How To Become A Certified Scrum Master
6761- by Nicolas Casel
- 09th Nov, 2018
- Last updated on 28th Apr, 2021
- 9 mins read
Introduction to Certified Scrum Master
Who is the Scrum Master?
In one of our previous blog posts, Rumesh Wijetunge shared some relevant insights on the role of Scrum Master. Wearing different hats, coach, enabler, facilitator, team leader, problem-solver, s/he is in charge of giving right directions to team members so that they reach objectives. First promoter of Agile mindset, values and principles, the Scrum Master uses the Scrum framework to help a team in understanding, working on, and achieving a common goal.
Responsibilities of the Certified Scrum Master
It is expected from the Certified Scrum Master to promote an Agile way of working and to lead Scrum implementation in order to improve the team's overall performance. It implies these activities:
- Teaching Agile values and principles and ensuring they have been understood and adopted by the Scrum Team, and even by the whole organization if possible (and relevant)
- Implementing the Scrum framework so that it fits the needs expressed by the Scrum Team
- Listening, observing and reflecting on how the Scrum Team is reacting to first changes, then selecting and adapting Scrum elements accordingly.
- Protecting Team Members from any interference or troubles that make them losing focus on their primary work
- Anticipating, identifying and removing any impediments, and coaching Team Members to learn to solve these situations by themselves
- Helping the Product Owner to manage the Product Backlog so that time-to-market is reduced and every increment brings value to end customers
- Acting as a Servant Leader
Requirements to become a Certified Scrum Master
Getting some basic knowledge about the Scrum framework is a nice-to-have prerequisite. However, the first mandatory step is to attend a two-day CSM course conducted by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®). This course will prepare you well for the CSM exam by delivering insights about how to organize and support a Scrum Team. The final step is easy: you need to accept the License Agreement and update your Scrum Alliance membership profile.
Why you should be a Certified Scrum Master?
Becoming a Certified Scrum Master is one way to expand your career opportunities. Indeed, Agile is spreading everywhere in organisations, in all industries. Strongly correlated, software and digitalization are eating the world, so the need for Scrum Masters in software development is increasing. It is also the beginning of a long journey: it enables you to engage with other Scrum practitioners all over the world, to share best practices, to solve common issues and to promote Agile values and continuous improvement.
Besides, this certification offers you to learn foundation of Scrum and scope of the role of Scrum Master. And because it is delivered by Scrum Alliance , this is a very valid proof of your Scrum knowledge.
What do I need to do to become a CSM?
A true belief and strong interest in Agile philosophy will help for sure to get knowledge, to practice efficiently and to stand out among Agile practitioners. Nonetheless, passing the Scrum Alliance certification for Scrum Master lies mainly in learning Scrum fundamentals and attending to the two-day training (see above paragraph c.)
a. Why CSM over PSM: Best Scrum Master certification
1. Scrum.org courses- Price, Renewal, Pros, and Cons
- Price: It includes exam fees but depends on content, duration, trainer and location:
- US: $1500
- Europe: 1500 euros
- India: INR 26,000
- Renewal: No expiration (lifetime certification)
- Pros:
- Course content is officially designed by Scrum.org so all teachers deliver same content. It implies that Scrum.org selects qualified instructors and ensures students learn the same core content.
- Exam can be taken without attending course - Exam fees are $150
- There is an online free assessment exam for practising
- Cons:
- Exam is much harder than CSM. It requires experience, and deep theoretical knowledge
2. Difference between the Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org courses
The main difference lies in the fact that Scrum.org provides standard curriculum and course content, while training conducted to become CSM depends on individual trainers experience, opinion and knowledge.
CSM Certification Training
Syllabus of Scrum Master certification 
Scrum Alliance provides a list of selected resources to learn the Scrum framework. People who want to become Certified Scrum Master are invited to read articles from experts like Mike Cohn or Steve Denning, or from other members. One specific advantage with Scrum Alliance lies in their elearning series: a dozen short videos introduce Scrum Theory and Values, Scrum Roles, Scrum Events and Scrum Artifacts.
