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Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master

Today, the Agile methodology is taking the world by storm, and Agile practitioners are a dime a dozen. What is it that can set you apart in the Agile space, and make you more noticeable than your peers? The Certified Scrum Master credential from Scrum Alliance may be the answer. As a CSM, you will be recognised as part of an elite group of Scrum specialists who are proven to guide their project teams to agile success. The CSM credential sets you apart as a leader who is able to provide knowledge and expertise far beyond what a typical project manager could contribute, using powerful agile practices. Agile software environments have created a spike in the demand for professionals with expertise in agile methodologies and who can properly manage and perform agile projects. By getting a Scrum Master Certification, one can get trained in these techniques. At the same time this certificate acts as a tangible proof for employers who are looking for employees with these skills. Scrum Master certification concentrates on the importance of ‘self-organization’, which can result in the following:   you can easily participate in the team activities and feel a sense of ownership;   employees can be self-motivated, which can help escalate the team’s performance;   can let you create a work environment which is useful for the company's growth;   and the knowledge and skills garnered can make the team immune to internal and external distractions. A Scrum Master Certification shows that you possess the required dedication that companies are looking for in Scrum Masters. There is a great demand for Scrum Masters because every team needs a dedicated person who can manage and perform different Agile projects. When you have this certification under your belt, it shows that you have mastered the best practices of helping various project teams within a scrum environment. It allows you to learn and easily identify what needs to be kept and what needs to be adjusted based on the needs of the project. Along with a CSM certificate, you will have your own profile page on the Scrum Alliance website with a specially designed logo where you can have your achievements ratified. Top Job Designations For Scrum Masters 1. Entry Level Scrum Master With an experience of less than a year, you can make it as an entry level Scrum Master. This would give you smaller responsibilities to deal with while still following all the Agile practices. 2. Scrum Master After over a year’s experience in this level, you could be promoted to a Scrum Master, and will be required to implement the servant-leader style of operation. You would have to play the roles of a facilitator, coach and motivator capable of removing any obstacles that your team is likely to face during the process of production. With added responsibilities and experience, you can easily expect a higher salary from your organisation. You also get the benefit of continuing your Scrum Master education for 2 days each year on your Scrum Score Card. 3. Senior Scrum Master Along with the qualities of a Scrum Master, you will be appended with the responsibility of handling many teams and maintaining harmony among all the members as well as the teams. You get to demonstrate your increased experience and in-depth knowledge on the practices and frameworks. 4. Coach Scrum Master As a coach Scrum Master, you’ll be required full-time on a regular basis to train teams, sites, and groups about Scrum practices. It is your responsibility to keep teams informed about new updates in the Scrum Guide, and about the latest techniques and technologies that can be implemented for faster results. 5. Product Owner/ Manager With all the knowledge and experience in handling teams and pressures of the organisation and deadlines, you will be qualified to be a product manager or an owner. Why should you become a Scrum Master? In reality, we know that certifications provide an additional value once we acquire some experience. The CSM certifications act as an add-on to your career. Listed below are the reasons to get your Scrum Master Certification and the advantages of pursuing the CSM training: 1. Certified Scrum Masters earn more CSM certified individuals earn more on average than their non-certified peers. Salary in different cities in the US: Popular Cities Salary New York, New York $70,685 – $1,37,957 Seattle, Washington $71,907 – $1,31,710 San Francisco, California $81,894 – $1,46,277 Washington, District of Columbia $68,885 – $1,36,149 Atlanta, Georgia $57,929 – $1,22,558 Comparing Salaries among different companies: Popular Companies Salary Amazon.com Inc $96,958 – $1,38,725 Capital One Financial Corp $73,830 – $1,20,355 Booz, Allen, Hamilton $67,117 – $119,230 Cognizant Technology Solution Corp $69,531 – $1,04,559 General Electric Co (GE) $83,763 – $1,26,111 Entry Level Salary for Scrum Master: Job Profile Salary Software Engineer $70,398 Software Developer $59,701 Mechanical Engineer $60,001 Electrical Engineer $62,209 Financial Analyst $50,950 Senior Level Salary for Scrum Master: Job Profile Salary Operation Manager $75,310 Office Manager $49,941 Executive Assistant $58,975 Director of Operations $106,933 General/ Operation Manager $75,639 Administrative Assistant $42,095 Chief Financial Officer $146,171 2. Have a strong knowledge of Scrum If you are not familiar with Scrum, knowing about the certification will educate you with the required skills to utilize it effectively. If you are in the initial stages of using Agile methodology for your project, the CSM certification will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to achieve Scrum success.  Even if you do not know much about Scrum, the CSM certification will definitely help you build a solid base of Scrum knowledge and understand the concepts of Scrum framework. 3. Update your mindset To work with Agile and Scrum methodologies effectively, we need to develop an Agile mindset. The Agile mindset is a key factor for the teams to achieve a successful and self-sustaining approach. Industry-oriented certification and training will benefit this kind of mindset. As a member of the Scrum team, thinking in an Agile way leads to lesser disagreements, more successful projects and better team collaboration. 4. Knowledge of Scrum Artifacts This certification includes concepts like the product backlog, sprint backlog, burndown charts etc. which are the pillars of a Scrum project. These Scrum concepts will be an advantage for the organizations to deliver the project in iterations. 5. Be admissible and catch your market The certifications will provide you with an in-depth practical knowledge to improve your career. It makes you relevant and marketable in your field. CSM certifications will improve your career growth across any organization or industry that engages with Agile values. This certification proves that you have an Agile mindset and knowledge of Agile concepts. 6. Certified Scrum Masters are assets to the workforce It is difficult for any organization to adopt a new methodology as it affects the entire structure of the organization including: Processes Management People Clients In this regard, it is quintessential for all the customers to achieve some tangible and real benefits in the early stage with self-managing teams and incremental iterations. If you are not a certified member, you might miss the opportunity to establish yourself as a Scrum master in your organization. 7. Strengthening teamwork We have a few organizations that consider Scrum master certification a must for different departments. This certification generally has a positive result when it comes to working with your peers. As a certified Scrum Master, you will have the potential to build and strengthen the core understanding of Scrum while working with your peers. With multiple Scrum experts along with all departments, the organization gets benefited with Scrum experts in all departments with an instance of knowledge that can lead to the successful execution of Agile and Scrum methodologies. 8. Establish your basic Scrum knowledge to peers The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification shows your efforts and knowledge of Scrum that makes you capable of working within the organization. You don’t need to waste your time to show your credibility in your workplace, your certification speaks volumes. 9. Qualified employees drive successful projects Scrum teams that have members trained in Agile & Scrum are more likely to drive a project towards success. Clients would be able to recognize the potential value of a Scrum team that works together to apply Scrum in a productive way. 10. One more feather to your career cap A certification is a proof of your mettle. For professional, it’s a validation of their passion and dedication to their respective fields. 11. Succeed as a servant leader As a Certified ScrumMaster, you have the ability to motivate and lead your teammates. You will guide them and help the team work together smoothly. 12. A badge of honour Along with the improvement in your marketability towards potential clients, a Scrum Master Certification is also a badge of honour. Your employees would never doubt your eligibility as a mentor and will become more open towards your ideas. Scrum is not a static methodology in any sense- it is a living, changing and continuously evolving framework which has to be understood in depth before implementation. A Scrum Master Certification helps you to do just that, all the while improving your position in the organisation. 13. Be apart from the crowd The CSM credential demonstrates to your employees that you have the experience and skills to lead an agile team to success. It serves as a differentiator showing potential employers that you have an edge over your non-certified counterparts. It shows that you know the goals to be achieved and has a clear vision of what it will take to succeed. You know the quality that is needed to be delivered, and ensure that the team works towards it, ensuring project success and client satisfaction. 14. Iron out glitches in your project In case there are any impediments in the way of project progress, the CSM will negotiate, address any such challenges and build a positive work culture. 15. Ability to judge risks Scrum teams are known to release better products at lower risks, and as the CSM you can be the first to spot any red flags that could lead to potential disaster. 16. Ability to prioritize Prioritizing is the first step towards Scrum success; a CSM will be able to prioritize tasks efficiently. 17. Be a team player A CSM is, above all, a good team player. You will listen to your teammates, accept their suggestions and address any challenges they may be facing. 18. Become a better communicator By keeping channels of communication and collaboration open, you will share all relevant reports, calendars and deadlines with the team so that you can work together towards project success. 19. Adopt an Agile mindset Scrum being an Agile methodology, training and certifications will help people in your team embrace the Agile practices. And having a consistent Agile mindset in a team will lead to lesser disagreements, better team collaboration and ultimately delivering successful projects. 20. Stay marketable All industries adopting Agile practices will have excellent career opportunities for candidates with Scrum certification. This certification will prove that you have an Agile mindset and core knowledge of Agile practices. 21. A plus for your organisation If there are skilled and proven Agile professionals in an organisation, the management might benefit from it by adopting Agile methodology as it will effectively influence all the aspects of the business processes. 22. Learn a range of Skills The Scrum Master Certification helps you to focus on your actual experience and skill set because you have shown that you completely comprehend the principles important for managing a scrum team. Many companies are constantly looking for ways to become more Agile and there are not enough people out there with the required experience to compete with the high demand for scrum masters. If you have a Scrum Master certification, you not only stand a greater chance of getting a job, but you also have an opportunity to earn higher salary and excel in your career. 23. Expand your professional network Another big benefit of getting a Scrum Master Certification is the support system — you get to be a part of a select community of recognised Scrum experts. These experts have been working to improve all the areas of Scrum implementation, including its methodology, and you can avail their advice when you find yourself in a tight spot. Once you are a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) you will earn the stature to mingle with authorized Scrum experts committed to ensuring continuous improvements with an Agile approach. Scrum Alliance is the official body that has Scrum Masters across the global. This community will actively provide knowledge in a way to discover events and provide instructions. Being a certified Scrum Master, you can join a community of recognised Scrum experts, practitioners and trainers. This global network will give you exposure to deepen your Scrum knowledge, acquire guidance whenever necessary and also enable you to provide solutions to other problems. An example is Scrum.org, which actually features a global network of Scrum trainers as well as practitioners. There are few things in the Agile world that this community cannot help you with, and a Certification helps you gain the privilege of their guidance. 24. Influence your organization to adopt Agile If your organization has well-trained Agile professionals, the management would be more comfortable to invest in adopting the Scrum methodology. The CSM certification shows the management that you have the knowledge to work with Scrum and implement its approach. A professional study of Scrum means that you have to study its methods from all angles: this can help you gain a fresh perspective, along with a strong working knowledge of the implementation of Agile methods. You will be able to implant the Agile mindset you gain among your teammates; this increases the cohesion and cooperation of the team by leaps and bounds. The team’s unity, as we all know, is in direct proportion to the success of any project. Getting a Scrum Master certification can help you present yourself in a more attractive fashion, to any prospective employers. A Scrum professional knows how an organisation works, and since the framework is used in almost all industries, your career options expand considerably. If you’re already employed, you have a great shot at improving your organisation- with the requisite knowledge you receive, you can turn yourself into a company asset. Summary: If you have any certified Agile workers among your colleagues, a certification helps you improve your working relationship with them. Even if your peers have studied or adopted a different Agile methodology, the underlying ideas do not change. You will be able to converse and exchange ideas with them, and in the process strengthen the organisation within your company. The work environment is improved, since you can understand how your colleagues work, or even think, to some extent. Passing a Scrum Master examination is no mean feat — it requires you to study and have expertise in various aspects involved in implementing a Scrum methodology. All the things we discussed above are very compelling reasons to explore this certification further. Advance your career with the Scrum Master certification from Scrum Alliance, and sign up for a CSM training workshop led by the best minds in the business.

Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master

11030
Top 24 Reasons Why You Should Be a Certified Scrum Master

Today, the Agile methodology is taking the world by storm, and Agile practitioners are a dime a dozen. What is it that can set you apart in the Agile space, and make you more noticeable than your peers? The Certified Scrum Master credential from Scrum Alliance may be the answer.

As a CSM, you will be recognised as part of an elite group of Scrum specialists who are proven to guide their project teams to agile success. The CSM credential sets you apart as a leader who is able to provide knowledge and expertise far beyond what a typical project manager could contribute, using powerful agile practices.

Agile software environments have created a spike in the demand for professionals with expertise in agile methodologies and who can properly manage and perform agile projects. By getting a Scrum Master Certification, one can get trained in these techniques. At the same time this certificate acts as a tangible proof for employers who are looking for employees with these skills.

Scrum Master certification concentrates on the importance of ‘self-organization’, which can result in the following:  

  • you can easily participate in the team activities and feel a sense of ownership;  
  • employees can be self-motivated, which can help escalate the team’s performance;  
  • can let you create a work environment which is useful for the company's growth;  
  • and the knowledge and skills garnered can make the team immune to internal and external distractions.

A Scrum Master Certification shows that you possess the required dedication that companies are looking for in Scrum Masters. There is a great demand for Scrum Masters because every team needs a dedicated person who can manage and perform different Agile projects. When you have this certification under your belt, it shows that you have mastered the best practices of helping various project teams within a scrum environment. It allows you to learn and easily identify what needs to be kept and what needs to be adjusted based on the needs of the project.

Along with a CSM certificate, you will have your own profile page on the Scrum Alliance website with a specially designed logo where you can have your achievements ratified.

Top Job Designations For Scrum Masters

1. Entry Level Scrum Master

With an experience of less than a year, you can make it as an entry level Scrum Master. This would give you smaller responsibilities to deal with while still following all the Agile practices.

2. Scrum Master

After over a year’s experience in this level, you could be promoted to a Scrum Master, and will be required to implement the servant-leader style of operation. You would have to play the roles of a facilitator, coach and motivator capable of removing any obstacles that your team is likely to face during the process of production.

With added responsibilities and experience, you can easily expect a higher salary from your organisation. You also get the benefit of continuing your Scrum Master education for 2 days each year on your Scrum Score Card.

3. Senior Scrum Master

Along with the qualities of a Scrum Master, you will be appended with the responsibility of handling many teams and maintaining harmony among all the members as well as the teams. You get to demonstrate your increased experience and in-depth knowledge on the practices and frameworks.

4. Coach Scrum Master

As a coach Scrum Master, you’ll be required full-time on a regular basis to train teams, sites, and groups about Scrum practices. It is your responsibility to keep teams informed about new updates in the Scrum Guide, and about the latest techniques and technologies that can be implemented for faster results.

5. Product Owner/ Manager

With all the knowledge and experience in handling teams and pressures of the organisation and deadlines, you will be qualified to be a product manager or an owner.

Why should you become a Scrum Master?

In reality, we know that certifications provide an additional value once we acquire some experience. The CSM certifications act as an add-on to your career. Listed below are the reasons to get your Scrum Master Certification and the advantages of pursuing the CSM training:

1. Certified Scrum Masters earn more

CSM certified individuals earn more on average than their non-certified peers.

Salary in different cities in the US:

Popular Cities Salary
New York, New York $70,685 – $1,37,957
Seattle, Washington $71,907 – $1,31,710
San Francisco, California $81,894 – $1,46,277
Washington, District of Columbia $68,885 – $1,36,149
Atlanta, Georgia $57,929 – $1,22,558

Comparing Salaries among different companies:

Popular Companies Salary
Amazon.com Inc $96,958 – $1,38,725
Capital One Financial Corp $73,830 – $1,20,355
Booz, Allen, Hamilton $67,117 – $119,230
Cognizant Technology Solution Corp $69,531 – $1,04,559
General Electric Co (GE) $83,763 – $1,26,111

Entry Level Salary for Scrum Master:

Job Profile Salary
Software Engineer $70,398
Software Developer $59,701
Mechanical Engineer $60,001
Electrical Engineer $62,209
Financial Analyst $50,950

Senior Level Salary for Scrum Master:

Job Profile Salary
Operation Manager $75,310
Office Manager $49,941
Executive Assistant $58,975
Director of Operations $106,933
General/ Operation Manager $75,639
Administrative Assistant $42,095
Chief Financial Officer $146,171

Why should you become a Scrum Master

2. Have a strong knowledge of Scrum

If you are not familiar with Scrum, knowing about the certification will educate you with the required skills to utilize it effectively. If you are in the initial stages of using Agile methodology for your project, the CSM certification will provide you with the basic knowledge you need to achieve Scrum success. 

Even if you do not know much about Scrum, the CSM certification will definitely help you build a solid base of Scrum knowledge and understand the concepts of Scrum framework.

3. Update your mindset

To work with Agile and Scrum methodologies effectively, we need to develop an Agile mindset. The Agile mindset is a key factor for the teams to achieve a successful and self-sustaining approach. Industry-oriented certification and training will benefit this kind of mindset. As a member of the Scrum team, thinking in an Agile way leads to lesser disagreements, more successful projects and better team collaboration.

