Discovery Certified ScrumMaster Course, Chapel Hill, NC

This course is in person, and we maximize learning by using all our senses, including common sense.

Our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) Course + Agile Release Planning (ARP) Workshop approach is UNIQUE.

Our theme is “discovery.” We assume you come to discover Agile and Scrum. We look at the Scrum Team’s work as discovery (and building). We want to change the Mindset of your Team to be more successful—a kind of discovery.

Unlike others, we offer a 2-day interactive CSM Course plus a 1-day ARP Workshop. Sometimes, we add the Real-World Scrum workshop. (The workshops are optional and not required for certification.)

We offer you a unique experience. If you simply want a certification, you probably should not come. You can find a cheaper course just to get certified. If you want to discover something new, then you are invited! (You may be new to Agile-Scrum, or you may need to rediscover Agile-Scrum again “for the first time.”) The ship sails soon.

Our course gives you an applied understanding of the Scrum process and will help you develop the tools, attitudes, and skills required to apply Scrum to your projects and across your organization.

We cover Scrum’s basics and several advanced topics to give you the knowledge, interest, and motivation to use these ideas more effectively. You will gain enough knowledge and skills to start with Scrum and become more successful.

Our unique workshop day allows you to take real work and use it for Agile Release Planning—this is learning by doing.

The workshop takes the real work of the identified Product Owner at each table, and the Scrum Team (typically four people) at that table does the Agile Release Planning for that work.

This is an excellent way to:

• Take the ideas of the CSM Course and make them practical
• See how to build the initial Product Backlog
• See how to get your team ready to start the first sprint on Monday

We ask each person to bring their background and actively participate. Ask questions. Describe your problems. We will do our best within the timebox to prepare you to return to the real world and improve it. In part, we will use the Socratic discovery method—questions and answers, dialogue. All may participate.

We ask a few things of you:

• Be ready for a significant experience.
• “Show up” and be prepared to learn.
• Your undivided attention. (Yes, we can make minor exceptions.)
• You commit to learning and making discoveries.
• You take responsibility for your learning. (I will explain.)
• Be ready for some fun!

Changing the mindset takes work. Getting your Scrum Team and company to change takes work.

Like Greeks after a voyage, we have gifts!

Upon completing the CSM course and ARP workshop, you receive many benefits. The main advantage is the new knowledge about Scrum and Agile, which prepares you to reap the business benefits of Scrum and Agile for yourself, your Team, and your Customers.

We are helping you see how to build Business Agility for your company. We expect these benefits to be very significant. These likely include, directly or indirectly, a better career. And there are other benefits.

Note: To become an official CSM, you must satisfactorily complete the course and the CSM Test, which is later online and timeboxed to 1 hour. You must also agree to the Scrum Alliance license agreement.

Once you become a CSM, you will receive:

• Recognition by Scrum Alliance as a CSM (including a printable certificate)
• 24 PDUs (or similar) (16 PDUs if you only take two days of the CSM)
• 8 SEUs for the ARP workshop (and 8 PDUs also)
• A two-year membership to Scrum Alliance
• A printed copy of the course materials
• One pack of LAT Fibonacci estimating cards to estimate with your team
• A free copy of our book, “A Scrum Introduction”
• A free copy of our book, “Agile Release Planning”
• A PDF copy of the drawings and notes we draw together in your class

• A better trainer (co-trained eight times with Jeff Sutherland and 11+ years as a CST)
• A more fun, entertaining, and memorable course
• More success for you and your organization
• Articles on topics that help you (see this newsletter and this blog)
• Free webinars that enable you to continue your education (here and here)
• More real Scrum!

The course and workshop are one voyage of discovery. As you master your new skills, you will go through another Agile journey.

You may want to learn about our and . We are also starting to offer free and paid webinars and in-person courses.

Joe Little has 19+ years of experience as an Agile coach and CST. He will lead this course. He has co-trained eight times with Jeff Sutherland (one of the co-creators of Scrum), which will give you more “real Scrum” when taking this course.

Joe has an MBA and 20+ years of senior-level Big 6 and related consulting experience. He also has in-depth practical experience helping teams become productive with Scrum and Agile. He often co-teaches these courses with other great Scrum trainers. Take a look at and .

• The Registration Fee includes the cost of the CSM Test. (No extra fee later.)
• Registration covers a continental breakfast, an AM break, lunch, and a PM break.
• We may change pricing at any time.
• We are more expensive than other Trainers. We give you a unique experience.
• If you need us to hold a price for you for a couple of days (e.g., to get approval), please contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
• If you are a member of a local Agile group, PMI chapter, or similar group, we will support that by giving you a $100 reduction in these fees. Contact us for details.
• Alternatively, there is a 10% discount for any group of three or more.
• In addition, there is a 3% cash discount.
• These are the short explanations for these pricing rules. If you have questions, please contact us. These rules are not fully automated. We might contact you after you register to adjust.
• Contact us at 704-376-8881 or .
• Payment methods include USD check, money transfer/ACH, credit card, PayPal, over-the-phone (CC), cash, etc. Usually, payment should be received before the course starts.
• Of course, invoices, receipts, etc., are possible. We can probably handle your firm’s standard method of payment.
• for further details, and see for more information.

If you cannot attend a course for any reason, you may send another person in your place for free (no additional fee). You must identify that person before the course starts.

You may NOT cancel for a refund within seven days of the course start date (27 x 7 hours).

If you are concerned about how your schedule may change, please contact us.

You may incur fees or extra costs if you need to cancel within 16 days of the course start. Also, there is a fee to transfer to a different date. for more information regarding changes and refunds.

Host or Publisher Kathy McDermid