Search

Trending blog posts

Scrum Master Certification Cost

Over the past few years, the job market has witnessed an exponential growth in the demand for Scrum Master professionals. Getting a certification for the same will help you reach milestones in your career. Becoming a certified professional will not just help you grow in your career, but you can also draw a higher salary from your organisation.With varied certifications available to opt for, you might be confused on which to decide on. But, fret no more! Help yourself with the following compilation of Scrum Master certifications and their costs, which includes the cost of certification as well as their renewal costs. The following table lists the certifications with their cost and renewal cost for different certifications. Sr. No.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal Cost1.CSM2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400$100 and 20 SEUs, every two years2.PSM$350 if opting for training, depending on the training provider$150, if opting for the examinationNot required, has lifetime validity.3.SAFe® Scrum Master$995-$1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well as the exam fee.Each retake after the first attempt costs $50.Not required, has lifetime validity.4.EXIN Agile Scrum MasterThe examination cost comes around $260.$100, every year.5.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™)The examination cost comes around $450.Maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.6.Scrum Master Accredited Certification™$69Not required, has lifetime validity.Read along to know more on the Scrum Master certifications listed above in the table. The main objective of the same is to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the cost of the various Scrum Master Certifications as well as their renewal costs.   1. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is the most widely acknowledged Scrum Master certification. To attain the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification, you will be required to attend a 2-day classroom training, following which you will have to take an online test. Certified ScrumMaster Certification CostDepending on where you choose to get your training from, the 2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400. This cost covers the following:The 2-day courseFirst two years of certification Two attempts to take the exam (within 90 days of attending the course) Course materials which will be provided by the instructor in the class Two-year membership to the Scrum Alliance community Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Renewal costYou need to renew your CSM credentials by paying a renewal fee of $100 and earning 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs). This renewal fee includes the Scrum Alliance membership fee, which has a validity of two years. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostCSM2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400$100 and 20 SEUs, every two years2. Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM)Offered by Scrum.org, Professional Scrum Master™ certification is highly sought after. It is a 2-day long course that covers the principles and process theory of the Scrum framework, along with the roles of a Scrum Master. The Professional Scrum Master™ assessment is available for anyone who wishes to exhibit their fundamental level of Scrum mastery.Professional Scrum Master™ Certification CostIf you feel that you have a high level of Scrum knowledge, understand the Scrum Guide and the process to apply Scrum within Scrum Teams, then taking the course is optional. You can take the PSM I assessment directly, which costs $150 per attempt. But if you choose to attend the 2-day training, then the exam fee will be included in the course price, which costs around $350, depending on the training provider. You’ll have two attempts to clear the exam if you choose to attend the training, as opposed to the one chance that you will get when attempting without any training. Professional Scrum Master™ Renewal CostCertifications provided by Scrum.org hold a lifelong validity. Hence, PSM certification does not require any additional payment or renewal. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostPSM$350 if opting for training, depending on the training provider$150, if opting for the examinationNot required, has lifetime validity.3. SAFe® Scrum MasterBy attending a 2-day course, gain a proper understanding of the roles of a Scrum Master in a SAFe® environment. Explore the roles of a Scrum Master at an enterprise level and learn ways to execute the Program Increment successfully. Learn various approaches to become a servant leader and coach in order to build high performing Agile teams.The SAFe® Scrum Master certification is accredited by Scaled Agile.SAFe® Scrum Master Certification Cost:The course registration fee includes the first attempt of the exam, provided the exam is taken within 30 days of completion of the course, after which each retakes attempt costs $50.The certification costs for around $995 - $1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well.SAFe® Scrum Master Renewal Cost:SAFe® certifications are valid for one year. After completion of the first year, you will have to get your certification renewed by paying a renewal fee of $100. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostSAFe® Scrum Master$995-$1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well as the exam fee.Each retake after the first attempt costs $50.Not required, has lifetime validity.4. EXIN Agile Scrum Master (ASM)The EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification stands unique dues to its combination of Scrum practices and Agile methodologies with practical assignments. The certification tests the proficiency of a Scrum Master, who coaches, facilitates and enables a cross-functional team. Professionals belonging to the fields of business management, IT project management, software development, IT service management can opt for the EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification. EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification Cost: The examination cost for EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification comes around $260, without any training. If in case you decide to opt for the training course, it will include the exam fee as well.EXIN Agile Scrum Master Renewal Cost: There isn’t any renewal cost for EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification as it has lifetime validity.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostEXIN Agile Scrum MasterThe examination cost comes around $260.$100, every year.5. Scrum Master Certified (SMC™):It is the responsibility of a SMC™ professional to ensure that the Scrum Team is working under proper conditions which helps teams in completing projects in a successful manner. He has to make sure that the Scrum process is being followed, along with guiding, facilitating and teaching scrum practices to all the members involved in the project.The Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) certification is accredited by SCRUMstudy.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) Certification Cost:The cost of SMC™  certification examination is $450.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) Renewal Cost:To maintain your certification, you need to maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostScrum Master Certified (SMC™)The examination cost comes around $450.Maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.6. Scrum Master Accredited Certification™Accredited by the International Scrum Institute™, the Scrum Master Accredited Certification™  Program is an online test examination which can be taken from anywhere in the world. It has a success rate of 98%.Scrum Master Accredited Certification™ Cost:The certification and test costs for Scrum Master Accredited Certification is $69. There are no other hidden costs or fee involved. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostScrum Master Accredited Certification™$69Not required, has lifetime validity.
Scrum Master Certification Cost
KnowledgeHut
Rated 4.5/5 based on 2 customer reviews

