Certified ScrumMaster®

Learning Tree

Learning Tree International is a leading global provider of highly effective hands-on training to managers and information technology professionals. Since 1974, over 65,000 organizations have relied on Learning Tree to enhance the professional skills of more than 2 million employees. Learning Tree develops, markets and delivers a broad, proprietary library of instructor-led courses focused on people and project management, leadership and business skills, Web development, operating systems, databases, networking, IT security and software development. Courses are presented at Learning Tree Education Centers, located globally, on site at client facilities, and are available via Learning Tree AnyWare™, our proprietary live, online instructor-led training delivery option that connects online participants to actual classrooms. For more information about Learning Tree products and services visit www.learningtree.com (US) and www.learningtree.co.uk (UK).

Hubert Smits

I'm bringing more than ten years of Scrum experience to the class, and I encourage attendees to share their experience - the good, the bad and the ugly. There is plenty of opportunity to discuss your situation: the actual project structure that you work in, or additional roles in your project. We will share and discuss background materials and articles, like the “Five Levels of Planning” paper, and the experience report “Complexity at Cisco”.

If you would like to taste a sample of my talking style, try this video about roles in Scrum.

The public Scrum classes are an excellent way to learn about Scrum, get ready for certification and to liaise with similar minded people. If you prefer more focus on the challenges in your company, or have a dozen or more people who are interested in certification then ask about the benefits of in-company classes.

“Hubert and this course were, in a word, fantastic. Even though we were barricaded in a conference room for two full days, the engaging lectures, discussions + activities made them fly by. I will continue to refer to the course booklet and Hubert’s additional resources, and recommend this course to my colleagues.”  Anna,  project manager.

“Hubert is just about as smooth a presenter as I have ever seen.” - Gwydion, account director.

“This was an excellent course – Hubert is a gifted instructor. He is able to teach the theory and provide practical implementation guidance.” -  Ann, program manager.

“Excellent trainer, vast knowledge of the subject. Works through feedback from the class, lot of fun exercises makes the class very interesting.” – Veni, project manager.

“Excellent session, got detailed information on all Scrum + Agile concepts. I would recommend this training for everyone who is switching to Agile from waterfall or RUP methodologies. Very clear, very descriptive and great examples and in-class tasks. You will definitely end up being certified SM at end of class.” – Viral, testing specialist.

“Excellent, extremely valuable training, great instructor. “ – George, VP system solutions.

Workshop Activities

Approximately 50 percent of class time is spent in immersive activities. Most of the exercises are team-based, reflecting the realities of Agile work on real products. You engage in a variety of workshops that include:

• Creating the product vision
• Developing and refining product backlogs
• Estimating and prioritizing user stories
• Contrasting iterative vs incremental delivery
• Realizing the power of team collaboration

Workshop topics are estimates; exact activities may vary according to the needs of each class.

Course Content

Introducing Agile Principles
• Defining Agile values and principles
• Contrasting Waterfall and Agile product development philosophies
• Confronting the challenges of adopting Agile
• Creating a cross-functional team
• Adapting traditional business process to Scrum
• Applying core Scrum Values
• Leveraging checks and balances

Scrum Ceremonies and Artifacts

• Creating the Product & Sprint Backlogs
• Defining the Definition of Done
• Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, Daily Scrum
• Facilitating successful Sprint Retrospectives

Refining and Iterating the Product Backlog

• Developing the Product Vision
• Continuously refining the Product Backlog
• Comparing iterative and incremental delivery
• Decomposing Epics into features and stories
• Releasing products with Minimal Marketable Features
• Planning a product delivery roadmap

Estimating and Prioritizing Product Backlog Items

• Creating realistic user Personas
• Visualizing scope through story maps
• Linking user personas to use cases
• Writing users stories with the Connextra format
• Evolving product requirements
• Applying INVEST and SMART frameworks to focus user stories
• Breaking user stories into tasks
• Defining acceptance criteria

User story estimating

• Sizing user stories
• Estimating effort and business value level through relative measurement
• Comparing and contrasting affinity and planning poker estimation techniques

Prioritizing the Product Backlog

• Ranking product priority at the release, product and project level
• Utilizing MoSCoW and other prioritization techniques
• Applying the Pareto principle to product planning

Scrum Master Responsibilities to the Team

• Establishing team working agreements
• Removing Impediments
• Becoming an Agile coach for your team
• Continuously improving the team
• Managing external dependencies
• Adopting best practices for software engineering
• Acting as an Agile champion in your organization

Course content is flexible; exact content will according to the needs of each class.  Please discuss with your instructor before the start of the class if there are specific topics you are interested in.

What background do I need?

A basic knowledge and some experience with Agile is preferred, but not required.  The basic rules of the Scrum Framework are reviewed in the opening of the course, and the Scrum Framework is explained in detail throughout the course.

Who will benefit from this course?

This course has the highest value for practicing Scrum Masters, but can also be useful to Product Owners, members of Scrum Development teams, managers, Human Resource (HR) specialists and anyone else who needs to appreciate the role and competencies required of a Scrum Master. Agile Coaches using approaches other than the Scrum Framework (e.g., XP, Lean) may also find the course valuable. Beyond that, the course is useful to those who may have obtained a Certified Scrum Developer (CSD) qualification from the Scrum Alliance, or other Agile certifications from scrum.org, IC Agile or Scaled Agile.