Besides, it is strongly recommended to read those references:
- the Scrum Guide by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland
- the Scrum Primer by Pete Deemer, Gabrielle Benefield, Craig Larman and Bas Vodde
- the Do Better Scrum by Peter Hundermark
Not mandatory but relevant to go further, Scrum: A Pocket Guide by Gunther Verheyen
and Software in 30 days by Ken Schwaber.
Exam and Certification Information
Scrum Alliance courses- Price, Renewal, Pros and Cons
- The CSM course is a two-day (16 hours) course delivered by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®).
- There is no standard fee, so the price can vary depending on the context: trainer, content, location, date ; the usual range is from 1000 to 1500 euros (or from 1150 to 1750 dollars).
- It includes two attempts to take the CSM exam and a two-year membership to the new Scrum Alliance® community. Those two attempts have to be used in the next 90 days after attendees receive the welcome email to pass the test. Beyond this duration, they will be prompted to pay $25 to take the exam. Certification is valid for two years, then it requires to be renewed after that.
Besides, attendees to the CSM course will be granted with 14 PDUs credits: 10 PDUs in Technical Project Management and 4 PDUs in Leadership.
What can be considered as a drawback is that there is no standard content course. Course materials are made by individual trainers, which implies it can be limited by their experience and opinion.
Cost of the Scrum Master Certification
There is no specific cost for the Certification: fee is included into the CSM two-day course.
The structure of the exam
The exam is composed of 35 multiple-choice and true/false questions. At least 24 correct answers are required to pass the exam, and there is no time limit to answer those questions.
Topics covered in the CSM exam
As this exam requires to demonstrate an understanding of the key Scrum elements, it covers general Scrum knowledge, Scrum roles, Scrum meetings and Scrum artifacts.
Here are the Sample questions of CSM exam
1) What does NOT belong to the agile manifesto's main pillars?
- Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
- Working software over comprehensive documentation
- Processes over people
- Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
Answer: Processes over people
2) How should work be allocated to the team in an Agile project?
- The Team Leader (ScrumMaster) should allocate specific tasks to individuals
- Tasks should be randomly allocated to team members, using Planning Poker
- Team members should self-select tasks appropriate to their skills
- The most complex tasks should be allocated by the Team Leader (ScrumMaster)
Answer: Team members should self-select tasks appropriate to their skills
3) What are the disadvantages of the classical waterfall model? (Select the best alternative)
A) End-Product has to be fully anticipated beforehand
B) Some requirements are implemented as defined in the beginning of the project, and yet they are not really needed by the customer
C) Each phase is strictly separated
- A
- A, B
- C, B
- A, B, C
Answer: A, B, C
4) Who is responsible for prioritizing the product backlog?
- Product Owner
- Project Manager
- Lead Developer
- Business Analyst
Answer: Product Owner
5) What kind of software development projects can be executed by Scrum Project Management Framework?
- Complete software packages
- Customer projects
- Sub-systems, components or parts of bigger systems
- All kinds of software development projects
- None of the given answers
Answer: All kinds of software development projects
Salary of the Certified Scrum Master
| Salary per year | Junior | Senior |
|---|---|---|
| US | $82,000 - 105,000 | $105,000 - 120,000 |
| Europe | 38,000 - 55,000 € | 55,000 - 75,000 € |
| Dubai | AED 25,000 | AED 35,000 |
| India | Rs. 731,983 | Rs. 1,424,186 |
How To Become A Certified Scrum Master: Refer to our getting started guide
Nicolas Casel
Scrum Master / Agile Consultant with passion for fostering Agile mindset and improving User Experience.