Scrum Master Certification Cost

Over the past few years, the job market has witnessed an exponential growth in the demand for Scrum Master professionals. Getting a certification for the same will help you reach milestones in your career. Becoming a certified professional will not just help you grow in your career, but you can also draw a higher salary from your organisation.With varied certifications available to opt for, you might be confused on which to decide on. But, fret no more! Help yourself with the following compilation of Scrum Master certifications and their costs, which includes the cost of certification as well as their renewal costs. The following table lists the certifications with their cost and renewal cost for different certifications. Sr. No.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal Cost1.CSM2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400$100 and 20 SEUs, every two years2.PSM$350 if opting for training, depending on the training provider$150, if opting for the examinationNot required, has lifetime validity.3.SAFe® Scrum Master$995-$1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well as the exam fee.Each retake after the first attempt costs $50.Not required, has lifetime validity.4.EXIN Agile Scrum MasterThe examination cost comes around $260.$100, every year.5.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™)The examination cost comes around $450.Maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.6.Scrum Master Accredited Certification™$69Not required, has lifetime validity.Read along to know more on the Scrum Master certifications listed above in the table. The main objective of the same is to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of the cost of the various Scrum Master Certifications as well as their renewal costs.   1. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) is the most widely acknowledged Scrum Master certification. To attain the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification, you will be required to attend a 2-day classroom training, following which you will have to take an online test. Certified ScrumMaster Certification CostDepending on where you choose to get your training from, the 2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400. This cost covers the following:The 2-day courseFirst two years of certification Two attempts to take the exam (within 90 days of attending the course) Course materials which will be provided by the instructor in the class Two-year membership to the Scrum Alliance community Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) Renewal costYou need to renew your CSM credentials by paying a renewal fee of $100 and earning 20 Scrum Educational Units (SEUs). This renewal fee includes the Scrum Alliance membership fee, which has a validity of two years. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostCSM2-day Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) course costs around $1000-$1400$100 and 20 SEUs, every two years2. Professional Scrum Master™ (PSM)Offered by Scrum.org, Professional Scrum Master™ certification is highly sought after. It is a 2-day long course that covers the principles and process theory of the Scrum framework, along with the roles of a Scrum Master. The Professional Scrum Master™ assessment is available for anyone who wishes to exhibit their fundamental level of Scrum mastery.Professional Scrum Master™ Certification CostIf you feel that you have a high level of Scrum knowledge, understand the Scrum Guide and the process to apply Scrum within Scrum Teams, then taking the course is optional. You can take the PSM I assessment directly, which costs $150 per attempt. But if you choose to attend the 2-day training, then the exam fee will be included in the course price, which costs around $350, depending on the training provider. You’ll have two attempts to clear the exam if you choose to attend the training, as opposed to the one chance that you will get when attempting without any training. Professional Scrum Master™ Renewal CostCertifications provided by Scrum.org hold a lifelong validity. Hence, PSM certification does not require any additional payment or renewal. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostPSM$350 if opting for training, depending on the training provider$150, if opting for the examinationNot required, has lifetime validity.3. SAFe® Scrum MasterBy attending a 2-day course, gain a proper understanding of the roles of a Scrum Master in a SAFe® environment. Explore the roles of a Scrum Master at an enterprise level and learn ways to execute the Program Increment successfully. Learn various approaches to become a servant leader and coach in order to build high performing Agile teams.The SAFe® Scrum Master certification is accredited by Scaled Agile.SAFe® Scrum Master Certification Cost:The course registration fee includes the first attempt of the exam, provided the exam is taken within 30 days of completion of the course, after which each retakes attempt costs $50.The certification costs for around $995 - $1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well.SAFe® Scrum Master Renewal Cost:SAFe® certifications are valid for one year. After completion of the first year, you will have to get your certification renewed by paying a renewal fee of $100. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostSAFe® Scrum Master$995-$1,295, which includes the mandatory course fee as well as the exam fee.Each retake after the first attempt costs $50.Not required, has lifetime validity.4. EXIN Agile Scrum Master (ASM)The EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification stands unique dues to its combination of Scrum practices and Agile methodologies with practical assignments. The certification tests the proficiency of a Scrum Master, who coaches, facilitates and enables a cross-functional team. Professionals belonging to the fields of business management, IT project management, software development, IT service management can opt for the EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification. EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification Cost: The examination cost for EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification comes around $260, without any training. If in case you decide to opt for the training course, it will include the exam fee as well.EXIN Agile Scrum Master Renewal Cost: There isn’t any renewal cost for EXIN Agile Scrum Master certification as it has lifetime validity.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostEXIN Agile Scrum MasterThe examination cost comes around $260.$100, every year.5. Scrum Master Certified (SMC™):It is the responsibility of a SMC™ professional to ensure that the Scrum Team is working under proper conditions which helps teams in completing projects in a successful manner. He has to make sure that the Scrum process is being followed, along with guiding, facilitating and teaching scrum practices to all the members involved in the project.The Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) certification is accredited by SCRUMstudy.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) Certification Cost:The cost of SMC™  certification examination is $450.Scrum Master Certified (SMC™) Renewal Cost:To maintain your certification, you need to maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostScrum Master Certified (SMC™)The examination cost comes around $450.Maintain a minimum of 40 Recertification Units (RCUs) every three years.6. Scrum Master Accredited Certification™Accredited by the International Scrum Institute™, the Scrum Master Accredited Certification™  Program is an online test examination which can be taken from anywhere in the world. It has a success rate of 98%.Scrum Master Accredited Certification™ Cost:The certification and test costs for Scrum Master Accredited Certification is $69. There are no other hidden costs or fee involved. CertificationCost of CertificationRenewal CostScrum Master Accredited Certification™$69Not required, has lifetime validity.
Rated 4.5/5 based on 2 customer reviews
Scrum Master Certification Cost
Blogs
8638
Scrum Master Certification Cost