4. Knowledge of Scrum Artifacts

This certification includes concepts like the product backlog, sprint backlog, burndown charts etc. which are the pillars of a Scrum project. These Scrum concepts will be an advantage for the organizations to deliver the project in iterations.

5. Be admissible and catch your market

The certifications will provide you with an in-depth practical knowledge to improve your career. It makes you relevant and marketable in your field. CSM certifications will improve your career growth across any organization or industry that engages with Agile values. This certification proves that you have an Agile mindset and knowledge of Agile concepts.

6. Certified Scrum Masters are assets to the workforce

It is difficult for any organization to adopt a new methodology as it affects the entire structure of the organization including:

  • Processes
  • Management
  • People
  • Clients

In this regard, it is quintessential for all the customers to achieve some tangible and real benefits in the early stage with self-managing teams and incremental iterations. If you are not a certified member, you might miss the opportunity to establish yourself as a Scrum master in your organization.

7. Strengthening teamwork

We have a few organizations that consider Scrum master certification a must for different departments. This certification generally has a positive result when it comes to working with your peers. As a certified Scrum Master, you will have the potential to build and strengthen the core understanding of Scrum while working with your peers. With multiple Scrum experts along with all departments, the organization gets benefited with Scrum experts in all departments with an instance of knowledge that can lead to the successful execution of Agile and Scrum methodologies.

8. Establish your basic Scrum knowledge to peers

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification shows your efforts and knowledge of Scrum that makes you capable of working within the organization. You don’t need to waste your time to show your credibility in your workplace, your certification speaks volumes.

9. Qualified employees drive successful projects

Scrum teams that have members trained in Agile & Scrum are more likely to drive a project towards success. Clients would be able to recognize the potential value of a Scrum team that works together to apply Scrum in a productive way.

10. One more feather to your career cap

A certification is a proof of your mettle. For professional, it’s a validation of their passion and dedication to their respective fields.

11. Succeed as a servant leader

As a Certified ScrumMaster, you have the ability to motivate and lead your teammates. You will guide them and help the team work together smoothly.

12. A badge of honour

Along with the improvement in your marketability towards potential clients, a Scrum Master Certification is also a badge of honour. Your employees would never doubt your eligibility as a mentor and will become more open towards your ideas. Scrum is not a static methodology in any sense- it is a living, changing and continuously evolving framework which has to be understood in depth before implementation. A Scrum Master Certification helps you to do just that, all the while improving your position in the organisation.

13. Be apart from the crowd

The CSM credential demonstrates to your employees that you have the experience and skills to lead an agile team to success. It serves as a differentiator showing potential employers that you have an edge over your non-certified counterparts.

It shows that you know the goals to be achieved and has a clear vision of what it will take to succeed. You know the quality that is needed to be delivered, and ensure that the team works towards it, ensuring project success and client satisfaction.

14. Iron out glitches in your project

In case there are any impediments in the way of project progress, the CSM will negotiate, address any such challenges and build a positive work culture.

15. Ability to judge risks

Scrum teams are known to release better products at lower risks, and as the CSM you can be the first to spot any red flags that could lead to potential disaster.

16. Ability to prioritize

Prioritizing is the first step towards Scrum success; a CSM will be able to prioritize tasks efficiently.

17. Be a team player

A CSM is, above all, a good team player. You will listen to your teammates, accept their suggestions and address any challenges they may be facing.

18. Become a better communicator

By keeping channels of communication and collaboration open, you will share all relevant reports, calendars and deadlines with the team so that you can work together towards project success.

19. Adopt an Agile mindset

Scrum being an Agile methodology, training and certifications will help people in your team embrace the Agile practices. And having a consistent Agile mindset in a team will lead to lesser disagreements, better team collaboration and ultimately delivering successful projects.

20. Stay marketable

All industries adopting Agile practices will have excellent career opportunities for candidates with Scrum certification. This certification will prove that you have an Agile mindset and core knowledge of Agile practices.

21. A plus for your organisation

If there are skilled and proven Agile professionals in an organisation, the management might benefit from it by adopting Agile methodology as it will effectively influence all the aspects of the business processes.

22. Learn a range of Skills

The Scrum Master Certification helps you to focus on your actual experience and skill set because you have shown that you completely comprehend the principles important for managing a scrum team.

Many companies are constantly looking for ways to become more Agile and there are not enough people out there with the required experience to compete with the high demand for scrum masters. If you have a Scrum Master certification, you not only stand a greater chance of getting a job, but you also have an opportunity to earn higher salary and excel in your career.

23. Expand your professional network

Another big benefit of getting a Scrum Master Certification is the support system — you get to be a part of a select community of recognised Scrum experts. These experts have been working to improve all the areas of Scrum implementation, including its methodology, and you can avail their advice when you find yourself in a tight spot.

Once you are a Certified Scrum Master (CSM) you will earn the stature to mingle with authorized Scrum experts committed to ensuring continuous improvements with an Agile approach. Scrum Alliance is the official body that has Scrum Masters across the global. This community will actively provide knowledge in a way to discover events and provide instructions.

Being a certified Scrum Master, you can join a community of recognised Scrum experts, practitioners and trainers. This global network will give you exposure to deepen your Scrum knowledge, acquire guidance whenever necessary and also enable you to provide solutions to other problems.

An example is Scrum.org, which actually features a global network of Scrum trainers as well as practitioners. There are few things in the Agile world that this community cannot help you with, and a Certification helps you gain the privilege of their guidance.

24. Influence your organization to adopt Agile

If your organization has well-trained Agile professionals, the management would be more comfortable to invest in adopting the Scrum methodology. The CSM certification shows the management that you have the knowledge to work with Scrum and implement its approach.

A professional study of Scrum means that you have to study its methods from all angles: this can help you gain a fresh perspective, along with a strong working knowledge of the implementation of Agile methods. You will be able to implant the Agile mindset you gain among your teammates; this increases the cohesion and cooperation of the team by leaps and bounds. The team’s unity, as we all know, is in direct proportion to the success of any project.

Getting a Scrum Master certification can help you present yourself in a more attractive fashion, to any prospective employers. A Scrum professional knows how an organisation works, and since the framework is used in almost all industries, your career options expand considerably. If you’re already employed, you have a great shot at improving your organisation- with the requisite knowledge you receive, you can turn yourself into a company asset.

Summary:

If you have any certified Agile workers among your colleagues, a certification helps you improve your working relationship with them. Even if your peers have studied or adopted a different Agile methodology, the underlying ideas do not change. You will be able to converse and exchange ideas with them, and in the process strengthen the organisation within your company. The work environment is improved, since you can understand how your colleagues work, or even think, to some extent.

Passing a Scrum Master examination is no mean feat — it requires you to study and have expertise in various aspects involved in implementing a Scrum methodology.

All the things we discussed above are very compelling reasons to explore this certification further. Advance your career with the Scrum Master certification from Scrum Alliance, and sign up for a CSM training workshop led by the best minds in the business.

KnowledgeHut

KnowledgeHut

Author

KnowledgeHut is an outcome-focused global ed-tech company. We help organizations and professionals unlock excellence through skills development. We offer training solutions under the people and process, data science, full-stack development, cybersecurity, future technologies and digital transformation verticals.
Website : https://www.knowledgehut.com

