"Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions" Quoted by Informa Middle East
Agile Workflows
In Agile Transformation: A Brief Story of How an Entertainment Company Developed New Capabilities and Unlocked Business Agility to Thrive in an Era of Rapid Change, author Scott M. Graffius shares a behind-the-scenes account of a successful agile implementation at a global entertainment company. The story is based on actual events and it's told from Scott's perspective as an agile coach. The transformation dramatically improved the way the organization works and delivers business value. New capabilities and practices enabled the enterprise to adapt to its changing environment, move faster, and drive innovation, which made it more competitive and prosperous.
Available in 39 Countries (And Counting!)
Agile Transformation is offered in ebook/Kindle format (ASIN: B07R9LJLPJ) in:
🇦🇺 Australia from Amazon.com.au
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🇻🇦 Vatican City from Amazon.it
Agile Transformation is sold in paperback (ISBN-13: 9781072447962) in:
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🇳🇱 Netherlands from bol.com
🇳🇿 New Zealand from Mighty Ape, Booktopia (via Australia), and Wordery (via UK)
🇵🇭 Philippines from Book Depository (via Australia/UK)
🇵🇷 Puerto Rico from Book Depository (via Australia/UK)
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🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates from Ubuy.ae
🇬🇧 United Kingdom from Amazon.co.uk and Book Depository
🇺🇸 United States of America from Amazon.com, Books-A-Million, Better World Books, Powell’s, Walmart, Diesel Bookstore (Los Angeles, California), Skylight Books (Los Angeles, California), Hudson Booksellers/Hudson News at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), Vroman’s Bookstore (Pasadena, California), Warwick’s (La Jolla, California), Compass Books/Books Inc. at SFO (San Francisco International Airport), University Press Books (Berkeley, California), Kona Stories (Kona, Hawaii), Bookworks (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Hudson Booksellers/Hudson News at Penn Station (New York, New York), McNally Jackson Independent Booksellers (New York, New York), Reiter’s Books/Students Book Company (Washington, DC), Titcomb’s Bookshop (East Sandwich, Massachusetts), Harvard Book Store (Cambridge, Massachusetts), and others
🇻🇳 Vietnam from U-buy.vn
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© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" Quoted in Innovation Management
Agile Workflows
Have you seen the updated video channel on Vimeo for Agile Scrum? It features six videos and you're invited to check them out!
🍿 Book Trailer for "Agile Scrum": http://vimeo.com/178858753
🍿 Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage: http://vimeo.com/259429846
🍿 Ordering the Product Backlog: https://vimeo.com/236069563
🍿 Product Increment and a Minimum Viable Product Approach: https://vimeo.com/258176585
🍿 Technical Debt: https://vimeo.com/238528947
🍿 Produce Planning Cards™ Help Agile Teams Estimate Work: https://vimeo.com/261680776
Here's the link to the channel which includes all of the videos: http://bit.ly/ASG-CHANNEL.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Author Scott M. Graffius Featured in Success Story by BEA
Agile Workflows
On March 16, Literary Titan published their review of Agile Scrum—“The book highlights the versatility of Scrum beautifully”—and they gave it five stars. On April 6, the program honored Agile Scrum with their Gold Award.
Today, Literary Titan published an interview done for them. It's titled "That Fantastic Agile Transformation Experience: Scott M. Graffius Author Interview," and you're invited to check it out.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
“Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions” Business and Technology Guide Recognized by Shelf Unbound
Agile Workflows
Today, Literary Titan bestowed their highest rating of 5 stars to the business and technology book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. A press release from Scott M. Graffius, the author of the book, is located here. Additionally, the text from the release is provided below.
"AGILE SCRUM: YOUR QUICK START GUIDE WITH STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS" BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS RECEIVES 5-STAR REVIEW FROM LITERARY TITAN
Los Angeles, CA — Literary Titan bestowed their highest rating of five stars to the business and technology book by Scott M. Graffius, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. Literary Titan is an organization comprised of professional editors, writers, and professors; and they review English-language fiction and non-fiction works from around the world. Here's an excerpt from their review of Agile Scrum: "Unlike other books on the market, this one offers an informal look at Scrum without losing its practicality. The tone is conversational thus does not feel like a textbook, and it provides numerous examples and insight into real-world implementations of Scrum. I would recommend this to anyone looking to change their project management framework or work out knots in their current system. Scott M. Graffius delivers an in-depth understanding of the subject matter and instills the same in the reader."
