Ways To Learn About Scrum

Many of us have years of experience with Waterfall and command-and-control style software development processes. Old habits die hard after years of immersion. It takes study and hard work to build the Agile muscle memory needed to break those old habits. Here are some ways you can learn more about Scrum, and start to break free:

Study

Understanding the Scrum framework is the beginning of applying Scrum successfully. Here are some ways to start building that understanding:

• Read the Scrum Guide, which lays out the overall Scrum framework.
• Familiarize yourself with the Scrum glossary.
• Read the Nexus Guide, which describes how multiple Scrum Teams work together.
• Familiarize yourself with the Subject Areas and Suggested Readings for:
  • Professional Scrum Master I
  • Professional Scrum Master II
  • Professional Scrum Product Owners
  • Professional Scrum Developers
  • Professional Agile Leaders
  • Professional Scrum Teams also practicing Kanban
  • Scaled Professional Scrum with Nexus
     
• Read articles on our Blog, written by our expert Professional Scrum Trainers.
• Join the Scrum.org Forum discussions.
• View the Scrum.org Resources page.
• View the What is Scrum Resource page.
• Take a Course:
  • Everyone - Take a Professional Scrum Foundations Course. The Professional Scrum Foundations Course provides excellent hands-on experience and increases attendees experience with Scrum to build Scrum into your muscle memory. This course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PSM I Assessment.
  • Scrum Masters - Take a Professional Scrum Master Course. The Professional Scrum Master Course gives Scrum Masters hands on experience and tools. This course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PSM I & II Assessments. Professional Scrum Master II advanced Scrum Master course. Scrum Masters looking at ways to improve flow and who are working with teams that are using both Scrum and Kanban should take the Professional Scrum with Kanban Course.
  • Product Owners - Take a Professional Scrum Product Owner Course. The Professional Scrum Product Owner Course teaches students how to leverage Agile software development to deliver value in a complex environment. The course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PSPO Assessments.
  • Developers - Take an Applying Professional Scrum for Software Development Course. The Professional Scrum Developer Course teaches students to use modern software development best-practices with ALM tools (.NET or Java) to build software incrementally within Scrum teams. This course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PSD I Assessment.
  • Agile Leaders - Take the Professional Agile Leadership Essentials Course. The Professional Agile Leadership Essentials course helps leaders understand their role in enabling Agile transformation. This course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PAL I Assessment.
  • Scrum Team Members that also practice Kanban - Take the Professional Scrum with Kanban Course. The course teaches Scrum practitioners how to apply Kanban practices in their daily use of the Scrum Framework. This course is recommended but not required for those who feel they are prepared to take the PSK I Assessment.
  • Scrum Team Members who work with other teams to deliver an integrated product - Take the Scaled Professional Scrum with Nexus Course. The course teaches Scrum Team members how to work multiple teams can work together to deliver an integrated increment. This course is recommended but not required for those who want to take the SPS Assessment.

Practice

Build your Scrum muscle memory by engaging in discussions and practicing Scrum fundamentals with your team.

• Practice Assessments
  • Take the Scrum Open Assessment until you are comfortable with the content. This assessment is much simpler than the PSM I assessment, but it will familiarize you with the types of questions asked on our other assessments. The Scrum Open assessment is a learning tool, and thus feedback is provided during the test.
  • If you are a developer, also take the Scrum Developer Open Assessment. This assessment looks at a number of software development practices and techniques that support building high-quality and high-value products in a Scrum Team. 
  • If you are responsible for maximizing the value of a product, take the Product Owner Open Assessment. This assessment helps strengthen knowledge on the role of the Product Owner in Scrum.
• Apply Scrum in your workplace. As you do, stop to reflect on whether you’re taking advantage of all of the opportunities that the Scrum framework offers, or if you’re using ScrumBut.
• Be conscious of your decisions as you adapt and evolve with projects complexity and team member's old habits. Think about why Scrum is structured the way it is, and how the Scrum framework differs from traditional management practices.

Assess

All Scrum.org assessments use the most recent version of the English Scrum Guide as the source for questions regarding the rules, artifacts, events, and roles of Scrum. However, reading the Scrum Guide alone is not enough for someone to pass a Professional Scrum Assessment. Questions often ask test-takers to interpret information and apply it to challenging situations, so knowledge gained from personal experience and other sources is typically needed.

Once you have solidified your Scrum knowledge and understanding, you're ready to validate it with an Assessment!