Scrum Gathering Austin 2019

Many people know about the Scrum Gatherings of the Scrum Alliance. Last week I was happy to attend global Scrum Gathering Austin 2019. About 1500 participants from all over the world attended this great conference. 

What many do not know: For many employees and volunteers of the Scrum Alliance, the gathering starts much earlier. What happened on the Saturday before the Gathering?

• Scrum Alliance Board: The Scrum Alliance Board of Directors - BOD for short - is virtually the club's board. This panel meets at Scrum Gatherings and between to review and adjust the Scrum Alliance's strategic direction. Above all, the board is responsible for staffing at the top of the operational branch. 
• Trainer Approval Committee: A Certified Scrum Trainer candidate - CST - of the Scrum Alliance is undergoing a rigorous development and testing program. Candidates not only need to gain training experience through co-training with existing CSTs but also develop their own teaching concept and eventually pass the Trainer Approval Committee (TAC). Not everyone can do that on the first try. 
• Certified Scrum Professional Retreat: In this fairly new format there is a forum for CSPs to share and learn. Unfortunately, this event took place parallel to the trainer and coach retreat. 
• Scrum Training and Coaching Retreat: On the Sunday before each Scrum Gathering, the Scrum Alliance's Guide Level owners - CSTs, CTCs, and CECs - meet for the Scrum Training and Coaching Retreat. We learn the latest developments in the Scrum Alliance fresh from the board meeting, talk about training formats and coaching experiences and generally discuss things of interest and concern in the Open Space. 

The Scrum TCC Meeting

For us coaches and coaches a must: The Scrum Trainer and Coach - ScrumTCC retreat at the Scrum Gathering. For one day, we'll get to know the latest developments and strategies in the Scrum Alliance, share our certifications and course formats, and generally talk about everything that matters to us. Apart from that, the Scrum TCC Retreat is of course also a reunion with old acquaintances and the opportunity to integrate new coaches and coaches into the Guide community.

The daily structure was no different from other gatherings. But in the room, you could already see a rather long timeline with the earlier gatherings on the wall. And otherwise, this gathering was different - better - than expected. Throughout the day, Julie Chickering guided us as a presenter. The content was complemented by Melissa Boggs, Chief ScrumMaster, and Howard Sublett, Chief Product Owner of the Scrum Alliance. Afterwards, we had the opportunity to talk about various topics in three Open Space time slots.

• Coaching, Community, Coalitions, Culture - the new 4Cs of the Scrum Alliance: Melissa and Howard introduced the new vision and structure of the Scrum Alliance. The core of the vision is the focus on the so-called "4Cs". With us it would be more likely 2Cs and 2Ks. The Scrum Alliance sees itself as a pioneer and bridge builder within the agile landscape. As Howard Sublett pointed out, it is time for the Scrum Alliance to regain leadership. This was the beginning of the journey. Looking at the audience, I was able to sense a growing sense of positive excitement and anticipation of working with this new Scrum Alliance.
• Open space: I rarely visited more than one session at the Scrum Alliance Retreat. Mostly I found it more exciting to forgive myself with a few colleagues around the corner and to blab about the current grievances of the Scrum Alliance. That was very different this time.

As CST, CEC and Educator in the path to the CSP and CAL, I was particularly interested in setting up the Guide Team, the group within the Scrum Alliance that is responsible for coaching and coaching coaches and trainers. Of course, I found many familiar faces in this team, but also a few new employees. I thought it was great that the Scrum Alliance staff took part in the retreat and that I also got to know this team in person. The work of the guide team seamlessly follows the findings of the Guide Level coordination workshop in March.

One of the results from the "Austin-Scrum-WG", my first accommodation in Austin with Bj?rn Jensen, Falk Kühnel, Stefan Zumbr?gel, and Christian Zander was the idea of a special trainer retreat. Unlike the coaching camps, this event is about exchanges and improvement for training and other learning formats. We were able to gather valuable hints and some "no-goes" from the participants of the Open Space Session. Of course, we will keep you up to date as soon as we get into the planning. 

