Scrum And Agile Articles By Michael Vizdos
Become More Productive. Do. Less.
An index of Michael Vizdos's weekly 'Focus. #deliver' LinkedIn newsletter — one actionable tip every week to help you increase productivity by doing less.
Read More →You Built A First Team. So Why Is Leadership Still Misaligned?
A C-Level guide to closing the 'Process Theater' gap between high-performing teams and business strategy. A First Team alone doesn't create strategic clarity for the rest of the organization.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
SLAY The Technical Debt Monster: The 3-Step Script To Get Leaders To Say 'YES' To Cleanup
Technical debt isn't a developer chore, it's product risk. Three counter-intuitive shifts in perspective to get leaders to prioritize the invisible work.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
Wearing Two Hats in Scrum? 3 Rules for Surviving as a Product Owner and Developer
One person holding both Product Owner and Developer accountabilities creates real internal conflict. Three rules to survive wearing both hats without sacrificing value or your sanity.
Read More →Coaching ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
Your Retrospectives Are Pointless — Until You Apply This 1 Simple Rule
The one common mistake silently draining energy from Scrum retrospectives: trying to fix too many things at once. Commit to just one actionable improvement instead.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
Your Product Owner is MIA? It's Costing More Than You Think.
The 'Weekend at Bernie's' Product Owner problem: propped up in meetings but providing no real direction. Four counter-intuitive strategies for tackling this expensive organizational problem.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
Understanding Why Organizational Impediments Are Strategic Challenges, Not Just Team Problems
Stop talking about Scrum in terms of sprint reviews and velocity. Learn to speak leadership's language of risk, ROI, and measurable business value instead.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCase StudiesPodcast Episode
AI for Scrum Teams: Your Practical Blueprint For Success In An AI-Powered World
Leadership says "use AI now." Learn how Scrum Teams can effectively adapt, leverage AI as a co-pilot, and deliver value. Get your practical blueprint for AI for Scrum Teams success!
Read More →Create An Agile Community of Practice In Your Organization
As Scrum Teams multiply across an organization, an Agile Community of Practice — generalizing specialists learning together — is the natural next step. Here's how to start one without a committee.
Read More →3 Steps to Land Your Dream Job
Not just any job — your dream job. A practical, three-step approach to networking your way into the specific company you actually want to work for.
Read More →Scrum Is Not A Silver Bullet
Scrum is NOT A Silver Bullet. This article from Michael Vizdos — creator of the Original Scrum Chicken & Pig Cartoons — examines WHY this is NOT the case in reality.
Read More →Scrum Trainer Evaluation Guide: 10 Questions Answered
Michael Vizdos, CST with the Scrum Alliance, answers the 10 questions you should ask any Scrum Trainer before you pay and register for a class.
Read More →Your CSM Training Experience With Michael Vizdos
What to expect during a Certified Scrum Master training event with Michael Vizdos — a session-by-session walkthrough, not a slide-deck lecture.
Read More →Simplify Scrum: Use Occam's Razor
The secret of success when Implementing Scrum: limit WIP. A simple, four-step version of Scrum, and a slightly deeper version using the real Scrum Guide terms.
Read More →Product Backlog Refinement: The Greatest Non-Event Event In Scrum
Product Backlog Refinement isn't a formal Scrum event — but skipping it is why most teams struggle. Finish it before Sprint Planning, not during.
Read More →Lipstick On A Pig: Avoiding Scrum Anti-Patterns
Scrum Anti-Patterns Seem To Be Everywhere. Explore How To Avoid "Putting Lipstick On A Pig" In Order To Avoid Some Of Them With In This Informative Article.
Read More →Beware Of Agile Snake Oil Scams
Scrum Is One Of The Most Popular Agile Frameworks In Existence Today. Beware Of Agile Snake Oil Scams When Learning About Implementing Scrum In Your World.
Read More →Customer Versus End User: Who is your Customer?
Fix the time and budget, focus on delivering value, and change what a Sprint Review actually means — the difference between your customer and your end user matters.
Read More →Communication Preferences Matter When Implementing Scrum
How many times have you 'reached out' and not gotten a response? A real example of one person's communication preferences, and why your team's preferences aren't yours.
Read More →You Suck and That Makes Me Sad — Ken Schwaber Quote
A real email exchange with a CSM training alumnus worried about sprint burn-downs — and why the answer starts with 'you are not alone.'
Read More →A Tool Is Just A Tool: Don't Be A Tool When Using Scrum Tools
People love their Scrum tools. But if you're not solving a real problem for your customer or end user, someone else will do that for you. Guaranteed.
Read More →Receiving Feedback When Implementing Scrum
Two words that make receiving feedback dramatically easier on any Scrum Team — and why saying them isn't about being passive.
Read More →The Team Of Advisors Working With Michael Vizdos
The evolving list of professional advisors, collaborators, and colleagues Michael Vizdos leans on — nobody on this list works for him.
Read More →The New New Product Development Game
The 1986 Harvard Business Review article by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka that the creators of Scrum cited as a key influence on the original framework.
Read More →Onboarding New Team Members: Be Intentional
Onboarding new team members needs to be intentional. Learn how the Tuckman Model (Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning) applies every time your team changes.
Read More →Are You Present When You Are Present On An Agile Scrum Team?
Being 'in' a meeting and being present are two different things. What does checking out really cost you, your team, and your organization?
Read More →Drunken PM Radio with Dave Prior and Michael Vizdos: Podcast Episode
Michael Vizdos joins Dave Prior on Drunken PM Radio to discuss competing for resources across Product Owners, coaching senior leadership, and the First Team concept.
Read More →Implementing ScrumCoaching Scrum
Listen: A Key To Success When Implementing Scrum.
Listening is important. Mike Vizdos (creator of the Scrum Cartoon Series) examines why listening — more than speaking — is vital when Implementing Scrum.
Read More →The First Team Concept: A Guide for Executives
The "First Team" concept — by Patrick Lencioni — is a powerful leadership concept that many agile leadership teams aspire to; however, this seems to be lacking.
Read More →I Want Scrum Training - Preparation For Your CSM or PSM
Confused about your options for Scrum Training? Free resources — plus ten questions you must ask any Scrum Trainer — to help you prepare and choose wisely.
Read More →Scrum Fundamentals (Scrum Foundations)
Learn Scrum Fundamentals Or Scrum Essentials No Matter Where You Are On Your Journey Of Implementing Scrum. Scrum Fundamentals Prepare You For CSM or PSM Training.
Read More →Starting ScrumImplementing Scrum
Origin of the Scrum Chicken and Pig Cartoons
Scrum Chicken and Pig cartoons are now classic comics about Implementing Scrum. Learn how this cartoon series is still applicable today when Implementing Scrum.
Read More →Hyperactive Hive Mind Concept By Cal Newport
"The Hyperactive Hive Mind" concept is described by Cal Newport in his seminal book, "A World Without Email." Learn how this can apply when Implementing Scrum.
Read More →Welcome To 2022
What will be different than years before? Who knows. Stick around and let's learn together.
Read More →