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products, and most methodologies fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices engage sequential development, while agile models involve iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to best meet their business needs—and successfully manage projects, innovate, and prosper at astounding speed.
Scott released Agile Scrum to provide those interested or involved in innovation, product development, project management, software development or technology management with a roadmap to implement Scrum, the most popular agile framework. It helps teams develop and deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
Reactions to Agile Scrum have been incredibly positive. Earlier honors include 16 first place wins from national and international competitions: the 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards (for Business-General, and also for Technology), 2016 London Book Festival (for Business), Fall 2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards (for Business), 2017 Feathered Quill Book Awards (for Informational), 2016 New Apple Book Awards (for Technology), 2017 Independent Press Award (for Technology), 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (for Technology), 2017 Pacific Rim Book Festival (for Business), 2017 Bookvana Awards (for Green/Conscious Business), 2017 Book Excellence Awards (for Technology), 2017 Best Book Awards (for Business Reference), 2017 New York City Big Book Awards (for Technology), 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards (for Science & Technology), 2017 Human Relations Indie Book Awards (for Workplace), and the 2018 Florida Book Festival (for Business).
About the Author
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is a technology leader, project management expert, consultant, international speaker, and author. He founded and is CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, an Inc. Verified Business, which helps organizations better solve their problems and capitalize on opportunities via world-class project management related services. Results include more consistent realization of business outcomes, faster delivery speed, improved on-budget performance, higher satisfaction, and more. A fantastic agile transformation experience with a client in the entertainment industry was the inspiration for Scott's book, Agile Scrum. He is a former vice president of a provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet including social networking and internet access. Before that, Scott worked in organizations with businesses ranging from advanced technology products and services to business services, retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and entertainment. He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets, as well as experience spanning 20 countries. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California.
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Video: Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
A new 1-minute video, Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage, was just published. It is live at https://vimeo.com/259429846 (and it can be played above).
Four other videos were published earlier. They follow:
Agile Scrum Guide | Official Book Trailer from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Product Increment and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Ordering the Product Release Backlog from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Technical Debt from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" Online Bonus Content — Updated on 8 March 2018
Agile Workflows
Online bonus material—containing an ever-growing list of supplemental content that comes free with the purchase of Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions—was updated today.
Contents include satisfaction survey examples, quizzes, tools, select resources, and more.
Instructions on how to access the online bonus material are provided inside the publication (both the ebook and the paperback book).
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Side-by-Side Comparisons of Scrum and Waterfall Methods: A Recap
Agile Workflows
Agile/Scrum and traditional (waterfall) methods of development and delivery both involve planning followed by forms of execution, monitoring and controlling. However, there are significant distinctions. To help relate key differences, eight side-by-side comparisons were created. In alphabetical order, they are communications management, cost management, integration management, quality management, risk management, scope management, team management (some refer to this as human resources management), and time management. The comparisons were presented earlier via individual posts in this blog.
This article is a recap. It lists all of the comparisons and provides links to the respective posts where further details are available. Here they are:
Communications management
Cost management
Integration management
Quality management
Risk management
Scope management
Team management
Time management
The content includes excerpts from the award-winning book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. The book is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Video: Product Increment and a Mininimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Product Increment and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
A new 1-minute video, Product Increment and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) Approach, was just published. It is live at https://vimeo.com/258176585 (and it can be played above).
Three other videos were published earlier. They follow:
Agile Scrum Guide | Official Book Trailer from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Ordering the Product Release Backlog from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Agile Scrum Guide | Minisode | Technical Debt from Scott Graffius on Vimeo.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Complimentary Review and Examination Copies of Award-Winning "Agile Scrum" Book for Members of Media and Instructors
Agile Workflows
Note: The Review Copy/Examination Copy program is open through April 1, 2018. After, select links/forms de-activated.