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As the organization progresses, the entrepreneurial network moves adjacent to the newly constituted “hierarchical arrangement” which is anticipated for the organization to mature. As the hierarchy grows to accomplish the organization’s revenue and growth needs, it begins to clash with the entrepreneurial network, which leads to network failure and customer-centricity getting lost in between. Nonetheless, this allows organizations to develop, but if a change in technology or customer requirement arises, companies fail to react and change. Instead of discarding the current system, a secondary system “SAFe® 5.0 Business Agility” could be executed which allows concentrating more on formulating value streams, not just departments. New SAFe® Overview SAFe®'s seven center capabilities encourage business readiness. The visual underneath shows an unmistakable image of SAFe®'s Seven Core Competencies of the Lean Enterprise and furthermore shows their 21 measurements that assist business readiness.   Execution competencies are displayed on the left, while the support strategy competencies are on the right. The Agile-Lean Leadership competency which is the foundation is in the bottom middle. The customer is prominently emphasized in the middle as the focal feature for all the competencies. Measure and Grow at the top right is a suggestion of the importance of cyclic self-assessments to track the organization’s journey towards the principles and practices that facilitate business agility.  Source LinkMeasuring Business Agility The SAFe® framework now includes Business Agility Assessment that empowers organizations to estimate their level of business agility and get support on expediting growth. The assessment incorporates the ratings of organizations according to various standards and levels within each core competency. Outcomes from this evaluation, represented by the radar below, can be represented as a baseline. As such, these can support organizations to determine the current status and know which fields to concentrate on for enhanced growth. It can help to prioritize for maximum accomplishment on the path to business agility. TWO NEW COMPETENCIES SAFe® 5.0 acquaints us with two new abilities-- Continuous Learning Culture, and Organizational Agility. Both of the skills are depicted in detail below. Continuous Learning Culture   The Learning Culture competency outlines a set of values and methods that inspire people and the complete organization to upgrade knowledge, skill, performance, and innovation. The aforementioned culture is achieved by encouraging the organization to upgrade knowledge, executing constant improvement, and promoting a culture of innovation.   The image below outlines the three dimensions of a continuous learning culture:Learning Organization – Employees would desire to upgrade themselves at each level and therefore the organization transforms and can endure an ever-changing world.  Innovation Culture – Employees are encouraged and empowered to explore and accomplish original concepts that expedite future value delivery.  Constant Improvement – Every part of the enterprise concentrates on continuously enhancing its solutions, products, and methods. Organizational Agility  The Agility competency of an Organization defines how Lean-thinking and Agile teams optimize their business processes, amplify the approach with clear and definitive new consignments, and immediately benefit the organization as expected to capitalize on new possibilities and opportunities. This new article explains the three dimensions of organizational agility:  Lean and Agile Teams – Teams that are connected with solution delivery are trained in Lean and Agile systems and know how to adopt and exemplify the values, policies, and practices.   Lean operations business team – Teams follow Lean principles to concede, map and continuously improve the business systems that support the business products and services.   Strategy Flexibility – The enterprise is manageable and flexible enough to continuously sense the market, and immediately adjust tactics when required.FIVE COMPETENCIES RESTRUCTURED Team and Technical Agility  The Technical Agility team outlines the Lean-Agile principles and methods that high-performing Agile teams use to provide high-quality resolutions for customers. The outcome is improved productivity, more stability, quality, faster time-to-market, and quick anticipated delivery of value. This competency has been written and is classified into the following dimensions: Agile TeamsHigh Performance of the cross-functional teams ensures competency by employing efficient Agile principles and practices.Agile Unit TeamsAgile teams function within the context of a SAFe® Agile Release Train (ART), a long-lasting, team of Agile teams that bestows a shared insight and direction and is ultimately accountable for delivering solutions.  Built-in QualityAgile teams execute Agile iterations to provide high-quality, well-designed recommendations that help current and prospective business requirements.Agile Product Delivery  Agile Product Delivery is a customer-centric approach to determine, develop, and deliver a constant stream of products and services that are of value to customers and users. This supports the organization to provide solutions that delight customers, reduce development costs/ risk, and reduce competition.  DevOps and Release competency has been combined into a couple of dimensions of Agile Product Delivery as shown in the Figure below:Customer-centric Thinking – Customer centricity puts the customer at a locus and uses design reasoning to ensure that the resolution implemented will be useful, possible, achievable, and can sustain in any circumstances.  Acquire on-demand and Declare on Request– Developing on flow enhances control in product development.  Releasing the value engagements to customers in segments would help customers to satisfy their requirements.  DevOps and the Continuous Delivery – DevOps and the Continuous Delivery Pipeline create the foundation that assists organizations to deliver excellence, in cumulative parts or in segments, at any point to satisfy consumer and market requirements. Lean Portfolio Management  The Lean Portfolio Management aligns strategies and achievements by implementing Lean methods approaches/ strategies, Agile portfolio methods, and governance. These collaborations deliver organizations the expertise to meet existing commitments and enable innovation.This competency has been revised and is classified into the following dimensions:Strategy & Investment Funding ensures the entire portfolio is aligned and financed to formulate and support the solutions expected to adhere to business targets.    Agile Portfolio Operations encourage decentralized program performance and promote operational excellence.    Lean Governance accommodates decision-making of spending, auditing, forecasting engagements, and measurement.Organization Solution Delivery  The Organization Solution Delivery competency shows how to apply Lean-Agile principles and methods to product specification, expansion, deployment, accomplishment, and progress of advanced software applications, networks, etc The Business and Lean Engineering Systems competency has been renamed as Enterprise Solution Delivery and it incorporates the following dimensions: Lean Solution and Systems   Engineering applies Lean-Agile practices to manage and coordinate all the activities needed to execute, test, deploy, evolve, and sequentially decommission these systems.   Coordinating Suppliers   Suppliers are coordinated and aligned to a set of value streams. This uses coordinated vision, backlogs, and roadmaps with common program Increment points.   Continually Evolve Live Systems assure large systems, and their growing pipeline supports continuous delivery. Lean-Agile Leadership  The Lean-Agile Leadership competency specifies how Lean-Agile Leaders manage and maintain organizational change by empowering individuals and teams to reach their highest potential. Adopting a Lean-Agile mindset results in more engaged employees, increased productivity and innovation, and successful organizational change.  The Lean-Agile leadership was revised and is grouped into the following dimensions:Set by example – Leaders achieve earned prestige by inspiring the team to incorporate the leader’s example into their own personal development journey.  Principles and Mindset – Embedding the Lean-Agile approach of working in their ideas, choices, acknowledgments, and activities, leaders model the required norm throughout the organization.  Managing Change – Leaders lead the transformation by designing the environment, preparing the people, and providing the necessary resources to realize the aspired outcomes. CUSTOMER FOCUSED DESIGN THINKING The Customer Centricity mindset has extended its focus to the mechanisms and systems that are aimed at resolving issues that customers face.  Customer Centricity The customer-centric organization conducts market research to create actionable items of the problems that customers face, the solution specifications, and the solutions required to resolve issues. FOR BUSINESS TEAMS SAFe®  Team of teams in SAFe® acts as an agile release train and it presents value to the organization. They adopt the Lean and Agile values, principles, and practices that are relevant to their responsibilities and adjust their existing processes accordingly. The Agile Release Train (ART) is a long-lived team of Agile teams, which, accompanied by different stakeholders, incrementally develops, delivers, and where applicable operates one or more solutions in a value stream. ARTs comprise cross-functional teams and possess all the abilities—software, hardware, firmware, and others—needed to define, implement, test, deploy, release, and where applicable, operate solutions.ARTs operate on a set of common principles:  If a Feature misses a timed departure and is not planned in the current PI, it can be taken in the next one.  Each train delivers a new increment every two weeks.  Teams on the train are synchronized on the related PI of 8 – 12 weeks and have common Iteration start/end dates and duration.  Each ART estimates how much can be delivered in a PI.  Agile Teams welcome the ‘Agile Manifesto’ and SAFe® Core Values and Principles. They apply Scrum, Extreme Programming (XP), Kanban, etc Built-In Quality practices.  Most people in ART are committed full-time to the train. The ART plans work periodically mostly face-to-face PI Planning events.  An Inspect and Adapt event is held at the end of every PI.  Teams and management identify backlog items via a structured, problem-solving workshop.  ARTs apply flow and synchronization to better accomplish the internal variability of investigation and improvement.  NEW SAFE® IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP The Scaled Agile Framework for enterprises contributes integrated, well established scaling patterns that have benefited many organizations around the world to solve their business obstacles associated with speed, multiple teams' alignment, flexibility & quality, and improvement with successful Agile delivery.    The SAFe® Roadmap outlines the levels of the organization and implements SAFe® in an arranged, stable, and successful fashion. While adopting SAFe® would vary based on circumstances, the Implementation Roadmap offers insight into a fairly common implementation pattern. The roadmap has been developed by proven change management strategies and the experience of hundreds of global enterprises that have adopted SAFe®.   The SAFe® Implementation Roadmap includes 12 critical moves for the successful embracing of Lean-Agile principles and mindset and their applicability throughout the organization.WHAT ARE THE CHANGES FROM 4.5 TO 5.0  Below are the diverse levels in SAFe® 4.5 and SAFe® 5.0. SAFe®  5.0 Level  SAFe® 5.0 is the most advanced level that comes with an important update to the last version 4.5. It comes with two extra competencies i.e. Lean Enterprise and Business Agility. SAFe® 5.0 with extra two competencies also focuses on core competencies of SAFe® 4.5 that includes Technical and Team Agility, Release on Demand and DevOps, Lean Systems Engineering and Business Solutions, Lean Portfolio and Lean-Agile Leadership.  SAFe®  4.5 Level Four levels are incorporated in this SAFe® implementation-- they are Portfolio, Value Stream, Program, and Team. It is mainly used for resolutions that require several professionals to create, deploy, manage and maintain softwareWHAT DOES VERSION 5.0 IMPLY Scaled Agile Framework inspires realization within organizations that there is a need to transform development teams. They require to transform organization-wide in order to compete in today’s landscape. The focus has now whirled towards full business agility. In reference to SAFe® 5.0, Business Agility empowers organizations to capitalize on rising opportunities by allowing people to make quick settlements, designate money, and adjust the right people to work.  SAFe® confirms that a framework alone is not sufficient to achieve a successful transformation; the true difference makers are the talent i.e., leaders and teams of the organization. Globalization, fast-moving markets and the unprecedented pace of technological innovation provokes organizations to transform to survive. But their current business models, organizational hierarchy, and technology infrastructure often hold back organizations from transforming fast.  Important Highlights of SAFe® 5.0:  Focus on customer centricity and design thinking empowers the organization to recognize the problem and design the right solution.  New Measures and guidance help the organization circumscribe its current state of business agility and recognize tactical steps to enhance economic outcomes and reach its desired state.  Continuous Learning Culture competency provides a collection of values and practices that inspires everyone in the enterprise to continuously learn and innovate with mutual cooperation.  Organizational Agility helps teams optimize their enterprise processes, develop strategies with clear commitments and quickly accommodate to realize new opportunities.  SAFe® 5.0 allows teams to engage in delivering and supporting innovative business resolutions.  It organizes and helps enterprise regulate their development efforts around the full, end-to-end value flow. CONCLUSIONSAFe® 5.0 brings the significant modifications that were required for organizations to improve but also not lose core focus on customers. With business agility, organizations can now concentrate on generating value streams for their overall maturity and growth rather than focus on each department individually. The two new core competencies will empower the organizations to generate a learning culture to encourage continuous improvement in innovative solutions, performance, and growth and also modify or accommodate artifices according to the variation in market trends. Overall, it helps in bringing back the focus without losing it in the hierarchical structure of organizations.
What’s New in Leading SAFe® 5.0
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What’s New in Leading SAFe® 5.0

