Suggested Readings for Professional Scrum Master

A Professional Scrum Master is a facilitator for an entire Agile development team. This professional helps manage the exchange of information between different team members. Scrum, an efficient project management framework, enables the team to communicate and self-organize to make changes according to the Agile principles. Now, the question is - how do you become a Professional Scrum Master? The answer lies in this study guide, where we share all the suggested readings and other recommendations needed to be an efficient Scrum Master.

How do you start studying to become a Professional Scrum Master?

You need to follow a structured approach that includes understanding the Scrum framework and gaining knowledge about Agile principles to become a Professional Scrum Master. You must also acquire practical experience for the same. The following guide explains how you can study to become a Professional Scrum Master. 

1. Understand the Scrum Guide

Start by thoroughly reading the official Scrum Guide. This document provides an overview of the Scrum framework and its roles, events, artifacts, and rules. Make sure to revisit it regularly to stay updated.

2. Learn Agile Principles

Familiarize yourself with the Agile Manifesto and its twelve principles. Understand the values and principles that underpin the Agile methodology. This is because Scrum is mostly based on Agile principles.

3. Enroll in Professional Scrum Master (PSM) Training

Consider enrolling in a Professional Scrum Master (PSM) course from Simpliaxis. This course covers the Scrum framework, Agile principles, and best practices associated with these methodologies. 

4. Read Recommended Books

Several books can enhance your understanding of Scrum and Agile practices. Go through these recommended readings for a Professional Scrum Master and become one quickly. 

5. Participate in Agile Communities

Join Agile and Scrum communities both online and offline. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your experiences. This will expose you to different perspectives and practical insights.

6. Practice Scrum in Real Projects

Apply your knowledge by participating in real projects using the Scrum framework. This hands-on experience will help you understand how Scrum works in real-world scenarios. It can further enhance your problem-solving skills in Scrum and Agile methodologies. 

7. Take Online Assessments

Scrum.org provides free online assessments that can help you enhance your understanding of the Scrum framework. These assessments are a valuable resource for self-assessment.

8. Prepare for Certification Exams

Consider taking the PSM I exam as a starting point. You can progress to PSM II and PSM III which have a higher level of difficulty once you pass this exam. The certification exams are an excellent way to validate your knowledge and skills.

Also, explore:Difference between PSM I and PSM II

9. Continuous Learning

Stay updated on the latest developments in Scrum and Agile methodologies. Attend webinars, conferences, and workshops. Continuous learning is essential in a dynamic field like Scrum.

10. Apply for Professional Scrum Master Certification Exams

Apply for the certification exams once you feel confident in your knowledge and have gained practical experience. Successful completion will validate your understanding and make you a certified Professional Scrum Master.

Know about Scrum Values 

There are five different Scrum values that every professional who works in this field must know. They are:

• Commitment: Personally commit to achieving goals within the Scrum team.
• Focus: Concentrate on the work of the Sprint and the goals of the specific Scrum team. 
• Openness: The entire Scrum team and the stakeholders agree to be open about their work. 
• Respect: Respect each other to be capable and independent people. 
• Courage: Have the courage to do the right thing and work on all challenging issues. 

The Scrum guide states that the successful use of Scrum methodologies depends on individuals becoming more proficient in living these five particular values. 

The Scrum framework has been designed specifically for managing different complex projects. These projects must be able to adapt quickly to changes in scope or requirements. That is why each of these specific five Scrum values is critical to the success of any Scrum project across organizations.

Understand Professional Scrum Master Roles & Responsibilities

Here are the key roles and responsibilities of a Professional Scrum Master:

1. Facilitate the Scrum Process

The Scrum Master ensures that the entire team follows the Scrum process. This includes conducting different Scrum ceremonies such as Sprint Review, Sprint Planning, Daily Standup, and Sprint Retrospective.

2. Remove Impediments

The Scrum Master helps identify and remove any impediments preventing the team from delivering value. This could be related to technical issues or even team dynamics.

3. Coach the Team

The Scrum Master coaches the team on all the Scrum principles and practices. This includes helping the team self-organize and continuously improve their processes. 

4. Protect the Team

The Scrum Master protects the Scrum team from all kinds of outside distractions and interruptions. This allows their team to focus on their work and deliver the expected value.

5. Facilitate Communication

The Scrum Master also ensures proper communication between the Scrum team, the Product Owner, and all the other stakeholders.

6. Ensure Transparency

The Scrum Master ensures the team's progress is transparent to all the stakeholders. This includes maintaining a burn-down chart and a product backlog. 

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Explore Scrum Events 

Scrum encourages every professional to hold five key events during a particular Sprint. They intend to help the team members work efficiently and closely. This also helps them improve their knowledge and become more effective as a professional Scrum Team in the future.

These five Scrum events include: 

• Sprint Planning: The Scrum Team collaborates to define the work to be accomplished in the upcoming Sprint. 
• Daily Scrum: It is a short, time-boxed event where team members synchronize their work and discuss progress to enhance communication. 
• Sprint Review: It is a collaborative session where the Scrum Team presents the accomplished work to stakeholders. 
• Sprint Retrospective: The team reflects on their processes and identifies improvements for the next Sprint. 
• The Sprint: It is the heart of Scrum and a time-boxed iteration where the Scrum Team works to deliver a releasable product increment.

Read Books to Master the Related Concepts

You must also read certain books to master the concepts of becoming a professional Scrum Master. Scrum.org recommends the following books for further reading:

• Mastering Professional Scrum: A Practitioner's Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Maximizing the Benefits of Agility - Stephanie Ockerman and Simon Reindl
• Scrum: A Pocket Guide -  Gunther Verheyen
• Software in 30 days - Ken Schwaber
• Scrum Insights for Practitioners: The Scrum Guide Companion - Hiren Doshi

Practice Assessments 

You must do the following practice assessments to become an efficient Scrum Master with extensive knowledge of Agile and Scrum.

• Take the Scrum Open Assessment until you become comfortable with the entire content. It is basically a learning tool, and you get proper feedback during the test.
• You may also take the Scrum Developer Open Assessment or the Product Owner Open Assessment. They help you gain additional perspective on the other accountabilities of a particular Scrum Team.
• Apply Scrum practices and principles to your workplace. It helps you check if you are taking advantage of all the opportunities offered by the Scrum Framework. 
• Be conscious when using and implementing Scrum methodologies to ensure you are using it the right way. 

Conclusion

The best thing to do when deciding to become a professional Scrum Master is to pursue the PSM course. You can do this easily by enrolling in the Professional Scrum Master™ I (PSM I) Certification Training by Simpliaxis.

It helps you gain an in-depth understanding of different Scrum and Agile principles and processes. This training also prepares participants to excel in all the real-time projects through advanced thinking techniques. Most of these techniques are associated with servant leadership and behavioral changes. Hence, you can proficiently handle all the Scrum principles with PSM I Certification Training.
This course ensures that you have a deep understanding of Scrum principles and emphasizes servant leadership for effective Scrum Master roles.