Complimentary review and examination copies of Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions are available for members of the media and instructors.
Members of the media—those involved in broadcast, print or online media including writers, reporters, producers, and editors (managing editors, assignment editors, and planning editors): visit http://bit.ly/FOR_MEDIA
Instructors at an accredited university or college who wish to consider the publication for adoption: visit http://bit.ly/FOR_INSTRUCTORS
An overview and update on the book is provided below.
Project management expert, consultant, international speaker and author Scott M. Graffius has won another honor for his book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. The latest accolade comes from the 2018 Florida Book Festival, which named Agile Scrum the first place winner in the Business category.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products, and most methodologies fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices engage sequential development, while agile models involve iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to best meet their business needs—and successfully manage projects, innovate, and prosper at astounding speed.
Scott released Agile Scrum to provide those interested or involved in innovation, product development, project management, software development or technology management with a roadmap to implement Scrum, the most popular agile framework. It helps technical and non-technical teams deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage.
Reactions to Agile Scrum have been incredibly positive.
"A superbly written and presented guide to team-based project management that is applicable across a broad range of businesses from consumer products to high-tech."
- IndieBRAG
"The book is excellent."
- Readers' Favorite
"An all-inclusive instruction guide that is impressively 'user-friendly' in tone, content, clarity, organization, and presentation."
- Midwest Book Review
"A-type personalities (those inclined to avoid instruction manuals) and non-readers will rejoice upon discovering this guide which makes getting started with Agile Scrum a breeze."
- Literary Classics Book Reviews
"A must-have for a project manager wanting to introduce Scrum to the organization."
- PM World Journal
"A clear and authoritative roadmap for successful implementation."
- BookViral
"The manner in which Scott presents this material is exemplary."
- Amazon.com Hall of Fame and Top 100 Reviewer
Honors for Agile Scrum include 16 first place awards from national and international competitions.
First Place Winner
Business-General Category
5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
First Place Winner
Technology Category
5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
First Place Winner
Business Category
2016 London Book Festival
First Place Winner
Business Category
Fall 2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards
First Place Winner
Informational (Business) Category
2017 Feathered Quill Book Awards
First Place Winner
Technology Category
2016 New Apple Book Awards
First Place Winner
Technology Category
2017 Independent Press Award
First Place Winner
Technology Category
11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards
First Place Winner
Business Category
2017 Pacific Rim Book Festival
First Place Winner
Green/Conscious Business Category
2017 Bookvana Awards
First Place Winner
Technology Category
2017 Book Excellence Awards
First Place Winner
Business Reference Category
14th Annual Best Book Awards
First Place Winner
Technology Category
2017 New York City Big Book Awards
First Place Winner
Science & Technology Category
2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
First Place Winner
Workplace Category
2017 Human Relations Indie Book Awards
First Place Winner
Business Category
2018 Florida Book Festival
Additional reviews and awards are listed at AgileScrumGuide.com.
The book is for anyone involved or interested in the management of projects via Scrum, including those with no prior experience. It's also for those already using Scrum, in roles such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Development Team members (business analysts, technical architects, designers, developers, testers, etc.), customers, end users, agile coaches, executives, managers and other stakeholders. For those already using Scrum, this book can serve as a reference on practices for consideration and potential adaptation.
About the Author
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is a project management expert, consultant, international speaker and author. He founded and is CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, an Inc. Verified Business, which helps organizations better solve their problems and capitalize on opportunities via world-class project management related services. Results include more consistent realization of business outcomes, faster delivery speed, improved on-budget performance, higher satisfaction, and more. A fantastic agile transformation experience with a client in the entertainment industry was the inspiration for Scott's award-winning book, Agile Scrum. He is a former vice president of a provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet including social networking and internet access. Before that, Scott worked in organizations with businesses ranging from advanced technology products and services to business services, retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and entertainment. He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets, as well as experience spanning 20 countries. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California.
