Scrum is simple, just use it as is!!

Scrum is a mindset, an approach to turning complex, chaotic problems into something that can be used. Jeff Sutherland and I based it on these pillars: Small, self-organizing, self-managing teams; Lean principles; and, Empiricism, using frequent inspection and adaptation to guide the work of the teams to the most successful outcome possible. The Scrum Guide … Continue reading →

Scrum @ 21

Scrum at 21 – A Look Back Through the Eyes of Ken Schwaber, its co-creator I’m told that it has been 21 years since Scrum became public when Jeff Sutherland and I presented it at an Object-Oriented Programming, Systems, Languages & Applications (OOPSLA) workshop in Austin, TX in October of 1995. Time sure does fly. Things … Continue reading →

Multiple increment delivery within a Sprint

Question: I recently had the following exchange that may be fill in some gaps in understanding how to use Scrum. “You have been quoted in PSM classes as saying: “A Scrum project is only one Sprint long. A release of software may be the sum of multiple increments (and previously developed software, if any), or there … Continue reading →

Building an Agile Organization Part 2

How can I find qualified Scrum help? “The Professional Scrum Master® (PSM® I) Certification from Scrum.Org is one of the most valuable agile certifications in the market. The greater the depth and extent of knowledge needed to earn a certificate, the greater its value.  By this measure, the PSM assessments are significantly more valuable than … Continue reading →

Scrum Development Kit

On Tuesday, Jeff Sutherland and I will be celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Scrum’s first public appearance. Those twenty years were my warm up for the next twenty, when I will focus on improving our professionalism. Specifically, I will be done when all Scrum teams deliver “done”, potentially shippable, in operations and usable, increments of … Continue reading →

Practitioner Certification

The PSM, PSPO, and PSD I assessments have proven extremely useful. The role-based assessment helps people validate their knowledge of Scrum. A resulting certification demonstrates that knowledge to others, including potential employers. Scrum teams that bring these people on board are assured that the person knows their role. We are introducing the next level assessment. … Continue reading →

Scaling, the Nexus, and Scrumbling

I will be conducting a Nexus workshop in Boston on November 17-18, with Richard Hundhausen and Rob Maher, based on the Nexus Guide. Of interest to many, SDK, API architectures, and remediation Scrumbles, and DevOps. Many Scrum teams deliver a “done”, potentially shippable increment at the end of each Sprint. As the number of teams rises, as the project scales, … Continue reading →

Scale Scrum Projects Better – August 25-26 Irvine CA

Workshop information Free – for desperate people without budget (but not for consultants) who are willing to provide work in kind during  the workshop. $300 – for people figuring out how to scale their project or in the middle of a scaled project that is overwhelmed with dependencies and “done” is unknown – but have … Continue reading →

Greed and Control Can Ruin an Industry and Movement

It has come to my attention that Scrum Alliance is trying to register a trademark on, “SCRUM USER GROUP,” at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Word on the street is that that the Trademark Office has indicated that it will publish this trademark shortly for opposition.  If no one opposes, I understand that the … Continue reading →

Scale Scrum Development, not Technical Debt

Creating software with Scrum is difficult. Creating one integrated piece of software with multiple Scrum teams is a managerial and technical drama, requiring sophisticated techniques, tools, and collaboration. In my last two blogs, I shared my opinions about the skills and knowledge to scale Scrum. I could be wrong, but in my experience many people … Continue reading →