Industry Insights: Agile Training Preferences and Key Takeaways from Our Latest Customer Survey

Understanding how our customers prefer to learn and develop is key to delivering top-notch education that makes a real impact. Here at Scrum Inc., we recently dove into a comprehensive survey to get the inside scoop on what professionals are looking for in their training and education experiences.

The landscape of professional training has changed a lot over the past decade. With remote work becoming the norm, online learning taking off, and bite-sized digital content being more accessible than ever, it’s crucial for us to stay ahead of these trends and adapt. Our goal? To keep delivering valuable training that makes a difference for organizations and individuals all over the world.

Let’s take a closer look at what we found and how we’re adapting to these exciting changes ??

?? The Evolution of Scrum and Agile Training

Back in 2006, when Dr. Jeff Sutherland founded Scrum Inc., our main focus was delivering in-person Scrum Master and Product Owner training. Organizations saw the value in role-specific training and welcomed us into their offices to train their teams. Fast forward a few years, and we saw a shift toward public training sessions. Individuals were eager for in-person courses and workshops to expand their value delivery and differentiate themselves in the job market. In 2020, we adapted to the challenges of COVID-19 by introducing online training via Zoom, ensuring continued access to our courses.

Now, while the demand for Agile and Scrum training is as strong as ever, how we deliver it is evolving to keep up with the times. We’re optimizing two key areas: the content we deliver and the format in which we deliver it. Under the guidance of Dr. Sutherland, Scrum Inc. continues to push the envelope, continuously updating our training material with the latest industry research, insights from our Agile Transformation Consultants, and more.

To optimize further, we reached out to our amazing community of 50,000 Scrum and Agile professionals with a brief, focused feedback survey. Here’s a snapshot of what we learned.

???? Preferred Training Delivery Methods

Our survey revealed a strong preference for live, in-person training, live, virtual training, and self-paced online courses. This finding underscores the importance of offering flexible and varied training options.

• Live, in-person training: Preferred by 37% of respondents, emphasizing the value of direct interaction and collaboration. "Better collaboration and discussion with live in-person training," noted a respondent, highlighting the immersive learning experience.
• Live, virtual training: Preferred by 32.3% of respondents, offering a blend of interaction and convenience.
• Self-paced online courses: Selected by 14.4% of respondents, indicating a need for flexible, on-demand learning. "I can do it in my own time, that’s what’s valuable to me," mentioned a participant.
• Coaching/experiential programs: Chosen by 8.7% of respondents, reflecting a preference for hands-on, practical learning experiences.

? Ideal Training Duration

Survey responses highlighted a preference for shorter, more intensive training sessions, with "2-day" timeboxes being the most popular choice.

• 2 days: Preferred by 41% of respondents, allowing for comprehensive yet concise training. "Two days allows for adequate delivery and discussion," shared a participant.
• Shorter sessions over a month: Preferred by 24.7%, indicating a trend towards modular training schedules that accommodate busy professionals. "Shorter sessions over time help to retain information better," noted another respondent. Additionally, this approach allows for more real-world practice paired with learning and continuous coaching, enhancing the application of concepts in practical scenarios.

?? Investment in Agile Training

The willingness to invest in agile training varied, with most respondents favoring moderate investment levels.

• $100-$500 per seat: The most common investment range, chosen by 29.3% of respondents. "Appropriate for enterprise agility," stated a participant, reflecting the strategic importance of such training.
• $500-$1,000 per seat: Preferred by 25%, showing a significant commitment to high-quality training.

?? Future Courses and Innovations

At Scrum Inc., we’re committed to leading the way in agile education. We're continuously upgrading our classes to incorporate the latest industry trends and innovations. Our future courses will offer more interactive and experiential learning opportunities, ensuring that our participants are well-equipped to implement agile methodologies effectively in their organizations.

To stay ahead of the curve, we’ve recently integrated industry best practices and insights from leading research, including:

• AI Modules: We’re integrating AI modules into each class, enabling participants to discover how AI can give their teams a competitive edge and accelerate their Scrum practices. This enhancement allows them to focus on what truly matters: meaningful interactions with customers and effective collaboration within their teams.
• Building Learning Into Workflows: According to Harvard Business Review , integrating learning into daily workflows can significantly enhance employee engagement and retention of knowledge. This approach fosters a continuous learning culture, making training more relevant and immediately applicable. At Scrum Inc., we recently launched the Agile Copilot. With a digital subscription, teams and teams of teams can take our Scrum Quickstart and Scrum@Scale Fundamentals digital courses together, and implement key learnings with a Scrum Inc. Transformation Consultant.
• Blended Learning Approach: A combination of live, in-person sessions, virtual classes, and self-paced online modules can cater to diverse learning preferences and schedules. The latest industry research highlights the importance of a balanced approach that includes various learning modalities to maximize effectiveness.

A Holistic View: Our new Scrum@Scale course material includes an operational model that provides a more holistic, organizational impact view to courses, not just at the team level anymore.

Conclusion

The survey results show a clear trend in the professional training industry: flexibility in how training is delivered and a focus on the practical application of skills are what truly drive student satisfaction. At Scrum Inc., we’re all about adapting to these insights, ensuring our training programs stay ahead of the curve so that our graduates continue to deliver high-value outcomes.

By keeping our finger on the pulse of our community’s preferences, we're not just maintaining our leadership in agile education—we're continuously enhancing the value we deliver and meeting our students where they’re at. Our commitment to innovative, empirically-based education that empowers teams to drive productivity, increase team happiness, and deliver true business value across various industries won’t change. However, the way we deliver our training will always evolve to meet modern needs.

Whether you're an individual professional or a large organization, you can count on us to provide training that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.