Live Open Hour with iZenBridge: Episode 49

At our open-hour session, you are invited to post your queries and get them answered by some of the top experts from the industry. Let it be Agile management, Agile Coaching, Estimation, related to certifications, follow-up queries, or any other aspect of project management, you are invited to speak your mind. The open hour invites are shared in advance mostly it is conducted on the 2nd and 4th Friday at 7 PM IST (+5.5 GMT).

Here are the top questions discussed in our Live Open Hour Episode#49 session, which was streamed live on 10th Feb 2023, many queries asked by participants regarding the right certification/training for professional growth were discussed by our expert Saket Bansal.

Question: How to write a scrum master resume to attract recruiters?

Question: Do you have a program to prepare individuals for Scrum Master interviews?

Question: How can a business consultant in the healthcare industry apply agile practices to the product life cycle process?

Question: What are some considerations for entry-level business analysts when applying for a job?

Question: How does a scrum master remain organized while working with multiple teams?

Question: What career options and certifications should a presale business analyst with 6 years of experience consider to advance their career?

Question: What type of organization might require a project manager/scrum master with both PMP and CSM certifications?

Question: Is addressing or mitigation of a risk management considered as a change management?

Question: What additional roles can a Scrum Master play in an organization?

Question: What is the recommended starting point for developing business analysis skills for a Scrum Master who wants to understand a domain from a business analysis perspective?

Here is the summarised answer given by Saket Bansal for questions asked by participants-

How to write a scrum master resume to attract recruiters?

Writing a Scrum Master resume can be challenging, especially if you are struggling to get a recruiter’s attention. Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can follow to make your resume stand out. Recently, a blog post was published on our website that reviewed various profiles and provided 12 points that could help people improve their Scrum Master resume. Here we will check some of these points to help you understand how to make your Scrum Master resume more effective.
The first point that the blog post discussed was the importance of using an outside-in and insight-in approach. This means that instead of talking about yourself directly, you should first study the job profiles that are published on various portals and see what kind of competencies and skills are asked for frequently. Once you have identified the skills and competencies that are in demand, you can review your profile and identify which ones you possess. If there are some keywords or competencies that you don’t have but are frequently asked for, you can attend some training or write an article about them so that you can include them in your resume.
For example, suppose a recruiter is looking for someone with experience using Jira, and you need that experience. In that case, you can attend a training session on Jira and mention it in your resume to show that you know the tool. This will help you get noticed by the recruiter and improve your chances of being selected for an interview.

The second point that the blog post discussed was the importance of consistency in your resume. Many people mention various skills in their summary profiles, but when it comes to their project descriptions or work descriptions, the descriptions could be more consistent with their summary. This can be a problem, as recruiters may need clarification and may ignore calling and connecting with you. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that your experience matches your summary profile and that you don’t just put a lot of keywords in the summary that are inconsistent with your experience or the details in your resume.
For example, suppose your summary profile mentions that you are a scrum master who facilitates scrum. Still, your project descriptions talk about something else, such as writing test cases or monitoring budgets. In that case, there needs to be more consistency.

The third point that the blog post discussed was the importance of avoiding negative words. Words like “budget control,” “monitoring,” and “tracking” can make you sound like a micromanager, which is not
desirable for an Agile project. Instead, it would be best if you focused on value delivery and stakeholder satisfaction. By using words like “stakeholder satisfaction” and “value delivery,” you can show
that you understand the Agile philosophy and the importance of delivering value to the customer.

For example, if you say that you ensure a project gets finished within the budget, it may sound like micromanagement to a recruiter. Instead, you can say that you ensure stakeholder satisfaction and value delivery, which shows that you understand the Agile philosophy and its importance in delivering successful projects.

The fourth point that the blog post discussed was the importance of demonstrating your value delivery. Instead of just focusing on the fact that you have completed a project on time, you should highlight the impact of your project and the value that it has delivered to stakeholders. This will help recruiters understand how your skills and experience can be valuable to their organization. For example, instead of just saying that you completed a project on time and within budget, you can highlight the impact of your project on the organization and the value that it has delivered to stakeholders. This will make your resume stand out and help you get noticed by recruiters.

Check more details on the Writing Scrum Master Resume in our article.

Do you have a program to prepare individuals for Scrum Master interviews?

