In the role of a professional Scrum Master, your responsibilities include guiding the Scrum process and ensuring the team complies with the Scrum framework. This can include challenges, particularly for those new to Scrum or overseeing multiple teams. That’s where this cheat sheet comes in handy. It provides you with a quick reference guide that you can use to refresh your memory on the key concepts, practices, and roles of Scrum. Whether you’re preparing for the PSM I certification exam or looking to improve your Scrum skills, this cheat sheet can help you save time and effort.
In this blog, we will walk you through the key components of the PSM I Cheat Sheet, including the Scrum framework, roles and responsibilities, Scrum artifacts, and events. We will provide you with a comprehensive overview of each section of the cheat sheet, highlighting the most important concepts and practices that you need to know.
So, let’s dive in and explore the world of Scrum and the PSM I Cheat Sheet together!
You must know that Professional Scrum Master (PSM) has three levels:
- Firstly, PSM I. Achieving this certification will demonstrate a fundamental level of Scrum mastery. However, PSM I certificate provides understanding of Scrum as described in the Scrum Guide.
- Next up, PSM II. Attaining this certification showcases an advanced mastery of Scrum. Yet, holders of the PSM II certificate demonstrate their comprehension of the fundamental principles that underlie Scrum.
- Finally, PSM III. Earning this certification reflects an exceptional level of Scrum mastery. PSM III certificate holders, however, showcase a profound understanding of applying Scrum principles, and practices, and the Scrum Values.
PSM Professional Scrum Master I Glossary
- Agile: A set of principles and values for software development that emphasizes collaboration, flexibility, and customer satisfaction.
- Backlog: A prioritized list of items that the Scrum Team needs to work on during a Sprint.
- Burn-down chart: A chart that shows the amount of work remaining in the Sprint Backlog over time, allowing the Scrum Team to track progress and identify potential problems.
- Daily Scrum: A 15-minute time-boxed event where the Development Team synchronizes its activities and plans for the next 24 hours.
- Definition of Done (DoD): A shared understanding of the criteria that a product increment must meet in order to be considered complete.
- Empiricism: A framework for making decisions based on observation and experimentation.
- Increment: It’s the total of all Product Backlog items finished within a Sprint, along with the increments from all the prior Sprints.
- Product Backlog: An ordered list of items that represent the work the Scrum Team plans to complete.
- Product Owner: The individual tasked with optimizing the product’s value and ensuring that the Product Backlog remains visible, transparent, and well-understood.
- Sprint: A time-boxed period of one month or less during which a potentially releasable increment of the product is created.
- Sprint Backlog: The set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal.
- Scrum: A framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products, using empirical process control.
- Scrum Master: The person responsible for ensuring that the Scrum framework is understood and followed by the Scrum Team and the organization.
- Scrum Team: The team of individuals accountable for constructing, testing, and delivering a potentially releasable Increment of the product by the conclusion of each Sprint. The Scrum Team comprises the Product Owner, the Development Team, and the Scrum Master.
- Self-organizing: A characteristic of the Scrum Team, which means that the individuals within the team are responsible for organizing and managing their own work.
- Transparency: A key principle of the Scrum framework, which means that all aspects of the process must be visible and understood by everyone involved.
Exam preparation resources for PSM Professional Scrum Master I
Here are some exam preparation resources for PSM Professional Scrum Master I certification:
- Scrum.org: This is the official website for Scrum.org, the organization that develops and administers the PSM I certification exam. On this website, you can find the PSM I exam syllabus, practice assessments, and study materials.
- The Scrum Guide: The Scrum Guide is a free resource that outlines the Scrum framework and provides guidelines for implementing Scrum in your organization. The PSM I exam is based on the Scrum Guide, so it is important to understand its contents.
- Scrum.org Forums: The Scrum.org forums are a great resource for asking questions and getting help from other Scrum professionals. Explore responses to frequently asked questions regarding the PSM I exam, along with study recommendations and examination tactics.
- Agile Manifesto: The Agile Manifesto is a statement of values and principles that underpin the Agile methodology. As Scrum falls under the umbrella of Agile methodologies, a grasp of the Agile Manifesto is crucial for successfully navigating the PSM I exam.
- Scrum Open Assessments: Scrum.org offers several free Open Assessments that are similar to the PSM I exam. These assessments can help you gauge your knowledge of Scrum and identify areas where you need to focus your study.