Over the past few years, the job market has witnes... Read More

Top 5 Career Paths for Scrum Masters

Are you a Scrum Master? Will you remain as a Scrum master forever? What are your future plans which can advance your career? Let’s discuss what is beyond Scrum master and understand the scope of the various roles or career paths that Scrum Master can play and the supporting certifications to upskill his/her career.Career Paths for Scrum MasterAgile CoachProduct OwnerMentorManagerManagement RolesLet’s understand each role clearly.Agile CoachIt has become a trend now to become an Agile Coach after achieving the CSM certification. This role will help you to stand out in the crowd. A Scrum Master who is successful in managing the complex tasks and handling the multiple teams can go for the role of the Mentor.  Agile Coach is responsible for facilitating the Agile and Scrum implementation. As an Agile Coach, you help teams in Agile adoption and reach success.To become an Agile Coach, the first step is you should be well-versed with the Scrum concepts. Agile and Scrum Certifications will lead you to enhance your Scrum skills. To call yourself a master in the Scrum, you should become a Scrum Master. Along with this, a Product Owner or any other Development team member in the team can be a good Coach. Having experience in playing all the three Scrum roles (Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development team)  will be a great start to your Coaching career. On the contrary, if you are not practicing any of those roles, getting trained in these certifications is the best choice to earn hands-on experience.Agile coach education and training:To become an Agile coach there are plenty of online and in-person courses that will help you build the skills to become an Agile coach. ICP-ACC certification is the most popular in demand certification.To know more about this training, check out our ICP-ACC certification course.Product Owner:While on a Scrum team, if the Scrum Masters like what the team is building more than the act of creating something, then they can be most appropriate candidates to become a Product Owner. Product Owner is another role to which a Scrum Master can make a transition. This is not a part of the career path but it is a movement within a team. The Product Owner role is equal to that of a Scrum Master role which can be taken in order to switch to the Product Owner role.Certification leads to the Product Owner roleThere are two certifications available for a product owner Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) by Scrum Alliance and Professional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) by Scrum.org. to validate and certify their understanding of the role of the product owner and how they would respond to real situations that will challenge them.Mentor:A Scrum Master who has been successful in his current role can step ahead into a role as a mentor to other Scrum Masters. This includes the transmission of knowledge and psychological support to the team. As the team is engaged in the daily use of scrum, the scrum master helps the team to use it more effectively. The main motive behind the scrum master acting as a mentoring is to help the individuals become self-sufficient and the team to become self-organizing.Manager:A good manager is essential to the success of a Scrum process and if the manager is an ex-Scrum Master then he or she will understand the problems clear and support teams in the right way. As a manager, your roles and responsibilities will increase. Management RolesScrum Masters are not to be confused with the Project Managerial role. But some Scrum Masters find this task very interesting while working with the team members closely. Scrum Masters become very proficient at guiding teams after working as a Scrum Master for years. Due to this, many wishes to move to management roles.To conclude:The role of Scrum Master increases the demand for the scrum experts and thus there are great opportunities for the scrum professional. The scrum master career path allows one to build a career in different fields. Choose the best career path and it’s good to know your options.
Rated 4.5/5 based on 1 customer reviews
Top 5 Career Paths for Scrum Masters
Blogs
8982
Top 5 Career Paths for Scrum Masters

Are you a Scrum Master? Will you remain as a Scrum... Read More

How to Renew CSM® Certification?