The Industry Enabled Scrum Master (IESM) program is designed to provide individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to prepare them for Scrum Master interviews. The program starts with 16 hours of education covering industry-specific content that is relevant to the role of a Scrum Master. The program covers various topics related to Scrum and Scaled Agile.
The IESM program also includes mock interviews that simulate real interview experiences. Enrolled individuals get to interact with other enrolled individuals who share their real-time interview experiences in a small community.
Additionally, the IESM program provides a platform for continuous engagement with other enrolled individuals. After completing the program, individuals can continue to engage with their peers through frequent meetings to share and exchange ideas. The program’s success rate is good, but it requires the commitment of enrolled individuals to get the most out of it.
Overall, the Industry Enabled Scrum Master (IESM) program is a useful tool for individuals looking to prepare for Scrum Master interviews, providing them with the knowledge, skills, and real-time interview experience they need to succeed.

How can a business consultant in the healthcare industry apply agile practices to the product life cycle process?

The essence of agile is frequent evaluation of assumptions and taking learning into account. Instead of making a big assumption about improvement and waiting six months to evaluate the results, it could slice the improvement process into smaller time-boxed cycles, such as days or weeks. By doing so, the team can evaluate the results at the end of each cycle and make adjustments to improve the process in the next cycle. The short feedback loops are the key to applying agile practices to the product life cycle process. While many people in the consulting domain come from a project delivery and quality background, the process is the same: planning, doing, checking, and adjusting. The only difference is that in agile, the cycle is repeated frequently.
In the consulting space, using kanban may be more suitable than time-boxing due to the variation of work and type of tasks involved. We suggests exploring kanban and taking a certification program or learning about Kanban System Design (KMP 1) if it interests the consultant.

What are some considerations for entry-level business analysts when applying for a job?

When applying for an entry-level business analyst position, recruiters will generally look for two types of profiles. One type is direct fresh management graduates, typically with an MBA. The other type is people who have experience in a domain or in development in some areas and want to transition to the business analysis space.
Recruiters will also value your previous experience, so it’s important to consider what current knowledge and experience you have, and what is needed by the recruiter that may be missing in your profile. To address any gaps, there are various programs and certifications available in the business analysis domain, such as Scrum Alliance’s CSPO program, PMI-PBA, and others.
It’s important to note that some certifications, like PMI-PBA, may require a minimum of three years of project experience before they can be earned, so they may not be suitable for those seeking entry-level roles. However, if there is some alignment with agile ways of working and previous experience, then the certified scrum product owner certification may be more appropriate.
Another option is the International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), which offers entry-level certification programs. It’s important to research and understand which certifications and programs are most relevant to the job you are targeting and how they align with your current profile.

How does a scrum master remain organized while working with multiple teams?

As a Scrum Master working with multiple teams, staying organized and managing tasks effectively can be challenging. To ensure that you remain organized, the first step is to understand the organization’s preferred system for managing tasks and projects. Many organizations use software like Jira or Asana, while others might prefer a physical Kanban board.
Once you know which system to use, it’s essential to use it efficiently. Advanced features like JQL, labels, and components in Jira or tags and projects in Asana can help you search and organize things. These tools can help you keep track of various aspects, such as what issues are coming due, what issues have blocks, and what issues are recently updated. This will help you prioritize and manage your work better.
It’s also crucial to keep the system up to date, regularly reviewing and updating the tasks and priorities, so you stay on top of everything. This will help you ensure that all your tasks are moving forward in a timely manner.
In addition to the tools and systems, it’s also essential to maintain open and clear communication with the teams you are working with. It’s important to ensure that everyone is on the same page and has a clear understanding of what needs to be done. You can use tools like team meetings, daily standups, or one-on-one meetings to discuss the tasks, priorities, and progress.
Overall, staying organized as a Scrum Master working with multiple teams is crucial. By using the right tools, keeping things updated, and maintaining clear communication, you can stay on top of your work and ensure that everything is moving forward in a timely manner.

What career options and certifications should a presale business analyst with 6 years of experience consider to advance their career?

If you are a presale business analyst looking to advance your career, there are a few career options and certifications you could consider. One option is to work as a development business analyst and get certified as a Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), which will help you understand the role of a product owner in the Scrum world. This certification will also help you sharpen your business analyst skills and learn new technologies such as affinity diagrams, brainstorming techniques, and benchmarking. Another certification to consider is PMI’s Business Analyst Program (PMI PBA), which will help you gain more detailed knowledge about business analysis.

