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I would like to know if Agile and Scrum are proprietary names and methods, and if any company can freely use them as part of their marketing, and sell them - I am thinking mainly of consulting services and training providers.

Regarding Agile:

  • I have come across the Agile Alliance, the DSDM certification, as well as the new PMI Agile certification. Which ones (are there others?) are deemed worth taking and is there a "best" one? (By "worth taking", I mean certifications that have some value recognition in the industry and are sought by employers)?
  • There seems to be a fair number of Agile training providers out there: are they supposed to be affiliated to some kind of alliance or institute, or can anyone call themselves an Agile coach?

Note: I have reviewed questions already asked on this site about the value of PMP and Scrum Master certifications, my questions above are about Agile specifically.

Regarding Scrum:

  • Is the Scrum Alliance (www.scrumalliance.org) the sole official body governing Scrum training and certifications such as CSM, CSPO and CSP (is it to Scrum what PMI is to PMBOK/PMP)?
  • Do companies and consultants providing Scrum training need to be registered education providers, particularly with regards to Scrum certification preparation courses?

2 Answers 2

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I can't tell whether you're looking to train others yourself or looking for training, so I'll answer both ways.

"Agile" is simply a word that the manifesto authors chose. Anyone can call themselves "Agile", and anyone can be an Agile Coach. However, coaching requires a different set of skills to merely being an Agile expert - think Life Coaching skills, NLP (the bits that work), also Systems Thinking, and probably more that I'm still missing. There are certificates you can get in various coaching skills. I survive as an independent coach without any formal certification, so it's not essential.

If you're looking to become an Agile coach yourself, the best way to get involved is to meet other coaches. You could try Agile conferences, local events, etc. - there's more work out there than we can handle, so we tend to be more supportive than competitive. You'll also find us willing to pass on good books, training tips, etc., and help you find good coaches in your area. The Agile Alliance doesn't offer any formal training itself (AFAIK), but is a "community home" where you can find trainers and events.

I've seen companies require CSM certification. This is only a 2-day course, so if you've got reasonable experience in a genuinely Agile team you may be able to persuade the company to take you on anyway. I prefer teams with experienced Agilists to those who've just been on a course - it's never quite as simple in real life! CSMs are qualified to act as Scrum Masters. This is not the same as coaching or training a team.

If you're looking for a reasonable training provider, try asking them how they apply Agile principles in their own work and practice. Lots of training providers are capable of talking the talk. Fewer actually adhere to the principles they espouse.

Regarding Scrum certification - in theory, anyone can teach this. However, there's quite a lot of difference between Scrum and other Agile methodologies, so if someone hasn't been formally trained, they probably aren't teaching pure Scrum. This may not be entirely a bad thing, as Scrum relies on a particular context that can be hard to achieve (everyone co-located, cross-functional team, engaged product owner who understands all stakeholders' needs, etc.)

However, the Scrum Alliance have been known to throw their weight on occasion, so I'd look for legal advice before trying to set anything up in this space. Other Agile / Lean coaches may offer a mix of different methodologies, including XP, Kanban, DSDM, Crystal Clear, etc.

Scrum.org and the Scrum Alliance both offer Scrum training. The Scrum Alliance has the CSM / CSP / CST certifications that you're probably most familiar with. Scrum.org has splintered off recently from the Scrum Alliance, so much of the material is likely to be the same, but named "Professional" instead of "Certified".

Many in the Agile community are wary of certification. It's no substitute for experience. The PMI certification requires experience rather than just attendance on a course, so it's likely to be more valued and valuable.

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  • +1 For a comprehensive answer. Totally agree with your points on coaching skills and actual real world experience!
    – Angeline
    Sep 5, 2011 at 15:27
  • I did not know about the scrum.org split. To add to the confusion, SA now offers an "proffesional" course: scrumalliance.org/pages/certified_scrum_professional Requires at least one Scrum degree, and 2000 hours of scrum related work in the last 2 years. Mar 10, 2012 at 6:29
  • +1 for "there's more work out there than we can handle, so we tend to be more supportive than competitive" - beautifully put, and applies to every industry. Apr 2, 2013 at 7:04
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Agile

Anyone can call themselves an agile coach. No idea how the courses out there compare, which is best probably depends on your objectives. I've never seen a company require (or even list as a nice to have) any agile (rather than scrum specific) qualification. They might be worth doing to learn but I doubt they'd have much impact on your resume.

Scrum

Only Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum Trainers (CST) can run the Scrum Alliance Certified Scrum xxx courses (CSM, CSPO etc).

I don't believe there is anything stopping anyone else offering scrum training, provided they don't brand it as CSM etc.

e.g. scrum.org offers Professional Scrum xxx course http://www.scrum.org/scrummaster/

You don't need to be a registered education provider to offer training (in the UK at least).

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  • Ben, the Agile Alliance and the Scrum Alliance are two different bodies. I think you mean the Scrum Alliance here.
    – Lunivore
    Sep 4, 2011 at 22:53
  • Thanks, edited for clarity. Took the opportunity to finish my half constructed sentence too.
    – Ben
    Sep 5, 2011 at 0:00

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