Michael Grisinger 

Michael Grisinger has been engaged in Scrum work since July, 2011. Holding an advanced degree in English and bachelors’ degrees in Computer Science and English, Michael has specialized in being a generalist and frequently quotes Heinlein in saying, “Specialization is for insects.”

Michael’s Scrum experience includes work as a Product Owner with the Michigan Child Support program’s client-facing website. This website allows parents with child support experience to view their cases and see financial information as well as incipient and current action on their case. Because the information provided is frequently confidential and may contain personally identifiable information, this Scrum team adds additional testing rigors to ensure data integrity and protection to Michigan citizens.

Michael’s more recent Scrum experience involves Product Owner work for his present employer, Accenture. This team involves Michael as a US-based Product owner working with an overseas team. Although timing and communication obstacles are more challenging, the team successfully communicates at all hours to eliminate any obstacles to sprint progress.

Outside of formal Scrum practice, Michael recently used Lean principles to effect a major overhaul of a key process in Michigan’s child support program. Utilizing automation and in-time reporting, the new process eliminates rework and backlogs in manual work, replacing them with a streamlined system that improves program KPIs and allows offices to redirect staff to working with parents rather than with system issues.

Motto: "It is daily decrease, not daily increase; hack away the unessential." -- Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do