Are you a CSM® certified professional? As a Certified ScrumMaster® you are now ready to help the Scrum team perform at the highest level while protecting them from both internal and external distractions. Further, the certification helps you to:Expand your career opportunities across every industry that adopt Agile practices.Demonstrate your core Scrum knowledge.Learn about the foundation of Scrum and its scope.Engage with Agile practitioners who are committed to continuous improvement.But it’s not enough to be CSM® certified. You need to maintain your certification to continue your CSM® journey.Maintain your CSM® certification by renewing itAfter working hard to earn your CSM® certification, you need to avoid its lapse by renewing it every 2 years. You are required to earn a certain amount of Scrum Education Units® (SEUs) in order to validate your participation and continued proficiency in the fundamental principles and practices of Scrum. All the SEUs must be earned within the past 2 years. You also need to pay a renewal fee.The SEU requirements and renewal fees that you need to pay for renewing your CSM® certification are as follows:CertificationSEUs requiredFee Per TermCSM®20$100These 20 SEUs can be earned by you in the following ways:By watching community webinarGiving back to the Agile community by volunteering in some wayParticipating in a local user groupAttend a Scrum Gathering at a global or regional levelWrite a Scrum or Agile blogRead a book on Scrum or AgileSteps to renew your CSM® certificationYou need to be within 6 months of your current CSM® certification date. Further, you need to follow these steps in order to renew your CSM® certification:Step 1: Log in to your certification account.Step 2: Click on the ‘certification dashboard’ which you can find in the settings.Step 3: Pay your renewal fee by scrolling to the ‘Actions’ window and click the renewal link. Why should you renew your CSM® certification?You can reap the following benefits by renewing your CSM® certification:Get your knowledge, abilities, and skills endorsed by the largest, most established, and influential Agile certifying body to differentiate yourself from others in your field.Increase your opportunities for career advancement and potential for increasing your earnings.Influence the future of Scrum to participate in volunteer opportunities.Open your path towards obtaining more advanced certifications.Promote your achievements by displaying a digital badge.On a concluding noteYour CSM® certification credential lasts for only two years. This blog discusses all that you should keep in mind to maintain your CSM® credential. The renewal opens your door to various career advancement opportunities. Also, it helps to promote your achievements by displaying your digital badge. 
Rated 4.5/5 based on 2 customer reviews
How to Renew CSM® Certification?
Blogs
6633
How to Renew CSM® Certification?

