A Professional Introduction to Scrum Course Syllabus

Overview: This course provides a clear, Scrum Guide–aligned introduction to Scrum, designed for beginners. You'll gain foundational knowledge of Scrum roles, events, and artifacts, with practical insights into applying Scrum beyond software—across marketing, operations, and research. The course spans approximately 4.5 hours of content, divided into five structured modules, followed by a final project. With lifetime access and a certificate of completion, this course builds real-world agility grounded in empiricism and Agile values.

Module 1: Understanding Scrum & Agile

Estimated time: 0.5 hours

• Learn the Agile mindset and value-driven thinking
• Compare traditional plan-driven vs. iterative delivery approaches
• Explore foundations of Scrum as defined in the 2020 Scrum Guide
• Examine real-world use cases of value delivery using Scrum

Module 2: Scrum Roles, Artifacts & Events

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Understand the three Scrum roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team
• Review key Scrum artifacts: Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment
• Learn the purpose and flow of Scrum events: Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Retrospective
• Understand how the Increment enables transparency and inspection

Module 3: Agile Planning & Forecasting

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Apply relative estimation techniques for User Stories
• Use forecasting to predict delivery timelines
• Practice backlog refinement with the Goldilocks Principle for effective story sizing
• Connect agile planning to sprint planning and commitment

Module 4: Definition of Done & Quality Practices

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Define and create a team's Definition of Done
• Refine the Definition of Done to ensure quality and consistency
• Understand how clear definitions support inspect-and-adapt cycles

Module 5: Scaling Scrum Across Contexts

Estimated time: 0.75 hours

• Apply Scrum theory in non-software domains such as marketing and operations
• Use empiricism to manage unpredictability in research and project management
• Drive continuous improvement using Scrum values across diverse teams

Module 6: Final Project

Estimated time: 1 hour

• Design a Scrum implementation plan for a real-world team
• Define roles, artifacts, and events tailored to a non-software context
• Submit a completed project demonstrating understanding of Scrum principles

Prerequisites

• No prior experience with Agile or Scrum required
• Basic understanding of project workflows helpful but not mandatory
• Openness to iterative, collaborative work methods

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Understand the Scrum framework including roles, events, and artifacts as defined in the 2020 Scrum Guide
• Shift from traditional planning to Agile, value-driven delivery thinking
• Apply agile planning, estimation, forecasting, and backlog refinement techniques
• Define and evolve a clear Definition of Done to ensure quality
• Navigate real-world Scrum applications across marketing, operations, and other non-software domains