Scrum And Agile Articles By Michael Vizdos
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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.
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You Built A First Team. So Why Is Leadership Still Misaligned?
A C-Level guide to closing the 'Process Theater' gap. A First Team alone doesn't create strategic clarity for the rest of the organization.
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Implementing Scrum Case Studies Podcast 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.
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Implementing Scrum Case Studies Podcast Episode
Wearing Two Hats in Scrum? 3 Rules for Surviving as a Product Owner and Developer
Holding both Product Owner and Developer accountabilities creates real internal conflict. Three rules for wearing both hats without sacrificing value.
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Coaching Scrum Case Studies Podcast Episode
Your Retrospectives Are Pointless — Until You Apply This 1 Simple Rule
The mistake silently draining energy from Scrum retrospectives: trying to fix too many things at once. Commit to one actionable improvement instead.
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Implementing Scrum Case Studies Podcast Episode
Your Product Owner is MIA? It's Costing More Than You Think.
The "Weekend at Bernie's" Product Owner: propped up in meetings, providing no real direction. Four counter-intuitive strategies for fixing it.
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Implementing Scrum Case Studies Podcast 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.
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Implementing Scrum Case Studies Podcast Episode
AI for Scrum Teams: Your Practical Blueprint For Success In An AI-Powered World
Leadership says "use AI now." How Scrum Teams adapt, use AI as a co-pilot, and still deliver value — a practical blueprint.
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Create An Agile Community of Practice In Your Organization
As Scrum Teams multiply, an Agile Community of Practice is the natural next step. How to start one without creating another committee.
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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.
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Scrum Is Not A Silver Bullet
Scrum is not a silver bullet. Michael Vizdos — creator of the original Scrum Chicken & Pig cartoons — on why it isn't, in reality.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Customer Versus End User: Who is your Customer?
The difference between your customer and your end user changes what a Sprint Review means. Fix time and budget, then focus on delivering value.
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Communication Preferences Matter When Implementing Scrum
How many times have you 'reached out' and gotten no response? A real example of one person's communication preferences — and why yours aren't your team's.
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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.'
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Onboarding New Team Members: Be Intentional
Onboarding needs to be intentional. How the Tuckman Model — Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, Adjourning — applies every time your team changes.
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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?
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Drunken PM Radio with Dave Prior and Michael Vizdos: Podcast Episode
Michael Vizdos joins Dave Prior on Drunken PM Radio: competing for resources across Product Owners, coaching senior leadership, and the First Team.
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Implementing Scrum Coaching 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.
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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.
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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.
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Scrum Fundamentals (Scrum Foundations)
Learn Scrum Fundamentals wherever you are on your journey of Implementing Scrum — and prepare yourself for CSM or PSM training.
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Starting Scrum Implementing 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.
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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.
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Welcome To 2022
What will be different than years before? Who knows. Stick around and let's learn together.
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