Scrum for all

As part of Xebia, SwissQ now offers the full range of Scrum.org courses. From newbies to Scrum pros, there is something for everyone.

I myself completed the Scrum Master training in 2009 with Ken Schwaber, who, together with Jeff Sutherland came up with the first version of the Scrum framework. My certificate was issued by Scrum Alliance, but in the same year Ken Schwaber left that organisation to found Scrum.org. Since then, Scrum Alliance and Scrum.org have both offered Scrum certificates.

To avoid the emergence of conflicting Scrum teachings, Jeff and Ken jointly produced the first version of the Scrum Guide, which was last revised in 2020.

A distinguishing feature of the Scrum.org courses is that they are based on a comprehensive competencies model that covers all the necessary skills for agile product development. But where to begin?

The Applying Professional Scrum (APS) course is a good starting point for those who do not yet have much experience with Scrum, or who work with a Scrum team and want to acquire the basic know-how. As with all Scrum.org courses, you can take an online exam afterwards to obtain a certificate. Open Assessments are available to help you prepare.

If you have completed the APS or are already familiar with Scrum, there are courses which focus on different aspects:

• Professional Scrum Master (PSM I & II) – Building and supporting the Scrum Team and Product Owners
• Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO I & II) – agile product management and value-driven development using Scrum
• Professional Scrum Developer (PSD) – Applying Scrum in software development, with a focus on technical practices
• Professional Agile Leadership (PAL) – Introducing the agile way of working and mindset into your organisation

As the names suggest, these courses are geared towards the activities of the corresponding role, but are basically open to anyone. There is some overlap between the courses, all of which include an introduction to the Scrum framework. The Applying Professional Scrum (APS) and the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) are very similar and both lead to a PSM I certificate.

Because the certificates can also be obtained without attending a course, you don’t necessarily have to complete both the PSM and the PSPO training. However, this requires intensive self-study to prepare for the exam.

There are also in-depth courses on Evidence-Based Management (EBM), Kanban (PSK) and User Experience (PSU).

Whether you want to develop as an individual or as a company, Scrum.org offers further education for the novice to the advanced Scrum professional and for the diverse facets of Scrum application. SwissQ is happy to advise you on the selection of suitable courses, including on-the-job learning journeys. You can find an overview of all courses on our Academy webpage.