Are you a CSM® certified professional? As a Certi... Read More

The Ultimate Guide to the Agile Manifesto

Are you interested in learning about what Agile Manifesto, what Agile’s core principles and values are and what they have to offer to help you benefit from the same in your organisation?Well, if you are, then you have come to the right place, because after reading this article, you will come to know about:What Agile Manifesto isThe purpose that Agile Manifesto servesThe history of Agile ManifestoWhat Agile Manifesto values areThe values of  Agile Manifesto principles.By the end of this article, you will have comprehensive knowledge about Agile Manifesto, its values and principles. Expansive as it may be, but it will feature core elements that define Agile in itself and how it can sort things out in any type of organisation.Firstly, Agile software development, also known as Agile, is an outlook to software development, one that unfolds requirements and solutions through the collaborated effort of self-organising, cross-functional teams and their clients or end users.It recommends planning using adaptive methods along with evolutionary development, empirical knowledge, and continual progress.This is a very short description out of the ocean of information about what Agile actually is. However, let’s stress on what Agile Manifesto is.What is Agile Manifesto?The Manifesto for Agile Software Development, commonly referred to as Agile Manifesto, Is a legal official order that includes twelve principles and four values to show the way for an iterative and people-centric approach to software development. It focuses primarily on testing while keeping the code simple, delivering the functioning bits of the application as soon as they are ready. It promotes an easy, clear and simple approach to developing software in short sprints so that each functioning bit of the software could be analysed and tested based on the client’s or the end user’s requirements, and may be changed if required to meet their needs.Although this set of values and principles were formed primarily for software development, the same can be applied to different forms of business.This makes Agile a very effective and flexible method for all forms of business.The history of Agile Manifesto and its developmentIt all began in Snowbird, Utah from February 11 to 13, 2001, where the ‘Manifesto for Agile software’ was formed. In the meet, seventeen developers formed this manifesto, ones such as Kent Beck, Ward Cunningham, Dave Thomas, Jeff Sutherland, Ken Schwaber, Jim Highsmith, Alistair Cockburn, and Bob Martin. They already had established themselves as leaders in the software industry and abandoned the ‘Waterfall’ approach.They realised the difficulty in creating good software and wanted to introduce new values to software development teams. This led to the desire of having a process etched on stone, a process that they were already practising on to bring a change in software development. Together, they published the ‘Manifesto to Agile Software Development’, that marked the beginning of the Agile movement.Agile Manifesto comprises of four fundamental values and twelve supporting principles, ones that head the Agile approach to software development. This manifesto defines the values and principles that software teams should embrace to achieve the landmark of creating good software.Agile Manifesto ValuesWe will discuss the four values of Agile, each value having two aspects, the ones at the left emphasise over the ones at the right. What is great about this manifesto is that it does not propose alternatives, but defining values, thus encouraging developers to pay attention to certain areas whilst not bypassing others.According to the Agile Manifesto, the four values are as follows:Individuals and interactions over processes and toolsWorking software over comprehensive documentationCustomer collaboration over contract negotiationRespond to change over following a planLet us see what these values individually have to offer and what we learn from them.Individuals and Interactions over processes and toolsThis stresses on the fact that although the right tools are vital to developing good software, it is very essential to have a cognitive unit to perform the task in the first place. A team of developers working together on a project with separate but unique tools in a single room will perform efficiently and quickly to deliver before or on the deadline day than isolated developers working with a well-defined process and a common set of state of the art and sophisticated tools in a huge office.We are not denying the fact that tools do not play an important part in creating good software. Of course, they do but we should bear in mind that tools do not work on their own and need people to make them work.And what are human beings in general?We are social beings and deliver quicker and with more efficiency when working together in a group. A cognitive unit of hard working and smart employees will work in tandem without any communication gap and make the flow of work smootherWorking software over comprehensive documentationIn the past, there were records of lots of time being spent on documenting the product for development and delivery under tight deadlines. Test plans, technical requirements, documentation plans, interface design documents, technical specifications, technical prospectus, and approval required; the list was endless and this caused long delays in development. Documentation is important and serves the purpose of making the end users or co-workers understand how the software works. But there are times when the developers of a company are left with an uphill task of doing the documentation even before the commencement of developing the software, and if the company follows Agile methodology, then they should remember that the primary aim of a software developing company is to develop software, not to engage in the documentation for the majority of their time.Here, Agile comes into play and makes things easier for the developers. It breaks down the requirements of the client in the form of documents as user stories and that is exactly what each developer would need to begin working on developing the software.Customer Collaboration Over Contract NegotiationYour customer is the key to your success. Logically speaking, customers are the ones who help you in making better software. And How? Well, that is easy to explain. Customers are the users who will end up using a particular software. Developing the same while taking feedback and inputs from them will help you focus on the prime objective of giving the customers what they really want. They might not help in providing you with the next breakthrough idea, one which you have to come up with, but working closely with them and listening to their input will help you create what your customers desire for and as a result, develop flexible and successfully developed software.Sometimes, legal contracts with customers act as a barrier for you in communicating with your customers. You will need to devise a plan to separate the legal bounding that you have with your customers from the product relationship.Contract negotiations will be there as a part of the deal, but forming a relationship with the customer to facilitate communication will help you interact with the customers with a human touch, failing to do which will not help in developing great software. Creating a relationship with the customers will help in knowing their preferences, thoughts, and opinions. This might be a difficult task for you, but in the long run, doing so will help you achieve much better results.Remember,There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.- Sam WaltonRespond to Change over Following a PlanChanges do happen in software development. Changes in technology, business trends and strategy, etc. Being flexible with the flow of change is what the fourth value of Agile all about.Following a project plan is fine. However, the same must be flexible and should have some room for changes or it will soon be forgotten as some misplaced faith of self-righteousness.This, on the other hand, makes the life of software testers difficult. Let me tell you why.The software testers analyse and test the functioning bits of the software after its development. However, due to sudden changes in the technical part, business plans or strategy, the testers are not aware of the sudden changes or updates that the developing team are made aware of and need to change their testing strategy accordingly.This results in communication gaps being formed between the testers and the developers thus putting the testers under tremendous pressure to deliver on time.In order to get this issue sorted out, you need to go back to the first value of Agile, which is communicating across teams to stay updated about the changes for a better and more effective workflow. It is more like an initiative to be taken by the testing team, that is, to communicate with the developers to stay in the loop of changes or a new course of action.Now that we have covered on the four values of Agile, let us move ahead to show you what the twelve principles of Agile have to offer and in what way they can help.Agile Manifesto PrinciplesThe twelve Agile principles form the ‘twelve commandments’ of the ‘Agile Movement’ methodology, ones which embrace change and consider the customer as the focal point. They also denote the movement’s intent, that is, to bring development into alignment with business needs, as described by one of the signatories of the manifesto, Alistair Cockburn.The twelve principles of Agile development include:Customer Satisfaction through Early and Continuous Software Delivery:The best way to make customers happy is by delivering