Other skills: web development, CMS, usability, e-learning
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Over the past few years, the job market has witnessed an exponential growth in the demand for Scrum Master professionals. LinkedIN listed Scrum Master as among the top 10 most promising careers in 2019. Two years on, the popularity for Scrum and Agile related roles is at an all-time high. Getting a certification to demonstrate your capabilities will help you reach milestones in your Scrum Master career. As a certified professional, you can increase your employability, rise up the career ladder and earn high remunerations.There are a number of Scrum Master certifications available from world renowned accreditation bodies. 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Not only does the frequency and velocity of product delivery increase, but changing requirements are also accommodated—an imperative in the current volatile market conditions where to be inflexible means to be left behind.In this article, we review the top Scrum best practices that streamline and optimise Agile workflows, creating stellar results.For those who are new to Agile and Scrum, let’s start with a brief introduction.Scrum in a nutshellScrum is a lightweight Agile framework that allows product development to be carried out in short and incremental iterations, through collaborative teamwork.During each iteration, called a Sprint, the delivery of a small increment of value is completed. 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The PO maintains and manages the Product Backlog which determines the progress of the product development.The Scrum Master is the one who holds things together, helping the PO to define value, and communicating that value to the team so that they can deliver it. He or she creates and facilitates an environment that is conducive to Scrum success.The Scrum Team is a cross-functional, self-organising group of developers who are jointly responsible for product delivery. A team usually comprises not more than seven people, who are required to communicate and collaborate well together. There is no hierarchy on a Scrum team, and the Scrum Master is considered their ‘servant leader’ and not their manager.Scrum Best PracticesWhether you’re a product owner, Scrum master or a team member, here is a set of best practices that can help to improve your efficiency and set you on the track to team success!Teamwork and meetings1. Create Product Backlog in conjunction with stakeholders.The stakeholders can contribute effectively to creating the product vision, and must be roped in for the inputs while creating the product backlog. During the negotiations on the backlog and while re-prioritising tasks, the team and stakeholders can come to a better understanding of the vision and what is expected to be delivered.2. Stakeholders must participate in Scrum meetings.When stakeholders and Product Owners participate in Scrum meetings, they will understand the workflow and the ways in which the team works. In turn, they can offer valuable feedback on the progress of work and about the deliverables during each sprint.3. Try not to regroup teams.When a team has worked together successfully on previous projects, they will already be sharing a rapport and understanding of each other’s capabilities. Rather than breaking the work rhythm, the best practice would be to keep productive teams together. This, of course, is not always possible as some projects will need regrouping due to different skill requirements.4. Work on team building.Team building is a practice that should never be neglected or sacrificed for want of time. A group that is cohesive will work better and faster, and the Scrum Master should use team-building techniques and activities to foster cooperation and collaboration.5. Don’t sit down during Stand-ups!.The reason why the daily meeting is called a Stand-up is because people are expected to stand up, and not sit down! Typically, meetings where everyone is standing up are shorter and get the expected results, while sit-down meetings tend to drag on and on.6. Nurture remote communication.When teams are distributed across geographies, or work-from-home mandates are in place, it’s important to set guidelines for remote communication. Important details could be missed out on calls, and critical notifications should be documented over a shared tracker so that they are flagged. Collaboration software makes it easy to set up notification messages to all the people concerned.Planning and estimates7. Keep stakeholder in the loop while estimating.It is always better that the principal stakeholder should be present during estimating meetings. If the team has any doubts, they can get cleared at once. What’s more, the stakeholder will understand the why, what and how behind estimation and this will help to establish trust and accountability.8. Plan a new sprint only when the backlog has enough items.Only when the product backlog has enough items for the next two sprints, is it