Why should I attend one of your courses?

I am Scrum trainer (CST) and coach (CSC) specializing in the use of Scrum and Extreme Programming. I have been working exclusively with Agile software development teams since 2001 and have worked with clients such as Microsoft, Capital One, Progressive, Oracle and TransCanada Pipelines. I was one of the first 30 Scrum trainers worldwide, and I've been training companies in the use of Scrum since 2006. I'm also one of the first three Scrum coaches when the certification was release in 2007.

However, I don't feel that training is about the trainer ... it's about the participant. It's about how the trainer communicates the essential principles, methods and practices in a manner that's fun, engaging and thought provoking. I believe that learning is most effective if done through a combination of exercises, games, and discussion. And so, I've constructed my training materials in this manner to provide an educational but still enjoyable course.

What experience do you have with traditional Project Management?

Prior to my work with Agile software development, I had 10 years of experience as a software developer and project manager for Waterfall and RUP projects working with Java, Smalltalk, C, PowerBuilder, SQL and PL/SQL. I worked as a project manager for PriceWaterhouseCoopers (now IBM Global Services), delivering "at risk" projects. And, I was successful by using a combination of managing client expectations and technical ability. 

To be successful in a traditional project management role requires a great deal of personal sacrifice, and for me it wasn't sustainable. After years of death march projects I needed to find a way to be successful in a more mature, holistic fashion. And, I found that in the Scrum community ... let me share my experiences with you.

What experience do you have with large companies, and senior management?

Ken Schwaber wrote the famous "Scrum is hard and disruptive" paper in 2007, in part to help the wider community understand that Agile software development is a systematic change to how software is delivered.  I am experienced in guiding organizations, and I have successfully helped in the transition of Capital One, Qpass and TCPL. I know what it's like to have a difficult question from the CIO, I understand what information she is looking for and how to provide it.

I also wrote the white paper A Roadmap to Agile Development: A Strategy to Increase Adoption Success, which is the corner stone of my free online mini-course. You can find more details about this white paper and the online course on my website.

What is your experience with the Agile technical practices?

I began my career as a software developer, and I love code. Although I haven't coded professional since I became a Scrum trainer (CST) I still learn a new language every year. During my time at Thoughworks (2001-2006) in the US, I worked with some of the most experienced and cutting edge Agile developers in the world.

It took me several years to learn all the tools, techniques and practices involved with Agile software development. I found that understanding some of the key Agile engineering concepts is as important as understanding the technical practices. And, it was only once I fully embraced the art of the possible was I able to let go of many of my fears and help take a teams performance to the limit. 

Can you help teams struggling with Self-Organization? Or poor quality code? Can you show teams how to deliver an "increment of potentially shippable code" within a 2 week sprint?

Yes ... these are all common issues that Scrum teams struggle with. I help my course participants learn by guiding them through physical game play, in depth discussions and case studies. I firmly believe that it's only be doing Scrum are participants able to understand what it feels like to be on a Scrum team, and to appreciate the collaborative nature of Agile software development.

I still have questions.

Why not read some of my material online? I've been writing and blogging about Agile software development since 2005, and it's a great way to get introduced to my work as a trainer. My blog can be found at http://Scrumology.com 

I'm also on Facebook, and Twitter although I'm not nearly as active as I have been in the past. You may also want to read some of the endorsements that I've received through my LinkedIn profile. 

Read Less