The global SAFe® summit, organized by Scaled Ag... Read More

Best Product Owner Certifications in 2021

The one person responsible for maximising the product value, representing the stakeholders, prioritizing the backlog, empowering the team, maintaining Agile and Scrum processes and defining the product vision—who is that one superstar on an Agile team who does all this? The Product Owner!Product Owner roles have seen a sharp rise in recent years. If you see yourself as a Product Owner, managing business and stakeholders, then it is prudent that you validate your skills with a Product Owner certification and set yourself up for career success.Product Owners with industry recognised credentials earn upwards of $105,845, significantly more than their peers who are not certified.Irrespective of whether you are a seasoned Product Owner or are just sinking your teeth into the world of Agile and Scrum, a credential in your toolkit will greatly enhance your career prospects. So, here’s a roundup of the most valued Product Owner certifications you can choose from and get ready for 2021.1. CSPO®2. A-CSPO®3. PSPO™4. PMI-ACP®5. SAFe® Product Owner Product Manager1. CSPOThe Certified Scrum Product Owner certification is an offering from Scrum Alliance. Among the most popular Product Owner certifications, this credential is a validation of your knowledge of Scrum, the scope of the Product Owner’s role and skill in maximizing value and the Scrum team’s work.CSPOs are in great demand across industries as they have the credibility to lead product development initiatives.Other benefits of the CSPO certification include:Training led by Scrum Alliance approved Certified Scrum Trainers® (CSTs)Get a 2-year membership with Scrum AllianceGain access to a number of local groups of Scrum users and social networksQualify for higher certifications such as the A-CSPO®Widen the scope of your career with the knowledge of popular Agile practices.Enhance your repertoire with in-demand Scrum skills and demonstrate your Scrum knowledge.Actively engage with the community of Agile practitioners dedicated to continuous Scrum practice and improvement.Create a better product by leading and implementing Scrum in the team.Define the product vision and direct team members to yield high value at the end.Ensure smooth communication between the stakeholders and team members.Earn higher salaries than your non-certified counterparts (USA: $105,845)Top companies hiring CSPO professionalsFidelity InvestmentsCapital One Financial CorpAmazon.comT-Mobile, IncAmerican ExpressSource: PayScaleWhere to take training for certificationThe training must be taken from a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) or Registered Education Provider (REP) or a Certified Agile Coach of Scrum Alliance.Who should take the training for CSPO certification?This course can be taken by:Project Managers Developers Product Owners Managers-Software development Architects-Software development Product Managers Software developers Software testers Team leads/Team members interested in learning ScrumWho is eligible for the CSPO certification?There are no eligibility requirements for the CSPO certification.Duration to get CSPO certifiedAll participants need to attend the 2-day in-person or 14 hours live online CSPO training from a CST, at the end of which they will receive their credential. Course/Training fee for CSPO certificationThe course fee depends on the training provider and differs from region to region.In India: INR 24999  U.S: USD 1295Canada: CAD 1495Exam fee for CSPO certification: No exam needs to be taken in order to earn the CSPO credential. Attending a 2-day/14-hour course is mandated to earn the credential.Renewal fee for CSPO certification: $100, every 2 years2. A-CSPO℠The Advanced Certified Scrum Product Owner℠ (A-CSPO℠) credential is also offered by the Scrum Alliance, and as the name suggests is an advanced course to be pursued after gaining the CSPO. The A-CSPO validates your ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders and deliver business value. A-CSPO being an advanced level certification is much sought after by organizations who want to hire professionals with advanced Product Owner abilities.Other benefits of the A-CSPO certification include:Training by Scrum Alliance approved Certified Scrum Trainers® (CSTs)2-year membership with Scrum AllianceAccess to a number of local groups of Scrum users and social networksGain enhanced Agile Scrum implementation skillsSet yourself apart from others in the marketplaceAs a highly trained Agile professional, show advanced value to your employerEarn high salaries - 111033 USD (average)Top companies hiring A-CSPO professionalsSAP LabsSalesforceAdobeWikispeedOracleVisteonGEBBCMicrosoftBarclaysRobert BoschWhere to take training for A-CSPO certification?The training must be led by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST) and delivered by a Registered Education Provider (REP) or a Certified Agile Coach of Scrum Alliance.Who should take the training for A-CSPO certification?Professionals in the following job roles can take this course:Project ManagersDevelopersProduct OwnersManagers-Software developmentArchitects-Software developmentProduct ManagersSoftware developersSoftware testersTeam leads/Team members interested in learning ScrumWho is eligible for the A-CSPO certification?The A-CSPO requires the following eligibility:At least 12 months of work experience specific to the role of Product Owner (within the past five years) and an active CSPO credentialDuration to get A-CSPO certified: All participants need to attend the 2-day in-person or 14 hours live online A-CSPO training from a CST, at the end of which they will receive their credential.Course fee for A-CSPO certificationThe course fee depends on the training provider and differs from region to region.In India: INR 41999U.S.: Will be updated shortlyCanada: Will be updated shortlyExam fee for A-CSPO certification: No exam needs to be taken in order to earn the A-CSPO credential. Attending a 2-day/14-hour course along with the required experience is mandated to earn the credential.Renewal fee for A-CSPO certification: $175, every 2 years3. PSPO™Professional Scrum Product Owner™ Level I (PSPO™) is a credential offered by the Scrum.org. While the certification does not require you to take a training, an assessment needs to be cleared in order to get certified. The PSPO is a reflection of your ability to maximise skills, enhance product value and use Agile perspectives to deliver successful products.The PSPO is highly regarded in the industry as it is a rigorous exam and is based on the objectives outlined in the Scrum Guide.   Other benefits of the PSPO certification include:Own the product visionMaximize your team’s ROIImprove business value and ROIMotivate and lead Agile teams and team membersValidate your commitment to continued excellence and qualityDemonstrate your proficiency in ScrumGrow your career in Scrum with confidence Ace your interviews and get noticed for promotions at your current jobCommand higher salaries than your non-certified peersBe part of a network of industry leaders and Agile professionalsGain a stepping stone for the advanced level Professional Scrum Product Owner™ II Certification (PSPO™ II)Get the PSPO I logo that you can use to identify your achievementGet your name listed on Scrum.orgEarn salaries in the range of $98,612Top companies hiring PSPO professionalsJ.