time to plan the next one. Scope creep happens when there is uncontrolled growth in the scope of the project, because there was poorly defined scope for the next few sprints in the backlog.9. Set goals clearly.Unless the goals for each sprint are clearly laid out, it could become very difficult to prioritise the tasks in the backlog. The team and customers must align their objectives in order to set the goals that the team will achieve during each sprint. Based on the goals, the Product Owner in conjunction with the team will choose the tasks that must be completed during the sprint.10. Estimate using Planning Poker.Planning Poker is a proven, easy to use technique for estimating and planning. Using this simple technique, accurate and doable estimates can be achieved.11. Set time aside daily for risk mitigation.By planning a six hour day and leaving two hours aside each day for risk mitigation, it is possible not to fall short on time estimates. Many unexpected things could happen that turn timings awry, and by doing this it is possible to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.12. Do not stretch or cut short sprint timings.The time frame for a sprint should not be stretched or curtailed, as otherwise the team will be tempted to neglect set timelines in the expectation that they will be reset. Even if a story is unexpectedly big and cannot be completed in a sprint, at the end of the agreed-upon timeframe the sprint should end, and the items that were not completed should be moved to the top of the backlog for the next sprint. At the same time, if the stories are completed ahead of time in a sprint, then some smaller stories could be added to help keep the schedules on track.Managing backlogs13. Keep sprint backlog separate from product backlog.The product backlog is updated regularly, while the sprint backlog is kept frozen and can be referred back to at any time. Do not mix up the two or combine them.14. Use task prioritisation techniques.Task prioritisation techniques such as MoSCoW, Business value approach, Kano model, Walking skeleton and so on can be used to prioritise tasks in the product backlog. Simple excel documents can list out backlog tasks and show the status and priority (must, could or should are most frequently used terms). Use the technique that makes best sense for your team, and that everyone is able to understand.15. Itemise user stories by assigning IDs.To cut through ambiguity, assign an ID to each user story so that the team knows exactly what is being discussed. Two user stories may sound similar but be different, and team members may think that a different story is being discussed.16. Map functional and technical dependencies.Dependencies could be functional (defined by stakeholders) or technical (defined by the engineering team). By mapping both types of dependencies, the workflow is smoothened and optimised, and bottlenecks can be identified and removed.17. Use a Scrum board.Many people work better when they have visual aids to guide them. A Scrum board is a very useful tool in this regard. The board is a visual representation of User stories, tasks that are yet to start, in progress and done. It can also indicate blocks, testing tasks and reviews from the Product Owner. Tools like JIRA and Trello are very easy to use and understand, and offer great value to the team.Tracking and predicting18. Use sprint burndown charts.Burndown charts that visually depict the progress of the sprint are a great visualisation tool that detects issues when they appear, and helps to resolve them before they escalate. Completed tasks per day are mapped against the planned tasks, giving an indication if the progress goes off track.19. Use release burndown charts.Release burndown charts depict the sprints that are needed to complete, or release, the product. The team can decide whether they need to adjust the timeframe or not. Using these charts is a good practice to follow, especially if the product backlog was updated over the course of the project with new user requirements.20. Chart velocity.By calculating the velocity, the progress of work can be charted against initial estimates, and used to better predict team commitments and results. If the velocity is changing a great deal, then the sprint planning must be revisited and made more reliable.21. Invest in good quality software.Tools that are built for Agile teams can help with project planning, time tracking and measurement of metrics. JIRA, Toggl, Git, and Slack are popular tools that are very supportive and can help to streamline and optimise workflows.To sum up…Implementing a smooth, streamlined Agile workflow could take a lot of planning and strategizing, but with the right mindset, approach and collaborative tools, it doesn’t have to be difficult! Each team is different, and you might need to experiment with a few approaches and Scrum best practices till you find the one that’s right for you.After all, the main premise of Agile is that you should be flexible, and adapt when the need arises!
