Agile Project Management Training for a Better Career

If you want to build up a career as an agile project manager, you need to attend one or more agile project management training programs to improve your skills and competencies. Agile Project Management is an iterative way of planning and guiding projects towards success. Iterative methodologies like Scrum, Kanban Methodology, XP, DSDM, etc. are as often as possible applied in software development projects to promote speed and adaptability since the advantage of iteration is that you can adjust as you go along rather than following a linear path. There are a number of training and certification programs available to help you to build up a career as an agile project manager.

Table of Contents

In this article, we will discuss the below training and certification paths,

Scrum Master
Product Owner

Agile Project Management Training Programs

Scrum Master

Scrum Master certified professionals have both theory and practical knowledge of Scrum that encourage them to execute and work in a Scrum setup. The aim of Scrum Master certification is to train software development professionals on how to manage projects using Scrum and also to tailor it after mastering for the on-demand situation.

Scrum Masters are catalysts who make sure that the Scrum team is given with an environment favorable to fail fast and cheap. It allows the team members to take calculated risks and allow them to expose their vulnerability for a greater good (trust).

The Scrum master facilitates, guides, and coaches the scrum policies and processes to everybody involved in the project. Scrum Master also clears obstacles for the team and makes sure that Scrum procedures are being followed.

Who should attend the Scrum Master Training course?

The Scrum Master certification-training course is suitable for any professional who wants to learn the Scrum framework. Some of the ideal candidates or professionals for this training are:

Project Managers
Project Leaders
Analysts
Developers
Testers

CSM (Certified Scrum Master)

There are multiple globally recognized certification courses providing scrum master certifications. One of the world’s most leading and popular course is Certified Scrum Master by Scrum Alliance.

The certified Scrum Master (CSM) certification process provides candidates with an appreciative of Scrum values emphasizing teamwork, accountability, and iterative progress toward a goal.

Requirements for the CSM certificate include attending an in-person, two-day (16-hours) course taught by a certified Scrum trainer and passing an exam by getting at least 24 of the 35 questions correct.

The course has no prerequisites.

PSM (Professional Scrum Master)

The Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) assessment is available to anyone who desires to authenticate his or her depth of knowledge of the Scrum framework and its application. Those who pass the assessment will receive the industry-recognized PSM I Certification to demonstrate their knowledge.

The exam covers topics from multiple Focus Areas defined by the Professional Scrum Competencies. There is, however, no mandate to get trained from a professional scrum trainer for clearing the PSM I.

There are two more levels of mastery, which are PSM II and PSM III, which would require 2 days of training from a professional scrum trainer.

Product Owner

Product Owner certification is envisioned to validate the working and practical knowledge and skills of professionals who would like to shine in their carrier as a product owner or product manager. The product owner enthusiastically involves with the community of agile practitioners in the project devoted to continuous improvement.

The product owner creates a better product by leading and implementing Scrum in the team. He/she defines the product vision, directs the team members to yield high value at the end, and helps the team members in delivering a high-value product.

He/she also helps to carry out smooth communication between the stakeholders and team members, spreads the adoption of Scrum, and helps others acquire an agile mind-set.

Who should attend the Product Owner Training course?

This Scrum Master certification-training course is suitable for any professional who wants to learn the Scrum framework. Some of the ideal candidates or professionals for this training are:

Product Managers
Product Leaders
Business Analysts
Business Owners
Agile Project managers

CSPO (Certified Scrum Product Owner)

A high functioning agile team demands a Product Owner to make crucial product decisions. A Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO®) is one such certification that aids aspiring product owners become successful by training them on all the aspects of high-value product increments and maximize the ROI. The industry today is ripe with infinite prospects for Product Owners. With 80% of modern teams using Scrum, the demand for Certified Scrum Product Owners has seen a sharp increase. The requirement to get a CSPO certificate is to attend the 2-day CSPO course by Certified Scrum Trainers® (CSTs) and there is no exam, unlike CSM. Once you finish the 2-day course by a CST, you can login to the Scrum Alliance website to download the certificate.

PSPO (Professional Scrum Product Owner)

Professional Scrum Product Owner offered by scrum.org (PSPO) which is a 2-day course that focuses on all of these areas to teach professionals on how to maximize the value of products and systems. PSPO is the cutting-edge course for aspiring product owners, agile product managers, and anybody responsible for a product’s success. In this course, professionals will grow and solidify their knowledge of being a product owner through teaching and team-based exercises. The course also comprises a free trial to an internationally renowned Professional Scrum Product Owner I certification exam (PSPO I).

Why is Agile Project Management Important?

Agile Project Management training is important because it enables teams to adapt to changing requirements and deliver value iteratively, resulting in faster time-to-market and increased customer satisfaction.

Scrum Master and Product owner training programs are leading in the industry that can help you accelerate your career in the agile project management space.

So, if you would like to shift your career in the world of agile project management, do not hesitate to take the above-mentioned training and certifications.