the software early for testing and feedback, to let them know about the progress, the implementations, and acknowledge the delivery value by fulfilling their top priority requirements first. Each iteration has an outcome, a working code that can be applied to examine and respond to the ever-changing user requirements.Accommodate Changing Requirements Throughout the Development Process:This stresses on responding to change instead of staying strictly aligned to an approved plan. It involves a simplified version of handling change with the necessity of no formal documentation or approval. This is done to have control over change for the customer’s competitive advantage because it fastens the response to the latest changes in the business to bolster your advantage to emerging opportunities.Frequent Delivery of Working Software:This explains how to provide immediate value to the customers by delivering working features. Each iteration or Sprint must end up in yielding a product release. The teams ensure that each feature is fully developed, tested, customised, and styled according to the customer’s satisfaction before considering it as delivered. The structure of the project team can be bettered by focussing on the delivery of value with a fixed delivery timeframe.Collaboration between the Business Stakeholders and Developers throughout the Project:Agile development principles aim at keeping requirements and documentation light.The primary thought process is that it is fine and acceptable for changes to happen in software development. This results in close collaborations being given importance to clarify requirements on a timely basis to always keep all the team members notified during the development of the software.Support, Trust, and Motivate the people involved:Fruitful and competitive projects depend on focussed, trusted, and motivated individuals to get the job done. Team members are allowed to select the work they are most interested in by self-organisation with no interference of external management. Micromanagement and top-down approach is a strict no-no.Enable Face-to-Face InteractionsThis form of interaction is the best one of the lot. No other mode of communication could beat this one, especially when you need to get to the root of an issue. Feedback via face-to-face interaction or video conference (for the teams separated geographically) is always encouraged as it involves a smoother transfer of information amongst the members.Working Software is the Primary Measure of ProgressThis is done by collocating a number of teams in an open area and programmers are paired with each other at each workstation. So what that means is, each pair works in a symbiotic manner. The programmer at the keyboard, known as the ‘Driver’. The other one, known as the ‘Navigator’, actively works on the programming, thinking more about the overall direction. Normally, the job roles are to be switched to have a better understanding between each other.This results in better coding, as these symbiotic interactions help in clarifying the complexities and hidden details in the coding task in a better way. This also leads to a smoother exchange of information and knowledge amongst the team, hence reducing coordination efforts greatly, and improving the flexibility of the pair to interruptions.Agile Processes to Support a Consistent Development PaceThe Agile methodology aims at keeping the perfect work-life balance and never over exhaust the employees, thus keeping them happy. By maintaining close collaboration and being alert and creative, extended work after normal working hours is avoided, especially at the weekends, the time when people try to recover from their hectic lifestyle.Attention to Technical Detail and Design Enhances AgilitySelf-organising teams are the key to yield the best architectures, designs, and requirements. The team engages in retrospective meetings that hold discussions on the things needed in order to be more effective, after which a decision is made on the next course of action depending on the situation. This ensures that whatever is learnt during the project can be reapplied in the next iteration.SimplicityThis principle hints at the application of the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule. It means that as a matter of fact, 80% of the results may be achieved from just 20% of your efforts. What actually needs to be done is to focus on the ‘20%’ that will yield the majority of the results. You need to focus on the things that are important to add value to the project and customers. Ignore the things that do not add value, such as components, process, etc.Self-organizing teams encourage great architectures, requirements, and designsIn Scrum methodology, the team has complete control and is responsible to meet the target of each sprint, and on deciding how to achieve the same. Cutting long story short, the team knows the best way to carry out the task, the interference of the project manager or even the human resources department is not welcome.Regular reflections on how to become more effectiveTo get the right results, it is imperative for teams to work as a cognitive unit by focussing on working out new plans to be more effective, checking the requirements, tuning in to the change, and adapting accordingly. Changes do happen most of the time, so you will never come to know what changes in the requirements might emerge until the software is looked at and tested. And the external conditions might have changed while you spent lots of time analysing and reviewing the requirements and designing a solution.Purpose of Agile ManifestoThe basic ambition of Agile is to deliver better software, and that is achieved by presenting a structure which is transparent and direct by emphasising on iterative development, team collaboration and embracing change.Really, it is difficult to imagine how Agile Manifesto has given rise to numerous software and activity. Before the emergence of the same, developing software was not as quick as it is nowadays. This led to the cancellation of many projects because of the continual changes in business needs and was quite unsettling for the software developing industry.The Agile Manifesto is the heart of the Agile movement. Its twelve core principles and four values aimed at changing the process, speeding up productivity with quality and development time. It was noticed that Agile has been implemented even on fields outside software development. Agile stressed on lean manufacturing, collaboration, communication and quick development of smaller sets of features under the guidance of an all-inclusive plan whilst always adapting to changes.Agile Vs Scrum and other methodologiesEven though Agile and Scrum go along with the same system, they do differ in some aspects when compared with each other.While Agile explains a set of principles in the Agile Manifesto employing interactive development to build software, Scrum follows a specific set of rules when practising Agile software development. Agile forms the philosophy whereas Scrum is the methodology to implement the Agile philosophy.Scrum is one of the ways to implement Agile, so there is no surprise when both are similar in many aspects. Both base on delivering software sooner and at regular intervals. Both are iterative processes and have scope for changes too, not to forget their transparency and constant improvement.Here are the notable differences and similarities between Agile and Scrum:AspectsAgileScrumPhilosophyYesNoAdds processNoYesMethodologyNoYesAccommodates changeYesYesConstant improvementYesYesDeliver software early and oftenYesYesIterativeYesYesTransparencyYesYesWhen it comes to Agile and Waterfall, it can be said that Agile is much more flexible and ever-evolving while Waterfall is a rigid and inflexible process.The chances of finding similarities between these two are remote. As a matter of fact, Agile was brought into existence because of the shortfalls of Waterfall and is its polar opposite although they both strive at delivering quality products efficiently.Here are the notable differences and similarities between Agile and Scrum:AspectsAgileWaterfallSequentialNoYesRigid processNoYesFlexibleYesNoAccommodates changeYesNoContinually evolvingYesNoDeliver quality productsYesYesDefined requirementsNoYesOn comparing Agile with Kanban, although the latter implements the former in a visual manner, there are numerous differences and notable similarities, which are:AspectsAgileKanbanIterationsYesNoContinuous flowNoYesPhilosophyYesNoVisualisationNoYesContinually improvingYesYesCross-functional teamsYesNoTransparencyYesYesFaster deliveryYesYesSplitting projects into smaller segmentsYesYesUpfront planning is not necessaryYesYesEqually beneficial to all industriesNoYesNo project management methodology is 100% foolproof all the time. Different methodologies are introduced in different situations and prove useful too. It depends on the type of change you want to bring in your team. For example, Kanban is a better option if you want to introduce something on the top of existing infrastructure with small but incremental changes. However, Agile would be a better choice if your goal is to go for a bigger change.ConclusionSo, here we are, at the end of the line of this topic. We have discussed a lot about Agile Manifesto, its values and principles, and focussed on the benefits of its applications, not to forget about how different Agile is from the various methodologies.You can freely implement the magnificent set of values and principles of Agile to your own business or organisation. It will work wonders if followed religiously.All the best for your future!
Rated 4.5/5 based on 1 customer reviews
The Ultimate Guide to the Agile Manifesto
Blogs
7647
The Ultimate Guide to the Agile Manifesto