10989
- by KnowledgeHut
- 01 Apr 2019
- 10 mins read
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Product Owner vs Scrum Master: Key Differences
By KnowledgeHut
Scrum Master vs Product Owner: The two most important roles in a Scrum team. Though they seem similar, there are significant differences between the two. The pandemic has accelerated your organization’s need to go agile. But in your quest for digital transformation which roles will you hire for? The Scrum Master vs Product Owner has been a long standing debate, despite the fact that both are indispensable roles in the Scrum software development methodology and play their part in Agile transformations. Let’s look at these two roles, their specialities, differences and contributions to the digital landscape. Who is a Scrum Master? “The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team’s effectiveness. They do this by enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices, within the Scrum framework.”—Scrum.org Who is a Product Owner? “The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Product Owner is one person, not a committee. The Product Owner may represent the needs of many stakeholders in the Product Backlog. Those wanting to change the Product Backlog can do so by trying to convince the Product Owner”—Scrum.org Scrum Master vs Product Owner The Scrum Master and Product Owner are different roles with different responsibilities, yet they complement each other. The Scrum master should support the Product Owner in every step possible. There should be an amicable relationship between the Product Owner and the Scrum master. Disputes may arise between the two, if the roles are not clarified. The Scrum Master’s main aim is to ensure project success, by assisting the product owner and the team in using the right process and adhering to Agile principles. Scrum Master Product Owner Servant leadership: The day to day activity of a Scrum Master involves servant leadership where they are involved in performance planning, coaching, self- organization, removing obstacles, resolving conflicts and serving the team. Stakeholder satisfaction: The first responsibility of the product owner is customer satisfaction and this they carry out by ensuring that customer requirements are given priority and there is transparency between development team and stakeholders. The product owner guarantees stakeholder satisfaction by ensuring product success, and building a product which meets business requirements. Coach and teacher: Agile coaching is a Scrum Master’s primary skill. Teaching Scrum skills, especially to new Scrum teams is a huge part of the Scrum Master’s responsibility. They need to ensure that the team is working as per Scrum and Agile principles and following processes. Conflict resolver: Product owners may often come across unreasonable or difficult to handle stakeholders. Having conflict resolution skills will come in handy to diffuse any untoward situations or escalations that may arise with stakeholders or development team members. Technical familiarity: There is no doubt that having some technical competence will help a Scrum Master be better at the job. Technical acumen will help a Scrum Master remove any impediments the team faces and build better products by providing the correct tools and techniques. Collaborator: A product owner is a great storyteller, which means that they are able to explain the vision of the product to the developers. They need not necessarily have the technical skills to prepare user stories but they can effectively collaborate with those who can. Organizational skills: As someone who leads and guides the Scrum team, having good organizational skills is a must-have in a Scrum Master’s repertoire. SMs must ensure that work is allocated correctly, there is no slippage of tasks and deadlines are met. Prioritization skills: The Product Owner must have inherent prioritization skills in order to prioritise items on the backlog. Soft Skills: A Scrum Master should have great interpersonal skills, should be a conflict manager with the ability to solve internal and external conflicts, should be an excellent communicator and must have empathy towards team members. Soft Skills: Good communication skills and being business savvy are paramount to being successful as a Product Owner. Having to work with stakeholders and other parties means that Product Owners must be able to communicate the status of the product and other technical knowledge that the customer may wish to know. Similarly, they must be able to communicate to the team about the vision of the product and stakeholder expectations. Scrum knowledge: What is a Scrum Master without Scrum knowledge? The primary responsibility of the Scrum Master is to guide the development team on all things Scrum and make sure that the development of the product is taking place according to Scrum and Agile principles and values. This will ensure that all benefits that are associated with Scrum and Agile are realised during the course of the project. Scrum knowledge: The product owner must have knowledge of the product roadmap, release management, product backlog management, sprint planning, review and retrospectives, in order to maximise product value. Scrum Master vs Product Owner – A Responsibility Comparison Scrum Master Product Owner Aiding the team: As a servant leader, the primary responsibility of the Scrum Master is to help the development team perform. This includes removing obstacles that may impede the team from performing. Defining the vision: The Product Owner’s main task is to define the vision of the product to the development team. This involves helping them understand the reason for the product being built, its usefulness for the clients and stakeholders, how it can evolve in the future and what it is expected to achieve. Giving the development team a correct vision of the product will help them work better. Helping team members do Scrum: A Scrum Master is well versed with Scrum processes and