What type of organization might require a project manager/scrum master with both PMP and CSM certifications?

Many organizations require a delivery leader who can work with a team to get things done, regardless of the delivery approach used. This means that they may need someone who is competent in multiple delivery approaches, including both scrum and non-scrum methods. In order to become a delivery leader, an organization may look for project management skills and a PMP certification, which is designed to create delivery project managers who can adapt to different situations. The PMP certification covers both predictive and adaptive project management methodologies, as well as hybrid approaches that combine elements of both. Therefore, to become a successful delivery leader, one may need to have a strong background in project management, as well as experience working with different delivery methods and approaches.

Is addressing or mitigation of a risk management considered as a change management?

The answer depends on the situation. Generally, if a risk has been identified and a mitigation plan is already in place, there may not be a need for change management. However, if a risk was not previously identified or there was no mitigation plan in place, and it requires a change to the project schedule or work, approval from management through change management may be necessary. The threshold for involving change management may vary for each project and situation, and it is important to identify where it is needed to take appropriate action.
Let’s consider an example. Imagine a software development project. During the planning phase, the project manager identifies a risk that one of the developers may get sick and be unable to work for a week. To mitigate this risk, the project manager decides to assign another developer as a backup for the sick developer, and makes sure they are both familiar with the work.
Now, suppose the sick developer does get sick and is unable to work for a week. Since the backup developer is already familiar with the work, the project manager doesn’t need to take any additional steps or raise any change requests. They can simply switch the sick developer with the backup, and the project can continue as planned.
However, let’s consider a different scenario. Suppose the project manager did not identify the risk of the developer getting sick, and did not have a mitigation plan in place. If the developer then gets sick and is unable to work for a week, the project manager may need to raise a change request to get a replacement developer. In this case, addressing the risk requires a change management process, as it involves getting approval and potentially making changes to the project plan.
So, in summary, whether addressing or mitigating a risk requires a change management process depends on the situation, the severity of the risk, and the steps required to mitigate the risk.

What additional roles can a Scrum Master play in an organization?

The additional roles that a Scrum Master can play in an organization depend on the organization and the type of delivery they make. In some organizations, it is increasingly becoming popular to expect the Scrum Master to play additional roles besides the Scrum Master role. For example, the person could also be a project manager or a business analyst. It is possible that the Scrum Master could play the Scrum Master role plus something else.

Some common additional roles that a Scrum Master may play include supporting the Product Owner and performing some Business Analyst activities. In such cases, the person who is primarily playing the Scrum Master role may also take on some secondary Business Analyst activities. In consulting or service companies, the Scrum Master may also take on some project management activities.

It is important to note that a Scrum Master playing additional roles does not mean that the Scrum Master role itself has changed. The person is just taking on additional responsibilities in addition to their primary role as a Scrum Master. It is also essential to remember that the Scrum Master role is a role and not necessarily a specific person.

For example, a Scrum Master in a consulting company may be responsible for ensuring that the team is following the Scrum framework while also handling the project management activities, such as tracking project progress, managing the budget, and communicating with the client. In this scenario, the person is still primarily a Scrum Master, but they are also performing project management activities to ensure that the project is delivered successfully to the client.

What is the recommended starting point for developing business analysis skills for a Scrum Master who wants to understand a domain from a business analysis perspective?

The recommended starting point for a Scrum Master who wants to develop business analysis skills and understand a domain from a business analysis perspective is the Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) course. The focus should be on developing core skills that are more about analyzing user behavior and converting that into an actionable item, such as empathy mapping, user personas, and user stories. These skills are domain-independent and can be applied to various industries. Additionally, if the individual has experience in a specific domain, they can leverage that knowledge to understand the domain-specific business analysis requirements.

We hope you could have related to some of these questions, and they might have helped you in some way.

To get more assistance, you can connect with the iZenBridge Team.

 📧Email us at (sales@izenbridge.com) 

📞WhatsApp Us: +91-9958287711

For more such insights and a lot of interaction with the industry experts, stay tuned for our next “Live Open Hour” which is conducted Every second and fourth Friday at 7 PM IST on