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPMCC)Cisco Systems IncImproving EnterprisesUnitedHealth GroupBank of America Corp. (BOFA)Source: PayScaleWhere to take training for the PSPO certification: Take the training from Scrum.org’s Professional Training Network under the guidance of certified Professional Scrum Trainers (PSTs).Who should take the training for PSPO certification?This course can be taken by:Project ManagersDevelopersProduct OwnersManagers-Software developmentArchitects-Software developmentProduct ManagersSoftware developersSoftware testersTeam leads/Team members interested in learning ScrumLeadership Team Who is eligible for the PSPO certification?There are no eligibility requirements for the PSPO certification.Duration to get certified: If you opt for training, you will have to attend two days or 16 hours of PSPO™ I training under a Professional Scrum Trainer (PST). You will then receive a key to the PSPO™ I Assessment. Once you pass the Assessment, you are declared PSPO™ I certified and can download your certificate.Course fee for PSPO certificationThe course fee depends on the training provider and differs from region to region.In India: INR 25999  U.S.: USD 1299Canada: CAD 1499Exam fee for PSPO: $200 USD per attemptPSPO Exam DetailsExam Type: Closed book,Format: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answer and True/FalseDifficulty: IntermediateLanguage: English onlyTime limit: 60 minutesNumber of Questions: 80Passing score: 85%Retake fee for PSPO Exam: $200 USD for each re-take attempt. Participants of Scrum.org classes get free retakes if they take and fail the assessment within a certain time frame. Renewal for PSPO certification: Your PSPO certification has a lifetime validity and does not require renewal4. PMI-ACP®The Project Management Institute (PMI)® a world-renowned body known for its flagship project management credentials, now offers professionals a chance to hone their agile skills with the PMI- Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)® credential. Its mandatory requirement of real-world Agile expertise and a thorough knowledge of Agile practices, tools and techniques means that holders of the PMI-ACP are Agile experts in every sense of the word.The PMI-ACP has huge demand in Agile organizations as it gives holders a 360-degree view of Agile and adds huge value to the skill set of a product owner.Other benefits of the PMI-ACP certification include:Helps you qualify for Agile jobs with expertise in Agile methods like Scrum, FDD, Kanban, etc. which are in demand in the industryEquips you with knowledge of various Agile methodsMakes you marketable as it opens doors to many project development methodologiesGain soft skills to manage your role eloquently  Earn more than your non-certified peers ($109,556)Top companies hiring PMI-ACP professionalsBooz, Allen, and HamiltonAccentureInternational Business Machines (IBM) Corp.Usaa InsuranceAmazon.com IncSource: PayScaleWhere to take training for the PMI-ACP certification: The training must be taken from an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMIWho should take the training for PMI-ACP certification?This course can be taken by:Project ManagersProject PlannersQuality Assurance StaffDevelopers/ProgrammersDesigners, TestersProject ControllersProduct OwnersScrum MastersScrum Team MembersWho is eligible for the PMI-ACP certification?The PMI-ACP requires the following eligibility:Secondary degree21 contact hours of training in agile practices12 months of general project experience within the last 5 years. A current PMP® or PgMP® will satisfy this requirement but is not required to apply for the PMI-ACP.8 months of agile project experience within the last 3 yearsDuration to get certified: Once you complete the required training you must take time out to vigorously prepare for the exam. You then need to set the date and give the 3-hour exam. Once you pass the exam you may refer to yourself as a certification holder although your certificate package can take six to eight weeks to arrive in the mail.Course fee for PMI-ACP certification:The course fee depends on the training provider and differs from region to region.In India: INR 25999  U.S.: USD 1299Canada: CAD 1499Exam fee for PMI-ACP: $435 (for members), $495 (for non-members)PMI-ACP Exam Details:Exam Type: Closed book Format: Multiple Choice Difficulty: Intermediate Time limit: 3 hours Number of Questions: 120 of which 20 are considered pre-test questions and do not affect the score. Passing score: 85%Renewal for PMI-ACP certification: To maintain your PMI-ACP, you must earn 30 professional development units (PDUs) in agile topics every three years.5. Certified SAFe® Product Owner / Product Manager (SAFe® POPM)If scaling Scrum is your forte, then this is the right credential for you. This credential, an offering from the Scaled Agile, Inc., validates your product owner skills in delivering value by applying the principles of Lean to ensure Agile success at the enterprise scale, improving the Agile Release Train and ensuring customer satisfaction while improving bottom line margins.Considering that the Scaled Agile Framework is widely used in Agile organizations, there is a huge demand for SAFe POPM certified professionals, who can deliver continuous value at the enterprise level.Other benefits of the SAFe POPM certification include:Master key SAFe® product ownership/product management concepts like Lean Agile principles and valuesCollaborate with Agile teams to deliver valueMaster Program Increment PlanningOne-year membership to the SAFe Community PlatformOpen yourself upto new opportunitiesSAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (SPOPM) salary ranges from $83,865 to $124,613Access to Meetup groups and events that connect you with other Certified SAFe ProfessionalsTop companies hiring SAFe POPM professionalsBoschLockheed MartinPepsiCoAnthemCiscoStandard CharteredCapitalOneThalesFitBit  AstraZenecaSource: PayScaleWhere to take training for the SAFe POPM certification: The training must be taken from an authorized training partner of Scaled Agile, Inc. Who should take the training for SAFe POPM certification?This course can be taken by:Program or Project ManagersScrum MastersRelease Train EngineersBusiness AnalystsAgile CoachesSAFe Program ConsultantsDevelopment ManagersCTOsConsultantsArchitectsEngineersDirectorsProduct ManagersProduct OwnersDelivery ManagersSolution Train EngineersSoftware DevelopersWho is eligible for the SAFe POPM certification?The SAFe POPM requires the following eligibility:Two-day training from an authorized training provider of Scaled Agile Inc. Experience in Lean and AgileDuration to get certified: Once you complete the mandatory 2-day training you can set a date to take the 1.5 hrs SAFe POPM exam. On passing the exam, you become a Certified SAFe® 5 Product Owner / Product Manager. You will receive your SAFe®️ 5 Product Owner / Product Manager PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days.Course fee for SAFe POPM certificationThe course fee depends on the training provider and differs from region to region.In India: INR 55999  U.S.: USD 1099Canada: CAD 1395Exam fee for SAFe POPM: First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion.SAFe POPM Exam DetailsExam Type: Closed book Format: Multiple choice, multiple response Difficulty: Intermediate Time limit: 1.5 hours Number of Questions: 45 Passing score: POPM4 = 35 out of 45 (77%); POPM5 = 33 out of 45 (73%)Retake fee for SAFe POPM Exam: Each retake costs $50Renewal for SAFe POPM certification: SAFe POPM needs to be renewed each year by paying a $100 fee and earning a minimum of 10 continuing education/outreach hours (PDUs).SummaryProduct Owners are the rock stars of an Agile team—confident, articulate, sharp, great communicators and problem solvers! A solid Product Owner certification along with these qualities can give your career a total makeover and make you a team favourite. 
Best Product Owner Certifications in 2021
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Best Product Owner Certifications in 2021

