In 2022, Agile adoption and Scrum certifications have become mainstream. Leading organizations are embracing Agile in a major way – progressively looking for professionals who possess the knowledge needed to spearhead the Agile approach head-on.
Leading the cavalry of this agile transformation is the Scrum framework. As a result of this, several organizations around the world are accepting Scrum as the primary project management framework for their projects.
At this point, some of you may already be familiar with Agile and the Scrum framework, however, there may be others who are still trying to wrap their heads around the concept.
So, just in case you’re still stuck on ‘what the Scrum!’ In the title of this article, let me help with a brief overview or history of Scrum.
In the beginning…
A very long time ago, there was a powerful Viking warrior called ‘Scrum the Conqueror’.
Just kidding, that was a terrible Viking reference. Although conquering project challenges really is what the Scrum framework is all about but that’s beside the point.
The real story here is, Scrum is a framework for project management that emphasizes teamwork, accountability, and progress towards a well-defined goal.
The co-developers of Scrum, Jeff Sutherland, and Ken Schwaber define the Scrum framework as a way to address complex adaptive problems in an organization while creatively and productively delivering products of the highest value.
See this article, Scrum, Scrummage, What’s It All About? for more information about Scrum.
Why Scrum Certification?
Now many of you may not trust or value certifications but the truth is, in today’s competitive job market, certifications pay big dividends.
Skills have become the global currency of the 21st-century economies and people are starting to realize the importance of certifications in professional development.
Scrum certification validates your ability to learn to think in terms of Scrum values and principles. And helps your Scrum team perform at the optimal level. In addition to a strong understanding of the fundamentals of the Scrum framework, holding a globally recognized Scrum certification will go a long way to impress your employees.
Obtaining a relevant Agile certification is a great way to start or accelerate your career in 2022.
In this article, we would look at 6 reasons why getting a Scrum certification would be of great benefit to your career. Let’s get into it:
Advantage in the Hiring Pool
In a competitive hiring landscape, an individual with a Scrum certification would be considered a prime candidate. This is because Scrum is an Agile methodology and many organizations believe that Scrum Certified Professionals would be able to help them with an improved level of project management that eventually leads to increased ROI. Hence it is evident that a Scrum certification shows that an individual is able to manage dynamic projects and devote time to solving complex problems.
Financial Benefits
Because the Scrum credentials are so highly sought after, individuals who hold this certification tend to earn higher than non-certified peers. According to a recent survey conducted by ZipRecruiter, the average annual pay for a Professional Scrum Master in the United States is $102,836 a year while according to glassdoor, the average salary of a Certified Scrum Product Owner is $103,321. This goes to show that possessing a Scrum Certification has its financial benefits and puts candidates in a stronger position when negotiating salaries.
Organizational Benefits
Patrick Lencioni, from his book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” said: “If you could get all the people in an organization rowing in the same direction, you could dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”
From the perspective of “rowing in the same direction”, Scrum Certifications deliver value because it helps the organization rely on Agile standards to bring about consistency and uniformity of values amongst team members in the organization.
In-Demand Certification
According to the report created by the World Economic Forum, Scrum-related jobs will dominate the future market as there continue to be growing demands for them, especially in the product development domain. Also in 2021, Linkedin included Scrum Master as one of the top 5 courses helping professionals get hired. This further emphasizes that getting a Scrum certification is your ticket to landing better job opportunities and options for development.
Adaptability
The Scrum framework allows for changes and development and this is why it is widely used by many organizations. Unlike the waterfall process model which is more rigid, people who work under the principles of the Scrum framework are able to adapt to sudden changes without jeopardizing business goals. In addition, individuals with the Scrum certification are able to understand the ‘Inspect and Adapt’ concept in the Scrum framework and use that to help their teams and organization.
Globally Recognized
Lastly, an important benefit of having the Scrum Certification is that it is globally recognized. Be it Scrum.org or Scrum Alliance or Scrum Inc, etc, the certifications issued by these Scrum bodies are internationally recognized and they are valid for a lifetime. No renewal fees, no redundant subscriptions.
Now You Know Why Scrum Certifications Rock!
The pandemic has forced many companies to adopt new technologies, manage change, and make decisions more quickly than ever before.
This is why the number of organizations adopting Agile practices has continued to grow at an expedited pace.
To survive in this uncertain, complex, and ambiguous work environment, it is important to adopt an Agile approach to be able to respond seamlessly to change and work incrementally.
Scrum training and certifications are pillars for building better careers and high-performing teams, organizations, and leaders.
Wouldn’t you rather be on the Agile side?
Contact us today! Be it Scrum Master Certification (SMC) or Scrum Product Owner Certification (SPOC), BNET Learning has got you covered.