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
Agile Scrum is offered in paperback (ISBN-13: 978-1533370242, $19.95 USD) and ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY, $4.95 USD) formats at Amazon. The paperback is available in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The ebook is for sale in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
For more information on the author and the publication, visit AgileScrumGuide.com.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" Recognized by Wishing Shelf International Competition
Agile Workflows
Today, The Wishing Shelf Book Awards announced an update on their 2017 international competition, and Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is a finalist. A press release from Scott M. Graffius, the author of the book, is located here. Additionally, the text from the release is provided below.
"AGILE SCRUM: YOUR QUICK START GUIDE WITH STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS" BY SCOTT M. GRAFFIUS RECOGNIZED BY WISHING SHELF INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Los Angeles, CA — Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by Los Angeles author Scott M. Graffius was named a finalist in the 2017 Wishing Shelf Book Awards. The United Kingdom-based contest is open to English language books from around the world which are self-published or published by small, independent or academic presses. Readers in London and Stockholm judged entries, and books rated as excellent are credited by the program.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products, and most methodologies fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices engage sequential development, while agile models involve iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to best meet their business needs—and successfully manage projects, innovate, and prosper at astounding speed.
Scott released Agile Scrum to provide those interested or involved in innovation, product development, project management, software development or technology management with a roadmap to implement Scrum, the most popular agile framework. It helps technical and non-technical teams deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement—which supports innovation and drives competitive advantage. Reactions to Agile Scrum have been incredibly positive. Earlier honors include 16 first place wins from national and international competitions. Awards—along with reviews, photos, and more—are detailed at https://AgileScrumGuide.com.
About the Author
Scott M. Graffius, PMP, CSP, CSM, CSPO, ITIL, LSSGB is a project management expert, consultant, international speaker, and author. He founded and is CEO of Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions, an Inc. Verified Business, which helps organizations better solve their problems and capitalize on opportunities via world-class project management related services. Results include more consistent realization of business outcomes, faster delivery speed, improved on-budget performance, higher satisfaction, and more. A fantastic agile transformation experience with a client in the entertainment industry was the inspiration for Scott's book, Agile Scrum. He is a former vice president of a provider of diverse consumer products and services over the Internet including social networking and internet access. Before that, Scott worked in organizations with businesses ranging from advanced technology products and services to business services, retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, and entertainment. He has experience with consumer, business, reseller, government, and international markets, as well as experience spanning 20 countries. Scott lives in Los Angeles, California.
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
For more information on the author and his publication, visit https://AgileScrumGuide.com. For more information on The Wishing Shelf and their international awards program, visit http://www.thewsa.co.uk.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage: An Infographic Timeline
Agile Workflows
There's a widely-held view that agile development is new. But agile was used decades before it became well-known. For example, software was developed in half-day iterations in 1958 for Project Mercury, the United States' first human spaceflight program. And Harlan Mills of IBM promoted in 1968 that "software development should be done incrementally, in stages with continuous user participation and replanning."
Many innovators and visionaries have advanced agile—which includes Scrum—principles and practices over time. Agile Has a Long and Colorful Heritage: A Timeline Infographic from Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ illustrates via specific examples how agile has progressively evolved. The downloadable infographic is located here.
About Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions
A fantastic agile transformation experience and result with a client organization in the entertainment industry was the inspiration for Scott M. Graffius’ book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. The publication helps technical and non-technical teams develop and deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, continuous improvement, and more. It has garnered several first place awards. A trailer, high-resolution images, reviews, and a detailed list of awards are in the digital media kit. Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" — Update on 12 February 2018
Agile Workflows
This is an overview and update on the award-winning book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most methodologies fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to best meet their business needs and effectively manage projects.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Agile Scrum helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework—Scrum
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage
This guide is for those interested or involved in innovation, project management, product development, software development or technology management.
- It's for those who have not yet used Scrum
- It's also for people already using Scrum, in roles such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Development Team members (business analysts, solution and system architects, designers, developers, testers, etc.), customers, end users, agile coaches, executives, managers, and other stakeholders
For those already using Scrum, the book can serve as a reference on practices for consideration and potential adaptation.
Reactions to the book have been incredibly positive. Honors to date include 16 first place awards in national and international competitions.