As a member of the review and program team, I am mainly at this gathering to introduce coaches and coaches to the program, to participate in accreditation, and to collect feedback on the path and learning outcomes. To prepare for this task, my third session was in open space. We include the feedback directly in the work on the next update of the learning objectives before the Scrum Gathering Vienna.

Beginnings, midpoints, and endings

Who has seen the finale of Game of Thrones, can understand how very beginnings, midpoints and especially ends our perception of something. At the beginning of the Scrum Gathering in Austin, Daniel Pink talked about the center and the end. And otherwise, the day had a lot to offer.

Beginnings, midpoints, and endings: Daniel Pink made it clear in his great keynote that we are not just beginning. Beginnings have a formative influence on our way. But the midpoints and ends are just as important. Timing, the consideration of which things make the most sense for us in terms of time is a science. In his contemplation of timing, Daniel showed what valuable knowledge and practical suggestions this science can offer us.

I consider adding an article about the keynote alone to learn more about beginnings, midpoints, and endings.

Backstage Access

A Scrum Gathering is not just lectures and Open Space, it also brings a lot of work and background activity. The Scrum Gathering Austin offered a whole range of special promotions for Certified Scrum Professionals, Trainers, and Coaches. 

• Coaches Clinic: The Coaches Clinic is an offer of CTCs and CECs for all visitors to the Scrum Gathering. In short sessions, the coaches help their short-term clients through smaller and bigger challenges. This year, the Coaches Clinic received so much encouragement that even another area was provided for this voluntary special service of coaches and coaches. The more teams and companies Scrum takes on, the more the need for coaches will increase. So it fits in very well that the Scrum Alliance has now given the motto "4Cs" :
• Exhibition Hall: The exhibition hall was not really invisible. The meals took place here at the stands of the tool manufacturers and initiatives.Especially this year was the "Fans of LeSS" booth of Michael James. Here you could also find the contacts of the Scrum Alliance, inform themselves about tools and services or generally get in touch with friends, colleagues or strangers. What many do not see: the preparation of a booth for months, the extra work from morning to night, the endless conversations at the stands. Being an exhibitor is no picnic. And yet we have that in mind for the next Gathering in Vienna.
• CSP Lounge: Owners of the Certified Scrum Professional could enjoy a separate area with coffee, snacks, exchanges, and special information sessions. For example, there were backgrounds to the coach programs CTC and CEC as well as a question and answer session of the Trainer Approval Committee. A very positive development to strengthen the perception of the CSP and to support the community. A special treat was the lecture by Jeff Sutherland.
• Program Work: I myself was the path to the CSP in several sessions with trainers and coaches. There we discussed the different materials and accredited the programs. This year, it was pleasing to us that all submissions could also be accepted. This was partly because they were extensions to existing programs. However, the staff of the Scrum Alliance also contributed a lot through pre-screening and coaching advice. Prior to the gathering, the Trainer Approval Committee was already busy putting new CST candidates through their paces. We especially congratulate Wolfgang Richter and Ilker Demirel on the successful completion of the TAC and the obtaining of the CST license.
• Monday Mingle: Part of a good conference is a big party. At Scrum Gathering this party is called "Monday Mingle". This Gathering in Austin, Texas, shone with a particularly atmospheric connection to local and global music history. Austin City Limits is a household name to all Americans as one of the legendary first live music programs on TV. Just one hour before the official start, the Scrum Alliance invited its many volunteers to an advance reception. We were led through the scenes and were allowed to visit the video studio. I was particularly touched by the fact that the Scrum Alliance acknowledged my years of volunteering. Then it went to the party with live music and karaoke in the large event hall of ACL. Funny the evening went on karaoke. All in all a very special center of gathering.

I was very happy about the recognition of the Scrum Alliance as a longtime volunteer. In fact, I hold most Scrum Alliance certifications from all members. I just like to get a complete picture. The impact I achieve in the Scrum Alliance is the result of the cohesion of the European community. Whatever we have been able to advance in recent years is the result of our cooperation among coaches and trainers. Whether the Rehearsal Trainer Approval Committees, the path to the CSP - many changes that have become effective worldwide have been significantly initiated or supported by our community. I look forward to building this bridge between the Scrum Alliance and our community at the Agile Coach Camp.