, and the checklist for the ‘Definition of Ready’ pertaining to the final deliverable will be provided by the instructor.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The ability to craft an all-encompassing checklist for the ‘Definition of Done.’
2. Recognition of three adverse consequences associated with an improperly defined ‘Definition of Done.’
3. Identification of at least three advantages of having a shared ‘Definition of Done’ when multiple teams are collaborating on the same product backlog.
4. Listing two effective approaches to enhance the ‘Definition of Done.’
5. A clear understanding of the distinctions between ‘done’ and ‘done-done.’

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Ready for User Story
• Definition of Ready for Sprint

Engage in the ‘Human Knots’ self-organization game by forming teams of 5-6 participants. The objective is for team members to untangle themselves, with the groups that achieve this first emerging as winners. The timeframe for this interactive activity will be determined by your instructor, and each team will designate a Scrum Master and Product Owner, chosen by group members.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will develop a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The capacity to define and comprehend the steps integral to release planning.
2. Identification of three benefits stemming from well-structured release planning.
3. Recognition of the three key outputs that result from the process of release planning.

Key Topics Explored

• The Definition of Release Planning
• Participants in Release Planning
• The Steps Involved in Release Planning
• The Outputs of Release Planning

Delve into the intricacies of the Sprint Burndown Chart concept through active participation in the ball point game. This engaging activity consists of five iterations, with the team receiving information about the expected number of points at the end of the release.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The capacity to define and grasp the essence of a sprint burndown chart.
2. Identification of three primary reasons for utilizing a burndown chart.
3. Proficiency in creating and calculating a burndown chart.
4. Understanding how to make adjustments to upcoming sprints based on the insights gained from the burndown chart.
5. The ability to outline three critical pieces of information that can be extracted from a burndown chart.
6. Listing five advantages and two disadvantages associated with the utilization of a burndown chart.
7. Recognition of five common errors that can lead to misleading information in burndown charts.

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Sprint Burndown Chart
• Why and When to Use a Sprint Burndown Chart
• Information Derived from a Sprint Burndown Chart

Immerse yourself in the intricate world of release burn-up charts through active participation in the ball point game. This interactive activity comprises five iterations, and upon completing each sprint, the team will mark the release burn-up chart to indicate the number of completed points.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will gain a profound understanding of the following:

1. The significance of establishing a release goal, grounded in historical data and consensus.
2. The ability to illustrate how release burn-up charts play a pivotal role in understanding the current project status.
3. Recognition of two key distinctions between burndown and burn-up charts.
4. An understanding of how to adapt release planning as needed, guided by insights from the burn-up chart.
5. Insight into the primary advantage of using a burn-up chart over a burndown chart.

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Release Burn-Up Chart
• Key Features of Release Burn-Up Charts
• Steps for Creating a Release Burn-Up Chart

Delve into the realm of product planning as we delve into the following key topics:

1. Understanding the essence of product planning.
2. Defining and grasping the concept of product vision.
3. Learning how to effectively create a product backlog.
4. Navigating the intricacies of a product roadmap.
5. Uncovering the significance of Minimum Releasable Features (or Minimum Marketable Features).
6. Gaining insights into the concept of Minimum Viable Products.

Engage in the interactive Lego Building Blocks game where participants will be tasked with crafting user stories for various activities. This game spans three iterations, during which attendees will compose user stories that encapsulate features, functionalities, and acceptance criteria.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The capacity to define and elucidate the concept of user stories, along with recognizing their significance in real-time projects.
2. Proficiency in explaining the ‘Three Cs’ concept related to user stories.
3. A discussion on the importance of acceptance criteria, accompanied by the listing of three scenarios that may arise when acceptance criteria are not met.

Key Topics Explored

• The Nature and Purpose of User Stories
• The Structure and Format of User Stories
• Adherence to INVEST Criteria

Dive into the world of Agile estimation as we introduce you to the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of Agile estimation through our interactive in-class Agile board game, ‘Scrumble.’ This engaging game provides a platform for you to analyze the typical challenges faced by Scrum team members when implementing various estimation techniques in an Agile context.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the following:

1. The capacity to list and demonstrate five advantages of Agile estimation.
2. Proficiency in understanding seven popular Agile estimation techniques and the ability to determine which one best suits your project.
3. A thorough discussion of the three benefits associated with Relative Estimation and Planning Poker.
4. The ability to list and explain three common mistakes made when employing Relative Estimation and the adverse impacts they can have.
5. A detailed examination of the five critical steps involved in Planning Poker.

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Agile Estimation
• Benefits of Agile Estimation
• Agile Estimation Techniques

Get a comprehensive understanding of the Planning Poker technique through our highly regarded poker card estimation game. In this engaging exercise, team members or estimators privately select a card, with each card bearing a value that represents story points. Once all cards are revealed, the values are discussed to arrive at a consensus.

What You Will Gain

Upon completing this activity, you will acquire an in-depth understanding of the following:

1. The ability to list five benefits of the planning poker estimation technique.
2. Proficiency in determining the most effective sequence for the values (story points) on cards in the context of your real-time projects.
3. A detailed examination of the five critical steps involved in Planning Poker.
4. Insight into the three key considerations when employing planning poker for distributed teams.

Key Topics Explored

• Definition of Planning Poker
• Benefits of Planning Poker
• Participants in Planning Poker
• How to Play Planning Poker
• Planning Poker Rules