Scrum Master Certification

During the online training course offered by Six Sigma Global Institute I was curious to learn that there is evidently a big difference between Scrum Master and Project Manager / Product Owner.

• Did you know that a Scrum Master is not the team authority? They do not discipline the team when they are not performing.
• The Scum Master is also not the product authority. That is the Product Owner and ideally that person is also not the team leader but is merely the authority on the product being developed. Ideally, in scrum, teams are democratic and self-managing.
• Also, did you know that a Scrum Master is not supposed to do any of the work when the team falls behind? Wow.

Exactly what is the Scrum Master ideally supposed to do?

• The Scrum Master does facilitate daily scrum or "stand up" meetings
• The Scrum Master does facilitate the removal of blockers for team mates.
• The Scrum Master does facilitate sprint planning, sprint review and sprint retrospective meetings.
• The Scrum Master does coach team members
• The Scrum Master does negotiate conflicts
• The Scrum Master does inspire and encourage the team to follow Scrum principles at all times

I look forward to future meetings with mentors that I've set up and perhaps even surveying them because I have a lot of questions. The main burning question I have is, does this really happen IRL and why or why not?

The main burning question I have is, does this really happen IRL and why or why not?

When searching for jobs on the all the various job boards, there are rarely positions with simply the title "Scrum Master", most are "Project Manager with agile experience" roles. This confirms my suspicions and work experience so far. Most roles are a hybrid of the two, and sometimes the Project Manager does get involved with the work. Nonetheless, I remain open to learning, being flexible, adaptive and open-minded. I'm also open to improving a position based on scrum principles if and when my organization is open to that change.

I can assure your that the SSGI version of Scrum Master Certification training is lean, direct and efficient. I definitely appreciated how it was succinct, to the point and I highly recommend it.

What is Lean Six Sigma?

From Six Sigma Global Institute's (SSGI) website the following is a description of Lean Six Sigma: Lean Six Sigma is a discipline that delivers customer value through efficient operations and consistent quality standards. It’s a methodology that focuses on improving performance by systematically removing waste and reducing variation. Simply put, Lean Six Sigma is a set of tools that can help an organization improve customer satisfaction, quality, products, services and their bottom line.

To this standard and discipline, I can assure your that the SSGI version of Scrum Master Certification training is lean, direct and efficient. I definitely appreciated how it was succinct, to the point and I highly recommend it.

I can do a better job at setting better sprint goals, followed by conducting more realistic sprint reviews and retrospectives with myself. These would in turn lead to improved velocity, which is the rate at which I accomplish work and goals.

Applying scrum in my personal life

I actually wrote about this once already in a Blog post from February 6, 2020 entitled Scrum where I review the book by the same name by Jeff and JJ Sutherland. Even then, I talked about iterating over every aspect of my life all the time, which I believe I have continuously done and commit to keep doing. Taking the Scrum Master course a few years later, however, did drive home some opportunities for improvement. I can do a better job at setting better sprint goals, followed by conducting more realistic sprint reviews and retrospectives with myself. These would in turn lead to improved velocity, which is the rate at which I accomplish work and goals.

Applying the principles of scrum to this business will help me in numerous ways. I absolutely need to make sure that I iterate over every feature or aspect of the business at least once every week.

Applying scrum to my side business, Dry Peaks

As a way to practice project management, web development and scrum mastery, (as well as develop additional income, exercise gear and adventures for myself), I started a small side business. Dry Peaks is an online clothing business, starting out with handmade prototype headbands while we search for an overseas supplier for headbands, shorts and t-shirts with custom prints and made from recycled fabric. Applying the principles of scrum to this business will help me in numerous ways. I absolutely need to make sure that I iterate over every feature or aspect of the business at least once every week. There have been weeks where I focus just on the website, just on the manufacturing, or just on the social media. When this happens it feels like things are stalling evey though a lot of "work" is getting done, it's just in one area. Meanwhile, customers are being neglected or fans think we have gone silent.

As I continue to apply for Project Management roles while starting my own side hustle, I could really use the reminder of how to do things better, faster and it came Just In Time!

In addition to my experiences at Galvanize and Red Pepper Software, and my Associate Project Manager certification from PMI last year, the Six Sigma course and accreditation in Scrum are a welcome "cherry on top" and a welcome review. As I continue to apply for Project Management roles while starting my own side hustle, I could really use the reminder of how to do things better, faster and it came Just In Time!