- First Place Winner, Business-General Category, 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Category, 2016 London Book Festival
- First Place Winner, Business Category, Fall 2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards
- First Place Winner, Informational (Business) Category, 2017 Feathered Quill Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2016 New Apple Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 Independent Press Award
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Category, 2017 Pacific Rim Book Festival
- First Place Winner, Green/Conscious Business Category, 2017 Bookvana Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 Book Excellence Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Reference Category, 14th Annual Best Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 New York City Big Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Science & Technology Category, 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Workplace Category, 2017 Human Relations Indie Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Category, 2018 Florida Book Festival
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Use Tuckman's Model of Team Dynamics
Agile/Scrum and other teams go through stages of development, and Bruce Tuckman established a popular framework on the subject. According to Tuckman, all phases—Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning—are necessary for the team to grow, tackle problems, find solutions, plan work, and deliver results. This article provides a brief overview of the model, including descriptions and strategies for each phase.
1. Forming
Characteristics of Forming include questioning, socializing, displaying eagerness, focusing on group identity and purpose, and sticking to safe topics. Strategies for this phase include taking the 'lead,' providing clear expectations and consistent instructions, and quick response times.
2. Storming
Traits of Storming include resistance, lack of participation, conflict, competition, high emotions, and moving towards group norms. Strategies for this stage include normalizing matters and encouraging leadership.
3. Norming
Features of Norming include reconciliation, relief, lowered anxiety, members are engaged and supportive, and developing cohesion. Strategies for this phase include recognizing individual and group efforts, providing learning opportunities and feedback, and monitoring the 'energy' of the group.
4. Performing
Characteristics of Performing include demonstrations of interdependence, healthy system, ability to effectively produce as a team, and balance of task and process orientation. Strategies for this stage include celebrating, 'guide from the side' (minimal intervention), encouraging group decision-making and problem-solving, and providing opportunities to share learning across teams.
5. Adjourning
Traits of Adjourning include a shift to process orientation, sadness, and recognition of team and individual efforts. Strategies for this phase include recognizing change, providing an opportunity for summative team evaluations, and providing an opportunity for acknowledgments.
As shown, performance fluctuates as teams move through the phases. Review the characteristics to help identify the team's current phase, then apply the corresponding proven strategies to help them advance.
Post-Publication Notes
If there are any supplements or updates to this article after the date of publication, they will appear here.
After this article was published, Scott M. Graffius developed an updated version of his work on the Phases of Team Development (also referred to as Tuckman's Model of Team Dynamics, etc.). The newest (2024) edition is here.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Connect with "Agile Scrum" on Social
Agile Workflows
Thanks for reading! If you have not done so already, you're invited to connect via social to receive the latest news, tips and more on the professional practice of Scrum—and information on the book, Agile Scrum.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Potentially Shippable Product Increment and a Minimum Viable Product Approach
Agile Workflows
Scrum requires teams to build an increment of functionality during every sprint, and the increment must be potentially shippable because the Product Owner might decide to release it at the end of the sprint.
- The product increment is the sum of all backlog items completed during the current sprint
- Potentially shippable is defined by a state of confidence or readiness
- Shipping is a business decision: shipping may or may not occur at the end of the sprint (new functionality may be accumulated via multiple sprints before being shipped)
Minimum Viable Product Approach
The product increment may or may not be marketable. However, a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach is sometimes used to help test marketable ideas. MVP is a product release strategy which can be used in Scrum (or another framework). The term was created by Frank Robinson, and it was popularized by Steve Blank and Eric Ries.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions (http://bit.ly/scrumone) says:
"The MVP has just those features considered sufficient for it to be of value to customers, and allow for it to be shipped or sold to early adopters. Customer feedback will inform future development of the product."
Here are a few examples of then-startups use of an MVP:
- Facebook: The first product (originally called Thefacebook) tested traction of students connecting with their college/class and posting messages. Other features—built on the initial success—came later.
- Groupon: It launched with a WordPress site and PDFs emailed to early subscribers. The test proved successful, and the company subsequently built its voucher system and backend.