tools. It’s the Scrum Master’s primary responsibility to ensure that the team adheres to Scrum processes during the development of the product. Being the bridge between stakeholders and team: As the go-between the development team and the customers, it is the Product Owner’s responsibility to get each party what they need to be happy. In the development team’s case, the product owner has to ensure that they have understood without any ambiguity, what needs to be built and with respect to the stakeholders, product owner has to ensure that they get the product that they have asked for. At the same time, the product owner must maintain a correct balance between the two and ensure that there is complete transparency and there is no over commitment on requirements to either side. Arranges stand up meetings: The daily stand-up meetings are an essential part of Scrum. The Scrum Master facilitates these meetings and ensures that all issues are addressed and the team is able to perform towards reaching its sprint goal. Meet with all those involved with the product: This includes meeting stakeholders, development team and all those who wish to discuss the product roadmap. These discussions could range from current product backlog items to future releases to any technical information the stakeholder may need. Sets up an environment where the team can perform more effectively: The development team develops the product, and a happy team means a well-built product and satisfied customers. The team must be allowed to work in an environment that is free of distractions and conducive to innovation and research. The Scrum Master makes sure that such an environment is provided to the team. Maximises Product Value: The Product Owner maximises product value by identifying what items in the product backlog need to be tackled first. Continuous prioritization and ordering of product backlog is an important responsibility of the product owner to ensure that high priority work gets into production first for release. Helps Product Owner with product backlog: The Scrum Master aids the development team and the Product Owner with effective product backlog management. This they do by facilitating Scrum events, product planning and by helping the team to identify backlog items. Manages Product Backlog: Creating and updating the backlog is a major part of the product owner’s responsibility. They have to sequence, prioritise and ensure that the development time is not wasting time or resources in doing the wrong tasks. Updating the product backlog is an on-going responsibility of the Product Owner. Promoting Scrum in the enterprise: The Scrum Master has a greater responsibility than that of leading the team, and that is the promotion of Scrum and transformation of the entire organization. This they do by coaching and helping teams and departments understand Scrum and develop an Agile mind-set. Explaining Scrum: You may be working with a team that is new to Scrum or stakeholders who are not aware of Scrum processes. As a Product Owner you will be expected to help your team understand about the Scrum processes that will be followed during every stage of product development while also helping the stakeholders understand how Scrum is being used to develop the product. Here are some of the frequently asked questions around Scrum Master vs Product Owner Which is the one most important service a Scrum Master provides to the Product Owner? The most important help a Scrum Master gives the Product Owner is in the management of the product backlog. While the primary responsibility of the product backlog management lies with the Product Owner, the Scrum Master pitches in when there are too many things to handle and the Product Owner is unable to perform all activities simultaneously. The Scrum Master is also the perfect bridge between the Product Owner and the development team, helping the team understand the vision of the Product Owner and helping them realise this vision. Are Scrum Master and Product Owner the same person? This is a highly debated question in the Agile world. Some experts are of the view that there are clear differences between the two roles and hence there should be two individuals to manage these two roles. The Product Owner should have an overall vision of the client’s requirements. Due to this reason, the Scrum Master needs the Product Owner; whereas the project team requires the Scrum Master to help them deliver by creating an atmosphere conducive to development and innovation. Who validates the product delivered in Scrum? The product backlog is ordered on the basis of the value of the items being delivered. Though the value is influenced by several factors including the complexity, risks associated and criticality, these are not the basis for calculating value. The value of the product is validated by the Product Owner who orders the product backlog. Conclusion The Scrum Master and the Product Owner have mostly overlapping roles and responsibilities as well as overlapping skills. The Scrum Master ensures project success, by assisting the product owner and the team in using the right Scrum processes for creating the end product and establishing the Agile principles. The Product Owner interacts with the users and customers, Stakeholders, the Development team and the Scrum Master to deliver a successful product. The Product Owner and the Scrum Master are both invaluable members of a Scrum project team, as they build the perfect relation with the development team and strive to deliver the best results.
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- by KnowledgeHut
- 30 May 2017
- 5 mins read
Scrum Master vs Product Owner: The two most import... Read More
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2 comments
i think this is the 2nd article iam reading in ur blog . this is quite impressive thank you for the info
Getting the PSM Certification is much more valuable and costs less money. But it is of course a bit harder to get. (need 85% to pass)