Are you interested in learning about what Agile Ma... Read More

What is Scrum Alliance® Membership?

The certification offered by Scrum Alliance® enables you to gain an understanding of the agile mindset and learn about Scrum roles, events, and artifacts. But what is Scrum Alliance®? It is a non-profit organisation that helps to create joyful, prosperous, and sustainable workplaces by inspiring and guiding the individual, leaders, and organisations with agile practices, principles, and values.Scrum Alliance® also has a strong membership community that gives an extra boost to your passion of agile journey. The membership fee which you need to pay is $50 and you need to renew your membership every year. It is an optional service which gives you access to benefits that are exclusively available for the members. The benefits include access to local user groups, deep discounts off Global and Regional Scrum Gatherings, AgileCareers job board, and more. Now let’s discuss the offerings of Scrum Alliance® Membership in details.Scrum Alliance® Membership perksAs we have already discussed above, you don’t need to purchase a one-year Scrum Alliance Membership in order to take up a Scrum Alliance® course or earn a certification. Also, you do not get direct access to the online CSM® test. But you receive a complimentary membership for two years once you earn an initial certification from Scrum Alliance®, like CSM®, CSPO®, CSD®.Now let’s take a look at the perks of having a Scrum Alliance Membership. They are:Earn discounts for Regional and Global Scrum GatheringsGrab the opportunity to join a User GroupWork as a volunteerYou can find a job or post one with AgileCareers.Benefits of having a Scrum Alliance® MembershipIf you are passionate about embarking on an exciting Agile journey, then registering for Scrum Alliance Membership will provide you with the required support for it. Sign up for a Scrum Alliance Membership and get an opportunity to connect with other Scrum practitioners around the world as a part of the largest, most established, and influential professional membership organisation in the Agile and Scrum community. Moreover, you can reap the following benefits out of the membership:1. ConnectGet an opportunity to learn and network with the industry experts by participating at in-person events, including Global and Regional Gathering. Need some extra membership benefits? Scrum Alliance Membership enables you to avail exclusive membership while registering for these events.2. CommunityOnce you become a Scrum Alliance Member, you get the opportunity to share knowledge and best practices by participating in 350+ User Groups as well as give back to the community through a wide range of volunteering opportunities.3. CareerGive a new direction to your career by getting exclusive access to the job board of Scrum Alliance i.e. AgileCareers.4. CalibrateScrum Alliance® offers you a plethora of new professional development resources. Get updates on new exclusive webinars, resources, insights, and research.5. CollaborateYou become eligible for special offers as soon as you become a Scrum Alliance Member. Transform and optimize your organisation by taking advantage of product and service benefits.Steps to renew your Scrum Alliance MembershipYour Scrum Alliance Membership lasts for only a year. You need to renew your membership at the end of every year by paying $50. The renewal of membership gives you access to local user groups, exclusive discounts on Global and Regional Scrum Gatherings, AgileCareer job portal, and more. But renewing your membership doesn’t renew your certification. Follow these steps to renew your Scrum Alliance Membership:Step 1:  Log in to your account.Step 2: In the next step, you need to click on ‘Hello, [Your Name]’ which you will find in the upper righthand corner.Step 3: Next, you need to select ‘My Dashboard’.Step 4: Now you need to look for the section labelled ‘Actions’.Step 5: In the next step, you need to click on ‘Renew Membership’.Step 6: Finally, you need to pay $50 for your membership dues as soon as you get redirected to PayPal.On a concluding noteScrum Alliance Membership opens your doors towards numerous benefits that you can reap while you continue with your Agile journey. It gives you access to regional as well as global learning opportunities with an extra benefit of availing discounts on registration for the events.Further, get an opportunity to mingle with 350+ User Groups to share knowledge and best practices. Also, grab the exclusive opportunity to find a new role for yourself to give your career a new dimension by getting access to AgileCareers.Hope this article helps you to make a wise move. All the best!
Rated 4.5/5 based on 11 customer reviews
What is Scrum Alliance® Membership?
Blogs
5906
What is Scrum Alliance® Membership?