- Spotify: The initial product was simple desktop app, tested in a closed beta. The MVP proved to be of interest to consumers, and more features followed.
Let's Connect
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© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Timeline of Major Milestones for "Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions"
Agile Workflows
A timeline overview of major milestones for the book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, is available here (note: this is a limited-time link).
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" Takes First Place in Business at Florida Book Festival
Agile Workflows
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions by technology leader, project management expert, consultant, international speaker and author Scott M. Graffius won first place in Business at the 2018 Florida Book Festival. This is the sixteenth first place award for the book.
The competition was open to works from small, medium, large (including the Big Five), and independent presses as well as self-published authors. Judging was conducted by a panel of industry professionals, and placements were determined based on overall excellence. Winners will be honored at a gala on Saturday, February 24 in Orlando, Florida. Graffius is scheduled to attend and speak at the ceremony.
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Product Release Backlog Ordering Technique: Factoring Business Value and Risk
Agile Workflows
🔥 There's an updated version of this article. You can see it here.
Scrum is the most popular agile project development and delivery framework. In Scrum, the product release backlog (sometimes referred to as the product backlog) is a list of features, user stories, bugs to be fixed, and/or other requirements. The Product Owner is the ultimate holder of the backlog. The Product Owner prioritizes items, and different methods can be employed to help accomplish that work. This brief article focuses on the technique of factoring business value and risk.
Each item in the product release backlog would be rated as either high or low in two dimensions: business value and risk. It is suggested that high business value, high-risk items are worked on first. While that may seem counterintuitive, the earlier this work is done, the sooner the team will move to mitigate the issues and unknowns—leading to a higher quality product. If there's a failure, it will occur early and relatively inexpensively.
An ordering of priorities is illustrated above, and it follows:
1. High business value, high risk.
2. High business value, low risk.
3. Low business value, low risk.
4. Low business value, high risk.
Alternatively, other prioritization methods—such as the MoSCoW ranking model— may be used. MoSCoW will be highlighted in a subsequent article.
This content is an abridged excerpt from the award-winning book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions, available in digital and print formats.
Agile Scrum is offered in ebook/Kindle format (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) in:
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© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" — Update on 12 January 2018
Agile Workflows
This is an overview and update on Agile Scrum.
There are a variety of frameworks supporting the development of products and services, and most methodologies fall into one of two broad categories: traditional or agile. Traditional practices engage sequential development, while agile involves iterative and incremental deliverables. Organizations are increasingly embracing agile to best meet their business needs and effectively manage projects.
With clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions, Agile Scrum helps the reader:
- Implement and use the most popular agile framework—Scrum
- Deliver products in short cycles with rapid adaptation to change, fast time-to-market, and continuous improvement
- Support innovation and drive competitive advantage
This guide is for those interested or involved in innovation, project management, product development, software development or technology management.
- It's for those who have not yet used Scrum
- It's also for people already using Scrum, in roles such as Product Owners, Scrum Masters, Development Team members (business analysts, solution and system architects, designers, developers, testers, etc.), customers, end users, agile coaches, executives, managers, and other stakeholders
For those already using Scrum, the book can serve as a reference on practices for consideration and potential adaptation.
Reactions to the book have been incredibly positive. Honors to date include 15 first place awards in national and international competitions.
- First Place Winner, Business-General Category, 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 5th Annual Beverly Hills International Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Category, 2016 London Book Festival
- First Place Winner, Business Category, Fall 2016 Pinnacle Book Achievement Awards
- First Place Winner, Informational (Business) Category, 2017 Feathered Quill Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2016 New Apple Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 Independent Press Award
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Category, 2017 Pacific Rim Book Festival
- First Place Winner, Green/Conscious Business Category, 2017 Bookvana Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 Book Excellence Awards
- First Place Winner, Business Reference Category, 14th Annual Best Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Technology Category, 2017 New York City Big Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Science & Technology Category, 2017 Royal Dragonfly Book Awards
- First Place Winner, Workplace Category, 2017 Human Relations Indie Book Awards
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
Planning Cards Help Agile Teams Estimate Work
Agile Workflows
🔥 Update: The limited-edition product sold out!
Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ has Planning Cards as a tool to help agile teams estimate work. Excerpts of the information and instructions—which are included with each deck of the cards—follow. This article is for those interested in getting an overview.
About These Planning Cards
- These cards are used to help estimate work
- Each deck contains four sets of cards—enough for four estimators
- Each of the four sets has a unique color on the front side of cards—it’s in either blue, green, orange, or yellow
- Cards are based on the Fibonacci sequence, where every number after the first two is the sum of the two preceding numbers
- Each set includes cards with the following values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, and "?"
- Each deck comes in a storage case
Purpose
These cards and instructions support the most popular approach to estimating work in Scrum projects—estimating the complexity of work via story points.
The Development Team—which may be comprised of business analysts, coders, testers, etc.—collaboratively estimates each item in the product backlog in story points. Story points are a relative measure of complexity.
Participants
- Product Owner
- Development Team
- Scrum Master (facilitator/observer)
Frequency
- Once or twice per sprint
Time-box
- One hour for each week of the sprint
- It’s a common practice to limit each meeting to one hour and have multiple meetings as appropriate
Prerequisites/Inputs
- Product backlog containing user stories, bugs, and other requirements
- One set of planning cards for each member of the Development Team
Suggested Steps
1. If each member of the Development Team does not already have their own set of planning cards, the Scrum Master provides materials as needed
2. The Product Owner describes an item (a user story, bug, or other requirement) from the product backlog and mentions its intent and business value
3. Each member of the Development Team silently picks a card best representing their assessment of the complexity of the work and places the card face-down
4. After all of the Development Team members have made their selections, the cards are turned face-up, and the values are read aloud
5. If all of the selections have the same value, the Product Owner records it as the estimate, and that completes the exercise for the item; otherwise, proceed to the next step
6. Team member(s) who gave an outlier value —such as someone who gave a high value and/or someone who gave a low value—explain their reasoning
7. After a brief discussion, the team may take the most common value (the mode average) as the estimate or they may play another round of this planning game (steps 3-7)
8. Steps 2-7 are repeated until each item in the product backlog has been estimated
9. The Product Owner updates the product backlog with the estimate values
Options
Some organizations use a subset of the cards and slice product backlog items when the estimate is "too large." Here's an example:
- Development Team uses cards with the following values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and 21
- Predetermined that 21 is "too large"
- If a product backlog item is estimated at 21, it is sliced into two or more parts in collaboration with the Product Owner, and the resulting smaller items are estimated by the Development Team
This article provided a quick overview of an aspect of estimation in agile projects. Further details—including more information on the Fibonacci sequence, and additional options—are provided in the book, Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions. Agile Scrum is available in paperback and ebook formats at Amazon. For additional information, visit AgileScrumGuide.com.
Let's Connect
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© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.
"Agile Scrum" Listed on 22 Best Scrum Books of All Time
Agile Workflows
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions made the list, "22 Best Scrum Books of All Time." Thank you, Roy Povarchik and Book Authority!
Agile Scrum: Your Quick Start Guide with Step-by-Step Instructions is offered in digital and print formats.
The ebook (ASIN: B01FZ0JIIY) is available in:
- Australia,
- Brazil,
- Canada,
- France,
- Germany,
- India,
- Italy,
- Japan,
- Mexico,
- the Netherlands,
- Spain,
- the United Kingdom, and
- the United States.
The paperback (ISBN-13: 9781533370242) is for sale at:
- Amazon,
- Barnes & Noble,
- Strand Books,
- Harvard Book Store,
- Books-a-Million,
- The Booksmith,
- Hudson Booksellers,
- Savoy Bookshop & Café,
- Compass Books at SFO/Books Inc.,
- Books & Books - Miami,
- University Press Books - Berkeley,
- and other retailers and partners in the United States and around the world.
Let's Connect
Connect with AgileScrumGuide.com on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.
And connect with agile project management practitioner, consultant, award-winning author, and international speaker Scott M. Graffius on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
© Copyright 2018 Scott M. Graffius, AgileScrumGuide.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the express written permission of Scott M. Graffius/AgileScrumGuide.com.