The one person responsible for maximising the prod... Read More

Top Scrum Certifications of 2021

A question that plagues most entry-level or even mid-career Scrum professionals is: “is a Scrum credential really worth it?” The answer—it most definitely is! According to the Salary Survey of Scrum Professionals 2017-18 , even entry level professionals, with just one scrum certification, earn much more than their non-certified counterparts. Scrum certifications were also the most requested certifications in 2020 with the Certified ScrumMaster being most in demand, according to employment website Indeed.com. Employers are more than ever before, looking at hiring certified Scrum professionals, a fact validated by  Indeed.com’s survey, which places the CSM above the Project Management Professional (PMP)® credential in its list. So, you know how to future proof your career. Get a Scrum certification!  SourceHere’s a list of the top paying Scrum certifications that will help you in career progression, leverage this hiring demand in 2021-2022 and earn high salaries.CSMCSPOPSMA-CSMPSPOSAFe Scrum Master CertificationPMI-ACPScrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ CertificationCertified ScrumMaster® (CSM®)  This entry-level Scrum credential from Scrum Alliance, is a great starting point for professionals who want to gain an understanding of Scrum team roles and responsibilities, Scrum events and Scrum artifacts.CSM Demand: CSM, was the 9th most-requested certification this year in the Indeed.com survey. With an average salary of approximately $120K per annum and 24% expected job growth rate in the next 3 years, CSM is indeed the gold standard for Scrum certifications.   Source: Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Schools & Reviews | Indeed.com Benefits Of CSM Gain a high degree of proficiency in executing Scrum. Become an Agile change agent Be a servant leader. Create a highly motivated and high performing team. Open yourself to new opportunities. Earn high salaries. Average salary USD 118,353 Gets you a 2-year membership with Scrum AllianceTop industries hiring CSM professionals Retail E-commerce Energy & Utilities Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos Advertising Marketing Government Institutions. Some of the top companies hiring CSMs include:  IBM Tata Consultancy Services CapGemini Honeywell BOSCH Accenture Deloitte Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a course taught by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance or by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®). KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. Eligibility for CSM exam: Attending an in-person two day (16 hours) or live online (14 hours) Certified ScrumMaster® course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®) is required, to be eligible for the exam. Who should take the CSM training for certification: Software Engineers Product Managers Project Managers Team Leaders Business Analysts Product Managers Software Developers Product Owners Software Development Managers Software Architects Software Testers Team Leads QA Managers Development team members Testers Anyone who would like to build a career as a Scrum Master Duration to get certified: Attending a 14-hour live online or 16 hour in-person course is mandatory for appearing for the exam. Once you complete the course, you should reserve some time for ensuring a thorough preparation before attempting the exam. If you successfully pass the exam, you will get your results immediately and you are a qualified CSM. The total duration in order to get CSM certified, including course, study time and exam should take you around a couple of weeks. Course fee for certification: Rs. 23,999/- in India, $ 1295 in the US Application fee for certification: NA Exam fee for certification: Included in course fee Exam Format: Online test comprising of 50 multiple choice questions. Duration: 1-hour Pass mark: 74%  Retake fee for certification: The second attempt is free if you attempt the exam within 60 days of course completion. The retake costs $25 after first two attempts.Certified Scrum Product Owner®(CSPO®) Another offering from Scrum Alliance, this credential is for professionals who want to cement their career as Product Owners and want to validate their expertise on Scrum terminology, practices, and principles. CSPO Demand: Product Owners have been recognised for their innumerable contribution to Scrum teams and their role as a bridge between business and development. With 90% modern teams using Scrum for product development, the Product Owner’s role as an intermediary who maximises value and motivates teams, is not lost on recruiters. Which is why the demand for product owner keeps rising and each day hundreds of open positions for product owner roles are added.  Benefits Of CSPO Enhance your knowledge of Agile practices Maximise value and enhance stakeholder satisfaction Grow your network and speak a global product owner language Get a 2-year membership with Scrum Alliance Earn lucrative salaries CSPO salary: $105,845.Top industries hiring CSPO professionals IT Telecom Healthcare Financial Manufacturing Education Some of the top companies hiring CSPOs include: Gartner Intel Dell Bosch PayPal Mastercard Axis Bank SAP IBM Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a course taught by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance or by a Certified Scrum Trainer (CST®). KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. Eligibility for CSPO exam: There is no exam. Aspirants need to successfully complete a 14 hour live online or 16 hours of in-person training with a CST, or 25 hours of face-to-face interaction with a Certified Agile Coach to be certified as CSPO.  Who should take the training for CSPO certification Project Managers Developers Product Owners Managers-Software development Architects-Software development Product Managers Software developers Software testers Team leads/Team members interested in learning Scrum Duration to get certified: 14 hours or 16 hours or 25 hours, depending on the mode of training you choose.Course fee for certification: Training cost: INR 24999 in India, USD 1295 in US and CAD 1495 in Canada Professional Scrum MasterTM (PSMTM):   The Professional Scrum Master™ I is an offering from Scrum.org, a global organization founded by Scrum co-creator, Ken Schwaber. This credential with its high standards of training and exhaustive assessment, ensures that holders have mastery over the Scrum framework.  PSM Demand: According to the 2019 Scrum Master trends by Scrum.org, PSM I was among the top three certifications among survey participants. Scrum is by far the most commonly used agile framework and its popularity is not going to diminish any time soon.  PSM I is lucrative and career defining. Benefits Of PSM Lead a team of Scrum specialists who bring the benefits of Scrum to projects. Perform the responsibilities of a servant leader Resolve conflicts and tackle challenges to deliver the best at the end of every Sprint. Address organizational challenges in using Scrum effectively Display a high level of Scrum expertise Earn high salaries; upto USD 93,570 on average annuallyTop industries hiring PSM professionals Retail E-commerce Energy & Utilities Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos Advertising Marketing Government Institutions. Some of the top companies that hire PSMs J.P. Morgan Chas & Co Capgemini IBM Sogeti USA LLC Northrop Grumman CorporationWhere to take training for certification: Aspirants must train under PSTs or from a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. You can attend a face-to-face course taught by Professional Scrum Trainer (PSTs), a private coaching or complete 16 hours of live online training with a PST. KnowledgeHut is a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. Eligibility for PSM exam: There is no eligibility criteria for appearing for the exam. But aspirants must possess a high level of Scrum knowledge.  Who should take the training for PSM certification Project Managers Scrum Masters Scrum team members Developers Product Owners Software development managers Software Architects Product Managers Software Developers Software Coders Software Testers Team Leads/Team Members Duration to get certified: Passing the assessment is mandatory to gain the certificate. Considering that the assessment is difficult, Scrum.org suggests a thorough preparation that includes attending a course, reading the Scrum Guide and other resources. In all, it may take you 20 hrs including course and study time to get PSM certified. Course fee for certification: USD 1299 Exam format:  80 multiple choice questions and True/False questions Duration: 1 hour Pass mark: 85%   Application fee for certification : NA Exam fee for certification: $150 USD per attempt Retake fee for certification:  Two attempts are permitted within 14 days after you receive your key, at no additional cost.Advanced Certified ScrumMaster℠ (A-CSM℠) This is the advanced level credential after the CSM and is offered by the Scrum Alliance. If you want to continue on your agile journey and show your commitment to continued excellence, then this is the right credential for you.   A-CSM Demand: The A-CSM helps you showcase your advanced Scrum implementation skills, and ability to facilitate better dialogue between the Scrum team and stakeholders. These advanced Scrum Master skills are in high demand across Fortune 500 companies, who are ready to pay high salaries for such skills.  Benefits Of A-CSM Enable high performance teams Lead and facilitate change Resolve impediments Manage multiple teams Earn high salaries upto $115K per year Top industries hiring A-CSM professionals Retail E-commerce Energy & Utilities Financial Services such as Insurance and Investments Cos Advertising Marketing Government Institutions Telecom Infrastructure Entertainment Some of the top companies hiring A-CSMs Google Walt Disney LinkedIn Roche BBC GE Adobe Microsoft Spotify eBay Twitter IBM Capgemini Accenture Deloitte Hewlett Packard BAE Systems Lockheed Martin ExxonMobil Verizon Walmart Dow Jones  Tesla  Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a training offered by a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. Eligibility for A-CSM exam  Hold a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification with the Scrum Alliance.  Attend a certified A-CSM educational offering to gain techniques and skills that go beyond the basics and mechanics of Scrum, expanding into interaction, facilitation, coaching, and team dynamics. Successfully complete all educator-designed components of an approved educational offering. This may include pre- or post-course work as deemed necessary by your approved educator to complete the learning objectives. Accept the A-CSM License Agreement and complete your Scrum Alliance membership profile. Validate at least 12 months of work experience specific to the role of Scrum Master (within the past five years).  Who should take the training for certification Scrum Masters Team Leads Development Managers Delivery Managers Project Managers Agile Coaches Duration to get certified: Once you have satisfied all the eligibility requirements mandated by Scrum Alliance including a minimum of 12 months of Scrum Master experience (within the past five years), you need to attend the 2-day A-CSM℠ course from a Global Registered Education Provider of Scrum Alliance post which you will get your A-CSM credential. KnowledgeHut is a Global Registered Education Provider (REP) of Scrum Alliance. Course fee for certification: USD  775  Application fee for certification: NA Exam fee for certification: There is no exam for A-CSM Retake fee for certification: NAProfessional Scrum Product Owner™(PSPO) PSPO stands for Professional Scrum Product Owner, a course and certification offered by Scrum.org. This credential helps you develop a solid understanding of the Product Owner responsibilities and maximize value of software products and systems. PSPO Demand:  Product Owner roles are the jobs of the future. Listed by LinkedIn and the World Economic Forum (Jobs of Tomorrow Report 2020) as being among the top emerging job trends, product owner roles are here to stay.  