- Udemy PSM I Exam Preparation: Udemy offers several courses that are designed to help you prepare for the PSM I exam. These courses cover the Scrum framework, the PSM I exam syllabus, and exam strategies.
- Professional Scrum Master I Preparation Guide: This guide, written by the co-creator of Scrum, Ken Schwaber, provides an overview of the PSM I exam and study tips to help you prepare.
- Scrum Master Certification Exam Prep: This book by Eric Landes provides a comprehensive review of the Scrum framework and the PSM I exam syllabus. It includes practice assessments and study tips to help you pass the exam.
- YouTube Videos: There are several YouTube channels that offer tutorials and tips for passing the PSM I exam, such as Agile Velocity, Simplilearn, and Agile Scrum Guide.
Cheat Sheet for PSM Professional Scrum Master I Exam
For better revision, it is important that you have all the required resources so that you are not left with anything. There are resources and suitable links provided for PSM Exam below. So, you can quickly catch up the topics and get a better understanding of the concepts as well as clear all your doubts. So, let’s begin with this.
Review the Exam Objectives
The important thing to start revising with is the exam objectives for the PSM Professional Scrum Master I exam. Engaging in this process will help reinforce your understanding of the topics and skills related to the PSM Professional Scrum Master I. Additionally, going over the exam objectives eliminates any potential confusion, allowing you to concentrate on subsequent revisions. In the context of the PSM Professional Scrum Master I exam, let’s delve into the essential topics, including:
Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework:
- Empiricism, Scrum Values, Roles, Events, Artifacts, Done.
PSM Documentation: Professional Scrum Competency: Understanding and Applying the Scrum Framework
Developing People and Teams:
- Self-Organizing Teams, Facilitation, Leadership Styles, Coaching and Mentoring.
PSM Documentation: Professional Scrum Competency: Developing People and Teams
Managing Products with Agility:
- Forecasting & Release Planning, Product Value, Product Backlog Management, Stakeholders & Customers.
PSM Documentation: Professional Scrum Competency: Managing Products with Agility
Developing and Delivering Products Professionally:
- Managing Technical Risk.
PSM Documentation: Professional Scrum Competency: Developing and Delivering Products Professionally
Evolving the Agile Organization:
- Organizational Design & Culture.
PSM Documentation: Professional Scrum Competency: Evolving the Agile Organization
Scrum Official Website
Visiting the Scrum official website is an important step while preparing for the Professional Scrum Master (PSM) I exam. However, the official site offers a lot of reliable information and sources which are very helpful in preparing for the exam. There you can find the resources such as study guide, sample papers, whitepapers, documentation, faqs. Moreover, you can find all such important things on the PSM Professional Scrum Master I official page.
Scrum Training Program
Training programs are a very necessary step in the preparation of such exams like Professional Scrum Master (PSM). However, Scrum offers its own training programs on their various examinations and certifications. This includes Professional Scrum Master (PSM) course, which is a 2-day course that covers the principles and process theory underpinning the Scrum framework, and the purpose of the Scrum Master in it. The course blends instructional content with team-based exercises to impart the core principles of the Scrum and Agile movement.
Books for Reference
If you are dedicated to passing the exam then, you must know the importance of books during the time of preparation. This will help you to highlight the part of the topic you find difficult or you want to study later. Moreover, it can be helpful in understanding the core of the topics. For PSM Professional Scrum Master I exam some of the good books that will help you in understanding the concepts include:
- Firstly, Scrum Narrative and PSM Exam Guide: All-in-one Guide for Professional Scrum Master (PSM 1) Certificate Assessment Preparation Kindle Edition by Mohammed Musthafa Soukath Ali.
- Secondly, The Scrum Master Training Manual: The Definitive Guide for Professional Scrum Master – PSM Certification by iCertify Training.
- Lastly, Mastering Professional Scrum: A Practitioners Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Maximizing the Benefits of Agility (The Professional Scrum Series) 1st Edition by Stephanie Ockerman.
Practice Test
Engaging in practice tests is crucial for thorough preparation, allowing you to identify both your strengths and weaknesses. Taking PSM Professional Scrum Master I exam practice tests not only helps in self-assessment but also enhances your answering skills, ultimately saving valuable time. It’s recommended to initiate practice tests after completing a full topic, facilitating effective revision.
