The Scrum methodology of agile software development marks a dramatic departure from waterfall management. In fact, Scrum and other agile processes were inspired by its shortcomings. The Scrum methodology emphasizes communication and collaboration, functioning software, and the flexibility to adapt to emerging business realities — all attributes that suffer in the rigidly ordered waterfall paradigm.

17th
SEP

The CSM Exam

Posted by admin under Agile and Scrum, Scrum Discussion

Very soon, the Scrum Alliance will introduce a new process to certify ScrumMasters. Previously, certification has been awarded to anyone who attends a two-day, Scrum Alliance-certified ScrumMaster Certification course. But beginning October 1, course participants will also be required to pass an exam within 90 days of attending training. Certification will be good for two years. At the end of two years, individuals will need to re-certify for CSM status. This costs $150, including Scrum Alliance membership fees, and lasts two years.

In some ways, this marks an improvement because it endeavors to ensure that a CSM fully understands the tenets of Scrum. Certainly, this is better than simply awarding an individual ScrumMaster certification based on sitting through a two-day class. That is, while CSM courses are incredibly beneficial for most participants, they do not guarantee that an attendee will necessarily absorb or apply everything he or she has learned. Of course, the flipside is that an exam will only test attendees on certain aspects of the Scrum framework in a format that does not necessarily promote a deep understanding of Scrum’s values.

What do you think? Is this an improvement over the existing certification process or an unhelpful amendment to a process that was working fine? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • DZone
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Technorati
  • Sphinn
  • Mixx
  • blinkbits
  • blogmarks
  • Blogsvine
  • Blue Dot
  • Fark
  • Furl
  • Linkter
  • Ma.gnolia
  • Netvouz
  • Spurl
  • StumbleUpon
  • TwitThis
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Bumpzee
  • HealthRanker
  • MisterWong
  • Reddit
  • Fleck
  • Gwar
  • Kirtsy
  • LinkedIn
  • NewsVine
Comments Feed

Reader's Comments

  1. David Koontz | September 18th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    I think this is a GREAT thing. Given that it is a “certification”.

    Definition of certification: a document attesting a level of achievement in a course of study or training.

    Attendance, the previous requirement does not “attest to a level of achievement”.

    “Of course, the flipside is that an exam will only test attendees on certain aspects of the Scrum framework in a format that does not necessarily promote a deep understanding of Scrum’s values.”

    Your assumption in this statement appears to be that the test is not well designed or that it cannot test values. I have not seen the test, but assume that it will test the knowledge of the values of Scrum. This is very testable. The certification (as typically applied in many industries) attest to the knowledge of a _body_of_knowledge_ (don’t go all PIMBOK on me – yes Scrum has its own BOK). The certification does not state that the bear has the attitudes and exhibits the behaviors of the values. Which I think is what you are concerned with in your statement of Scrum’s values.

    So how does one test or assert the affective nature or the behavior nature of a person? This is typically done via case study of the person. Is this not what the next level of Scrum certification attempts to do? The CSP (practitioner) is a certification that attest that the bear of said certification (oh so formal – just say – the CSP) has shown (through self report) the values and behaviors taught in the BOK of Scrum.

    Testing for CSM brings the Scrum certification into minimum compliance with the common understanding of the terms. That is a value of Scrum/Agile – to state clearly what we are going to do, then do it, and have an objective measure of DONE, demonstrate that level of DONENESS, and then be capable of continuing down the path.

    I say – about time – what took you so long – and don’t give me that stinking incremental-iterative argument.

  2. Thushara Wijewardena | September 23rd, 2009 at 8:11 pm

    I think this is a good move. CSM needs some sort of assessment. I have experienced many times that most the people who attempted to CSM 2 day sessions just take it as a course but not having any knowledge on Scrum model and wondering at last how they became a certified scrum master. This will iron out most the problems tagged with CSM title. But how are they going to do this? Just like PMP is this certification going to be valid only for 3 years? Is there any PDU scheme to renew or someone has to sit for the test again ?

  3. Laszlo | September 24th, 2009 at 8:10 am

    Here’s the most recent press release directly from the Scrum Alliance on this topic: http://www.scrumalliance.org/news_items/74

  4. Rebecca Robbins | September 25th, 2009 at 5:13 pm

    I am glad they have an exam now, eventually, this will give CSMs more ground to stand on. I am hoping the exam presents some sort of challenge though, or it will be nothing better than not having one. My hopes are great that it will get to that point within the first year or less.

    As an already Certified Scrum Master, I’d like to know where I can go to take the test for free, since I already paid for the certification course (not cheap) and no test was included. I have hopes that the existing CSMs will get to take it free of charge within a certain timeframe of October first launch date.

  5. Christine Eckert | September 26th, 2009 at 6:51 am

    Over the years, I have resisted getting my PMP certification for 2 reasons: (1) the annual cost to maintain it was too high for an independent consultant to afford and (2) it was never demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that getting the certification actually made a difference in a person’s ability to successfully manage a project.

    Today’s method of SM certification is affordable but it also has the problem noted in #2 above. So the movement to change the certification is definitely warranted. I must admit that it was surprising to me that I was “certified” after taking the 2 day course. I kind of chuckled when I described myself as a “certified” ScrumMaster to my friends after completing the course.

    Certifications appear to be what is needed in today’s marketplace so I agree with the direction of trying to give the certification more meaning. And like all the other certifications, there is the problem of needing to test for both the basic knowledge components of Scrum, as well as for the knowledge gained through experience. To me, the essence of a ScrumMaster is their ability to facilitate and good facilitation is a way of being not what a person does. The problem becomes how does one design a test for a “way of being”. The questions would be more subjective and not suitable for an e-learning module. To me, they would be like an essay questions that would require a person to review it and pass their subjective opinion on (no clear right or wrong answer).

    A ScrumMaster is an agent of change – a role that is not prescriptive. Each situation and scenario has some common components but how the components are combined and prioritized is unique to each. This is the true measure of a successful ScrumMaster. I hope the certification exam can somehow capture this critical aspect.

  6. txras | November 17th, 2009 at 12:07 pm

    I think we should be able to take a test to be certified without having to take a class. I’ve been using Scrum for years and have perform as both Scrum Master and Product Owner roles. With out a test but with forced classes, certification becomes “write us a check and your certified.”

Leave a Reply

| Scrum Methodology | Scrum Training | Scrum Software | Scrum Tools | Scrum Master Certification | About Us |