Benefits Of PSPO Own the product vision and maximize your team’s ROI Improve business value Motivate and lead Agile teams Demonstrate your proficiency in Scrum Grow your career in Scrum with confidence  Open yourself up to new opportunities Earn handsome salaries. Certified Product Owners earn $105,399, average salary, much higher compared to non-certified Product Owners Top industries hiring PSPO professionals Telecom Oil & gas Finance Government Healthcare Entertainment and more Some of the top companies hiring PSPOs include: Spotify Twitter Tesla Lockheed Martin Walmart Dow Jones ExxonMobil Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must take their training from a Professional Training Network (PTN) member of Scrum.org. KnowledgeHut is a Scrum.org™ Professional Training Network (PTN) member. Eligibility for PSPO exam: No eligibility requirements. Participants must possess high knowledge of Scrum.  Who should take the training for certification Project Managers Developers Product Owners Managers-Software development Architects-Software development Product Managers Software developers Software testers Team leads/Team members interested in learning Scrum Leadership Team  Duration to get certified: 2 days training plus additional study hours before attempting the exam.  Course fee for certification: USD 999 Application fee for certification: NA  Exam fee for certification: $200 USD Exam Format: 80 multiple choice questions and True/False questions Duration: 1 hour Pass mark: 85% Difficulty Level: Intermediate  Retake fee for certification: You are allowed two attempts within 14 days after you receive your assessment key from Scrum.org at no additional cost.SAFe® Scrum Master Certification The SAFe Scrum Master certification certifies an individual as being capable of performing scrum master responsibilities in a scaled agile environment. SSM certified individuals can lead Agile Scrum transformations, create high performing teams and ensure implementation of Scrum practices in the organization.  SSM Demand:  According to the 13th State of Agile Survey Report (2019), the Scaled Agile Framework is the most popular scaling method. With more and more organizations discovering the benefits of scaling agile and harnessing its potential on an enterprise-wide scale, the demand for hiring SAFe certified professionals has increased tremendously.   Benefits Of SSM Perform the responsibilities of a servant leader Successfully carry out Program Increment planning Facilitate Iteration execution Manage the Program Increment Coach a successful Agile team that is highly motivated and high performing Get the Certified SAFe Scrum Master Certificate (PDF format)  Get the Certified SAFe Scrum Master Digital Badge  One-year membership to the SAFe Community Platform Access to SAFe events and MeetUp Groups   Get access to various SAFe learning resources Open yourself to lucrative opportunities and high salaries—as high as $80,000 to $1,10,000 annually Top industries hiring SSM professionals Finance IT Service Industry FMCG Retail Insurance Banks  Some of the top companies hiring SSMs Cisco LEGO digital solutions Barclays Panera Bread Ericsson FitBit Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must attend a training facilitated by an authorized training partner of Scaled Agile.  KnowledgeHut is a Silver Training Partner of Scaled Agile.  Eligibility for SSM exam:  Experience working in a Lean-Agile environment and attending a two-day training delivered by a SAFe Program Consultant (SPC).  Who should take the training for certification Program or Project Manager Scrum Master Team Lead Release Train Engineer Business Analyst Agile Coach Portfolio Manager Consultant Architect Engineer Developer Director Quality Manager Product Manager Product Owner Delivery Manager Program Manager  Duration to get certified:  2-day training followed by study time. On passing the 90 minute SSM exam you will be a Certified SAFe 5 Scrum Master. You will receive your SAFe 5 Scrum Master PDF Certificate and Digital Badge within 5-7 working days.  Course fee for certification: Rs 55999, Cost in the U.S.: USD 1099  Exam format:  Exam type – Multiple choice; Multiple select Exam delivery – Web-based (single-browser), closed book Exam duration – 1.5 hours Number of questions – 45 Passing score – SSM 4 = 33 out of 45 (73%); SSM 5.0 =33 out of 45 (73%) Exam score for SSM 5.0 has been updated effective Feb 28 8pm MST. SSM 5.0 passing score prior to February 28 was 34 out of 45 (75%). Language – English Application fee for certification: NA Exam fee for certification: First exam attempt is included as part of the course registration fee if the exam is taken within 30 days of course completion. Retake fee for certification: $50 for each retake attempt PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)®:  The PMI-Agile Certified Practitioner, as the name suggests, is an offering of the world-renowned Project Management Institute.  This certification places rigorous standards on participants which is why it is highly acknowledged world over. Holders get a holistic view of carrying out project management practices in Agile environments.  PMI-ACP Demand:  According to a survey in SwarmOS, Agile adoption has helped 98% of organizations in reducing costs, enhancing bottom line margins and deliver successful products. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption rate of Agile and what these Agile organizations need are project managers who understand Agile in a variety of situations and are able to effectively steer projects by applying project management best practices. PMI-ACP professionals are therefore highly sought after by recruiters and organizations.  Benefits Of PMI-ACP Leverage the demand for Agile project managers by getting PMI-ACP certified Show your expertise in a variety of Agile methods like Scrum, FDD, Kanban, and more Make yourself more marketable  Earn lucrative salaries :  $108,000 on an average  Top industries hiring PMI-ACP professionals Aerospace Engineering Manufacturing Construction Pharma Banking Some top companies hiring PMI-ACPs Boeing Booz Allen Hamilton Visa American Express AT&T Wipro Where to take training for certification:  Aspirants must train from an Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI. KnowledgeHut is a Premier Authorized Training Partner (ATP) of PMI.  Eligibility for PMI-ACP exam: General Project Experience 2000 hours of working on project teams within the last 5 years or having an active PMP®/PgMP® credential Agile Project Experience 1500 hours of working on Agile Project Teams or with Agile Methodologies, in addition to “General Project Experience” above; Training in Agile Practices 21 contact hours earned in Agile Practices Who should take the training for PMI-ACP certification Project Managers Project Planners Quality Assurance Staff Developers/Programmers Designers, Testers Project Controllers Product Owners Scrum Masters Scrum Team MembersDuration to get certified: Attending a training workshop of 3 days followed by intense exam preparation that can be from 100-150 hrs in duration is a conservative time to prepare for the PMI-ACP credential. Once you successfully pass the exam, you will be PM-ACP certified.  Course fee for certification: INR 10999, USD 1099 Exam Format:  120 MCQs, each question will have four choices Duration: 3 hours Application fee for certification : For PMI membership: USD $ 129 plus USD $10 for application fee. Exam fee for certification: $435 for PMI members, $495 for non-members Retake fee for certification: $335 for PMI members and $395 for non-members. Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification This highly regarded and recognised credential is offered by Scrum.Inc. This is the Scrum training developed and promoted by Jeff Sutherland, the co-creator of Scrum, and helps participants implement Scrum practices to bring about innovation, value and project success. Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification Demand: Considering that this certification has an agenda backed by the co-founder of Scrum, its demand in the industry is significant. The ability of certified professionals to create self-organized, high value and motivated teams is much appreciated by organizations. This has created a huge surplus of demand for Scrum professionals and this credential will put you in the market for these top roles.  Benefits of Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ Certification Deliver high quality products and reduce costs Scale Scrum and enjoy enterprise-wide advantages Lead high performing teams Deliver products fast Earn high salaries: USD $97319  Scrum Master Certification – Getting Started & Comparison Guide 2021 (knowledgehut.com) Top industries hiring Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ professionals Financial Services Construction Engineering Pharma Data Analytics Education Tourism Government Agencies Some top companies hiring Scrum Master by Scrum Inc. Certified professionals Lockheed Martin PepsiCo Anthem Cisco Standard Chartered CapitalOne Thales FitBit Where to take training for certification: Aspirants must take the course from an authorized training provider of Scrum Inc.™. Eligibility for Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.™ exam: Attending a 16-hour Scrum Master course from an ATP of Scrum Inc™ is mandatory for taking the exam. Who should take the training (roles) for certification: Project Managers Scrum Masters Scrum Team Developers Product Owners Software Managers Software Architects Product Managers Testers Team Leads SAFe® practitioners interested in Scrum@Scale PMPs, PMI-ACP Team Leaders Professionals interested in Agile and Scrum methodologies Professionals who wish to explore how Scrum delivers twice the value at half the cost Duration to get certified: You need to attend a 16-hour course and spend some time for exam preparation. Once you take the exam and clear it, you will be Scrum Master certified.  Course fee for certification: $1995  Exam fee for certification: Included in training cost Summary: LinkedIn’s “Most promising jobs of 2017,” states that job openings for Scrum Masters grew 104 percent year-over-year from 2016, with a career advancement score of 8 out of 10; while Scrum Master was listed in the top 10 emerging Product Development jobs list by the World Economic Forum. Not just the number of jobs, but there is also steady increase in the base salary earned by Scrum certified professionals, and this increase based on the number of certifications that one holds.  So, more the number of certifications you add to your resume, the higher your salary goes. At the outset of 2021, there are still thousands of job openings for Scrum professionals. Equip yourself with one or more of these highest paying Scrum certifications and bring value to yourself and your organization.
Top Scrum Certifications of 2021
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Top Scrum Certifications of 2021

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