Working as a Scrum Master from Coursera

With the evolving trends, it’s become essential for project management in all development spheres to take on a new avatar. Organizations are looking forward to more efficient ways to manage their development projects. Agile and Scrum methodologies have to some extent met the changing needs of the management environment.

Whether you are new to Agile methodologies or seek to enhance your project management skills, this course will equip you with the knowledge and tools needed to excel as a Scrum Master.

The course will provide a deeper insight into the essential aspects of being a Scrum Master. You will be able to compare Scrum with traditional project management methods and will gain a better understanding of why Scrum is a game-changer in today's dynamic business landscape.

You will get various opportunities through real life scenarios to apply the skills and attributes of a Scrum Master. Through hands-on practice and real-life scenarios, you'll develop your abilities to navigate challenges, foster collaboration, and drive successful project outcomes.

Although this course is meant for learners who are already project managers, it is not mandatory for them to have project management experience.

With engaging video content, expert viewpoints, and interactive exercises, you'll find yourself immersed in the world of Scrum. The final assessment is designed to enable the learner to develop an understanding of the criteria for certification as an Advanced Certified Scrum Master (A-CSM). Gain the confidence and experience you need to ace those tests and prove your expertise as a Scrum Master.

What's inside

Syllabus

Scrum and Scrum Master Basics

This module is divided into two lessons. The first lesson will introduce you to what a Scrum Master does and their responsibilities. You will gain an understanding of the role and what makes it unique. By the end of the first lesson, you should be able to articulate how this role differs from others in the Scrum Methodology and how this job may differ depending on the organization’s needs. Since leadership is a key component in Scrum, the second lesson will cover how you can set yourself up for success in this role and the skills and traits to accomplish this. In addition, you will perform hands-on activities to reiterate your learning on Scrum process and will create personas for different scenarios.

Scrum Master as a Facilitator and Coach

Module 2 has two lessons that cover key aspects of the Scrum Master role. Lesson one focuses on stakeholder management and the Scrum Master's role as a facilitator, along with creating a working agreement. Lesson two explores maximizing influence with the team, emphasizing the Scrum Master's role as a coach. The module provides practical tools and techniques for effective team management, stakeholder handling, and maintaining team focus during Sprints.

Leadership: Scrum Master as a Servant Leader

Module three focuses on the role of the Scrum Master in facilitating team growth through coaching, inspiring collaboration and creativity, leading by example, and protecting the team from distractions and roadblocks. The first lesson will cover the Servant Leadership concept, and the second lesson will elucidate some ideas around collaboration and working with the Product Owner.

Navigating Complexity and Change

In Module 4, you will learn how to handle change and address organizational impediments in product development effectively. Gain skills to overcome impediments and use the Force Field Analysis Methodology for problem-solving. Learn to manage conflicts, maintain team focus, and handle dependencies. Develop the ability to recognize, evaluate, and respond to team interactions as a Scrum Master. Finally, understand common change models. Hands-on activities will reinforce the lessons' concepts.

Course Summary and Final Assessment

In this module, you review the previous modules. You cover the flow of the Scrum Process, including essential steps such as Product Backlog refinement, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrums, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. In addition, you attempt a final project in which you perform a Retrospective and suggest the one big change. Additionally, this module delves into three popular Agile and Scrum certifications: Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Disciplined Agile Scrum Master (DASM), and Agile Certified Practitioner (ACP). If you haven't taken this module as part of the IBM IT Project Manager PC or the IBM IT Scrum Master PC, we encourage you to enroll in the recommended course, Introduction to Agile Development and Scrum. Your feedback is highly valuable to us, so we encourage you to rate the course and provide a review to help us enhance our content. Once again, we thank you for taking this course, and we wish you the best in applying your new knowledge and skills.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches methods and tools for Scrum, which are highly relevant to managing projects in software development

Taught by Matt Versdahl, who is recognized for their expertise in Agile methodologies

Develops skills in essential aspects of being a Scrum Master, which are core skills for agile project management

Provides a comprehensive study of Agile and Scrum, which are highly relevant in an academic setting

Covers unique perspectives on Scrum, which may add color to other topics and subjects

Students are expected to have some background knowledge in project management

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Working as a Scrum Master with these activities:

Review Scrum

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This activity will help you refresh your knowledge of Scrum, which is essential for success in this course.

Browse courses on Scrum

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Read the Scrum Guide
Watch videos about Scrum
Take a Scrum practice test

Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of Scrum and will help you understand the key concepts and principles.

View Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half... on Amazon

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Read the book
Take notes
Discuss the book with a friend or colleague

Watch Scrum tutorials

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This activity will help you learn Scrum from experts.

