When I saw Robert’s tweets popping on my TweetDeck inviting one and all for a virtual front row seat to his webinar on SCRUM for Managers, I was quick to accept. So did many others and it was worth every minute spent.

Robert Dempsey is a Certified Scrum Practitioner, Agile Trainer, MBA, and the CEO & Founder of the Atlantic Dominion Solutions. He introduces SCRUM to the new age Managers who are faced with a unique challenge these days - agile management. In order to manage a team in an agile environment, it is important to understand the basics of SCRUM. Robert does that wonderfully in his online presentation.

He was more than willing to share his deck with me for the 13apples readers, one which I think is one of the best SCRUM primers I have seen in recent times. So, sit back and enjoy the slideshow. Then post your questions as comments and Robert will be here to answer our questions.

Here is an excerpt from the interview:

How difficult was it to take the exam after just taking classes for 2days? Is that all the preparation you need to take?

This is a question everyone who is interested in SCRUM certification seems to be commonly wondering/asking. Yes, 2 days of training is all you need to learn and fall in love with SCRUM. In these 2 days you implement SCRUM from ground up and you practice it. You end up learning a lot and most importantly you will question your fundamental beliefs and learning’s from the past.

Click here to read the complete interview. Do comment and share you take on it. Thanks.

Lets see what the most common definition of “resources” is, shall we?

Wikipedia: “A resource is any physical or virtual entity of limited availability, or anything used to help one earn a living”

Merriam-Webster: ”something that one uses to accomplish an end especially when the usual means is not available”

Are people resources? Are team members something we use?

I hate the word “resources” when used in context to a team. I think it is de-moralizing and de-motivation to the team. When I was a developer a long time ago, I remember an argument I had with my Project Lead when he referred to me as a ‘resource’. It infuriated me. I was not a resource, a thing you use.

If you are working in IT or the software industry, I am sure you have had a similar situation when you’ve reacted to such a reference or at least felt bad about it. The sad part is that it has become some sort of an industry norm now. It is common to address employees as resources. We have the “Human Resources” department. We do “Resource Management” and “Resource Planning” and measure “Resource Utilization”.

I am guilty too. The incident with my Lead did not stop me from making the same mistake when I became a Manager of teams. The usage was so common that I got infected by it and my true feelings got buried. It became a habit that seemed absolutely normal.

A few months ago, in August, I took the CSM (Certified SCRUM Master) training in Bangalore. During those 2 days of training, this issue was discussed. The trainer made us realize how disrespectful it is to consider and term people as resources. I was given a rude awakening. My feelings that were buried deep inside resurfaced. From that point onwards, I decided that I will break away from the habit and get a treatment for my disease.

Today, I am proud to tell you that I am 60% cured. It took almost 2 months of conscious effort to correct my spoken and written usage of the word “resources” to “people” or “folks” or “team”, just as my CSM trainer taught me. I am in process of correcting all my reports and documents that address my team as resources.  I have requested my peers and team members to make an effort to do the same.

In a way I am trying to change my world,  one person at a time. It’s doable. A day will come when there are no more “Human Resources” departments, only “People Management Teams”. Join this cause. Please help me humanize our teams. Spread the word.