Job Analysis for the CSM and CSPO

What exactly is a Job Analysis and what is the end product?
 
A job analysis provides empirical evidence of a role or job function. The Job Analysis Design Team (more on this Team later) worked closely with Scrum Alliance staff and test development experts from Prometric to create the list of knowledge areas and tasks important to the performance of the Scrum Master and Product Owner roles.
 
The outcome of the meeting was a thorough document which consisted of domains, or exam content areas, based off the knowledge and skills that a CSM or CSPO would be required to know as a certificant. The results of the Job Analysis meeting were compiled and will be distributed to CSMs and CSPOs in the Scrum Alliance community who have active certifications via a survey so that each certificant can rate the importance of each knowledge statement. All aspects of the test development process will be conducted in accordance with industry standards for test development. As Niha Goyal, one of the SMEs, stated, “This innovative approach is a giant leap towards enhancing Agile credentials and building a solid foundation for the next generation.”
 
Did you make it through that explanation unscathed? Congratulations! You get an internet high five!
 
Is it just the Education Department locked away in a basement for this meeting?
 
Luckily, our team was not locked away in a basement for these meetings. Instead, we recruited YOU, our Scrum community, to help us…and be locked away in a hotel meeting room.
 
We sent out the ‘Scrum Signal’ (think bat signal, but more Agile, ha!) and were thrilled to have received over 700 applications for just 12 spots. We selected team members to represent our global community based on subject matter expertise, certification held, length of experience in Agile and Scrum, industry, functional area, ethnicity, gender, and geography.
 
We whittled 700 applicants down to a group of 60 and recruited a certificant not employed by Scrum Alliance to provide their feedback. We collectively chose 12 Job Analysis Design Team members and a few alternates from the group of 60.
 
The final Job Analysis Design Team consisted of 5 men and 7 women from Canada, Germany, Ireland, and the United States. Combined, the Team held many certifications including CSM, CSPO, A-CSM, CSP-SM, A-CSPO, CSP-PO, CSP, CST, CEC, and many other certifications. The full list of individuals may be found at the end of this blog and we are so appreciative for all their assistance!

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What was it like at the Job Analysis meeting?
 
Nothing but fun obviously, but I’m biased. The 2-day meeting in Baltimore, MD was spent discussing the CSM and CSPO roles in depth. Punita Dave, SME and Job Analysis Design Team member, shared my enthusiasm, “Getting the opportunity to meet some very esteemed people in the Scrum community as well as Exam Development community was a privilege, and an enriching experience.”
 
Our Scrum community would be happy to hear that we used Scrum throughout the 2 days. Who would’ve thought bringing 12 Scrum folks for a Scrum Alliance meeting would involve Scrum concepts!? Craziness! Although the test development process is quite standardized, we were able to divide work into Sprints, time-box discussions to keep us on track, create a Sprint Backlog, use Sprint Retrospectives to improve our processes, and use fist of five to vote on items.
 
The Team discussed the important knowledge and skills that a CSM or CSPO would need in order to be successful in their respective roles and hold the certification. The Scrum Guide, Agile Manifesto, and each certification’s Learning Objectives were referenced throughout the meeting in order to capture an accurate and complete picture of each certification. Elena Aminova, one of the SMEs, had this to say about the meeting: “Through this process alone, it is clear that Scrum Alliance has a clear dedication and commitment to improve the future for the Scrum community.”
 
Once the Team completed the CSM and CSPO portion, we started to discuss the Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM℠) and Advanced Certified Product Owner (A-CSPO℠) certifications.

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This sounds fun! How can I help?
 
It is fun! We will always post about our opportunities on our Get Involved page, so be sure to check for opportunities! Aside from assisting in the test development process, we also post many other volunteer opportunities for Gathering teams, program improvement and certification review teams.
 
What is the next step?
 
Glad you asked! Our next blog post will cover the Job Analysis Survey. As a sneak peak, participants of the survey will rate the importance of tasks as they relate to the CSM and CSPO role. This survey will be sent to YOU, our Scrum community, on Tuesday, April 10th. Christine Murray, an SME on the Job Analysis Design Team, said, “What better way to understand the needs of the Scrum Alliance certificant community than by inviting its certificants to innovate and come up with new ways to deliver value in their certifications.” We couldn’t agree more, Christine! Data from the survey may also be used to write a job description, assess learning needs, identify curricula, or define organizational requirements.
 
Thank You
 
Thank you for taking an interest in the test development process! Also, thank you to our Job Analysis Team Members for spending a few days in Baltimore, MD discussing the future of the CSM and CSPO certifications. The Team Members were Bob Payne, Christian Zander, Christine Murray, Donna Patterson, Elena Aminova, Gokul Vasudev, Luke Walter, Niharika Goyal, Robert Weidner, Tara Bluford, and Punita Dave.
 
Posted: 4/5/2018 1:04:02 PM by | with 0 comments