The certification offered by Scrum Alliance® enab... Read More

How to Earn a Scrum Education Unit® (SEU®) From the Scrum Alliance

In the world of Agile, SEUs® stands for Scrum Education Units® (SEUs®), issued by the Scrum Alliance. It marks your participation, educational experience and continued proficiency in the underlying principles and practices of Scrum, while at the same time to maintain your certification. You can earn Scrum Education Units® (SEUs®) via completing various learning opportunities or educational training.  The process to earn SEUs® is easy and it will help you stay relevant as well as competitive in the market.Why do I need to earn SEUs®?SEUs® are required to renew foundational, advanced and professional-level certifications, which include CSM®, A-CSM®, CSP-SM®, CSPO®, A-CSPO®, CSP-PO®,  CSD®, and CSP®.SEUs® follow a ratio of 1:1, which means that for every hour spent in preparation or participation, you earn one SEU®.In order to maintain your certification for two more years, you need to submit an established number of Scrum Education Units® (SEUs®) along with a renewal fee.There are six categories from which you can choose from when selecting SEUs®, which has been discussed later in the blog.The following SEU® requirements have been in effect since February 4, 2019, with no change in the renewal fee.Certification TypeCertification (2-year term)SEUs RequiredRenewal Fee Per TermFoundationalCSM®, CSPO®, CSD®20$100AdvancedA-CSM®, A-CSPO®30$175ProfessionalCSP-SM®, CSP-PO®, CSP®40$250What are the different ways to earn SEUs®?There are six categories that you can choose from while selecting SEUs®:Category I: Scrum Alliance Scrum GatheringsParticipate in Scrum Alliance Global Gatherings, Scrum Alliance Regional Gatherings, Scrum Coaching Retreats, and Scrum Alliance-Sponsored Events, and Scrum Alliance-Endorsed User Group activities and events and earn SEUs®.Per day, a maximum of 8 SEUs® can be earned.The following are a few options for Scrum Alliance Scrum Gatherings:Attending Global Scrum GatheringAttending Regional Scrum GatheringAttending Scrum Alliance user group activityAttending Scrum Coaching RetreatAttending Scrum Alliance pre-event or post-event workshopAttending Scrum Alliance-sponsored eventAttending Scrum Alliance CSP Retreat  Category II: Scrum Alliance Courses or CoachingWork with Scrum Alliance CSTs, CTCs, CECs, and REPs to earn SEUs®. You can earn a maximum of 8 SEUs® after attending a full day training.Additional SEUs® can be earned by:Acquiring continuing education in advanced Scrum topics.Attending training courses conducted by CST®, like webinars, e-learning, recorded training, face-to-face courses.Attending training courses which are provided by Scrum Alliance® Registered Education Provider (REP).Participating in small or one-on-one group coachings provided by a CEC or CTC.Note: The CSTs, CECs, CTCs, or REPs should be verified as per the Member Directory on the Scrum Alliance website.The following are a few options for Scrum Alliance Courses or Coaching:Receiving CSM trainingReceiving CSPO trainingReceiving CSD trainingReceiving training from a CST (can be video training or eLearning)Receiving training from a Scrum Alliance REPReceiving coaching conducted by a CEC or CTCCategory III: Outside EventsYou can earn SEUs® by participating in other relevant events as well, other than the ones that are sponsored by Scrum Alliance. It includes Agile conferences, training from someone who is not a CST, regional meetings, or a REP course that does not fit according to the Category II.  Unlike Category II, activities in Category III include activities and services that you are receiving rather than providing.The following are a few options for Outside Events:Receiving face-to-face training outside of Scrum AllianceReceiving coaching or mentoring outside of Scrum Alliance vAttending user group events outside of Scrum AllianceAttending Scrum/Agile events outside of Scrum AllianceCategory IV: Volunteer ServiceScrum Alliance encourages you to give back to the community.  Therefore, you can earn SEUs® by providing non-compensated professional Scrum services, that is, you will be asked if you are not compensating for your volunteer work for your employer or another party.Category V: Independent LearningYou can earn SEUs® via independent learning activities such as preparing presentations, authoring relevant books, blogs or articles; watching a training video; reading books in-depth and then describing their benefits as a Scrum practitioner.The following are a few options for Independent Learning:Preparing a Scrum presentation (not delivering)Author a book, blog or articleWatch a Scrum/Agile video by an instructor other than a Scrum Alliance CSTRead a book on Scrum/AgileOther independent learningCategory VI: Other Collaborative LearningYou can earn SEUs® via various other collaborative learning activities with other Scrum practitioners. This category might not include submissions which belong to Category B or C.The following are a few options for Collaborative Learning:Co-training with the objective of learningReceiving training via live webinar which is delivered by any trainer other than a CSTOther collaborative learningWhat is the process for submitting SEUs®  for renewal? The following is the step-by-step process for SEUs® renewal:Log into your account on the Scrum Alliance page, https://www.scrumalliance.org/login.Click on the ‘My Settings’, which can be found on the upper right-hand area of your screen.Select ‘Certification Dashboard’.Under the ‘My Credentials’, go to the grey ‘Manage SEUs®’ button.Choose your SEU® category from the ‘Enter a Scrum Education Unit’  drop-down menu.Fill in all the details of all the required fields. Note: You cannot reuse an SEU® if it has been used to submit a prior renewal of certification or CSP® application.  Also, all of the SEUs® that is being used for renewal should be earned within the past two years. 
Rated 4.5/5 based on 12 customer reviews
How to Earn a Scrum Education Unit® (SEU®) From the Scrum Alliance
Blogs
9913
How to Earn a Scrum Education Unit® (SEU®)...

In the world of Agile, SEUs® stands for Scrum Edu... Read More