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Find Scrum tutorials online
Watch the tutorials
Take notes

Five other activities

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Create a Scrum board

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This activity will help you apply the Scrum framework to a real-world project.

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Define the project scope
Create a product backlog
Set up a Scrum board
Start working on the project
Hold regular Scrum meetings

Solve Scrum practice problems

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This activity will help you practice applying Scrum to different scenarios.

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Find Scrum practice problems online
Solve the problems
Review your solutions

Join a Scrum study group

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This activity will help you learn Scrum from and with other students.

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Find a Scrum study group
Attend the study group meetings
Participate in discussions

Write a Scrum case study

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This activity will help you apply Scrum to a real-world scenario and demonstrate your understanding of the framework.

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Choose a Scrum case study topic
Research the topic
Write the case study
Present the case study

Mentor other students

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This activity will help you reinforce your understanding of Scrum and develop your leadership skills.

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Find students who need help with Scrum
Mentor the students
Provide feedback and support

Career center

Learners who complete Working as a Scrum Master will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Scrum Master

A Scrum Master is a facilitator who helps teams to adopt and implement Scrum. They work with the team to plan and track their work, and to remove any obstacles that may prevent the team from achieving its goals. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need to be a successful Scrum Master. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to facilitate Scrum ceremonies. You will also have the opportunity to practice Scrum in a real-world environment.

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Agile Coach

An Agile Coach helps organizations to adopt and implement Agile methodologies. They work with teams to improve their agility, productivity, and quality. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need to be a successful Agile Coach. You will learn about Agile methodologies, the role of the Agile Coach, and how to coach Agile teams. You will also have the opportunity to practice Agile coaching in a real-world environment.

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Project Manager

A Project Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and closing projects. They work with stakeholders to define project scope, timelines, and budgets. They also track project progress and identify and resolve risks. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need to be a successful Project Manager. You will learn about project management methodologies, the role of the Project Manager, and how to manage projects effectively. You will also have the opportunity to practice project management in a real-world environment.

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Product Owner

A Product Owner is responsible for defining and managing the product backlog. They work with stakeholders to identify and prioritize product features. They also track product progress and ensure that the product meets the needs of the users. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need to be a successful Product Owner. You will learn about product management methodologies, the role of the Product Owner, and how to manage a product backlog effectively. You will also have the opportunity to practice product management in a real-world environment.

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Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is responsible for analyzing business needs and developing solutions. They work with stakeholders to define requirements, develop process flows, and create prototypes. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge that you need to be a successful Business Analyst. You will learn about business analysis methodologies, the role of the Business Analyst, and how to analyze business needs and develop solutions.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst is responsible for testing software applications to ensure that they meet the requirements of the stakeholders. They work with developers to identify and fix bugs and to ensure that the application is of high quality. This course may be helpful for Quality Assurance Analysts who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a software development environment.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer is responsible for writing documentation for software applications and other technical products. They work with developers and other stakeholders to gather information and to create documentation that is clear and easy to understand. This course may be helpful for Technical Writers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a software development environment.

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Software Engineer

A Software Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and testing software applications. They work with stakeholders to understand the requirements of the application and to develop a solution that meets those requirements. This course may be helpful for Software Engineers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a software development environment.

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Data Analyst

A Data Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. They work with stakeholders to identify trends and patterns and to make recommendations for improving business processes. This course may be helpful for Data Analysts who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a data analysis environment.

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Product Manager

A Product Manager is responsible for defining and managing the product roadmap. They work with stakeholders to identify and prioritize product features and to ensure that the product meets the needs of the users. This course may be helpful for Product Managers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a product management environment.

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User Experience Designer

A User Experience Designer is responsible for designing and evaluating the user experience of software applications and other products. They work with stakeholders and developers to create products that are easy to use and enjoyable to use. This course may be helpful for User Experience Designers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a user experience design environment.

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Project Coordinator

A Project Coordinator is responsible for providing administrative support to project managers. They work with project managers to plan and execute projects and to track project progress. This course may be helpful for Project Coordinators who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a project coordination environment.

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Business Development Manager

A Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities. They work with sales and marketing teams to create and execute marketing campaigns and to generate leads. This course may be helpful for Business Development Managers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a business development environment.

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Sales Manager

A Sales Manager is responsible for leading and managing a sales team. They work with sales representatives to develop and execute sales strategies and to achieve sales goals. This course may be helpful for Sales Managers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a sales management environment.

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Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager is responsible for planning and executing marketing campaigns. They work with marketing teams to develop and implement marketing strategies and to achieve marketing goals. This course may be helpful for Marketing Managers who want to learn more about Scrum and Agile methodologies. You will learn about the Scrum framework, the role of the Scrum Master, and how to implement Scrum in a marketing management environment

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