Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC)

The CSM and CSPO are Scrum specific courses. While we may make mention of other frameworks, values, principles, practices, methodologies, etc. the goal of these classes is to learn about the ScrumMaster role and the Product Owner role for Scrum in accordance with the respective Content Outline and Learning Objectives required by the Scrum Alliance.

The goal of these classes is not to solve each student’s issues in their organization. Rather, the classes will instill values, principles, and practices that enable every student to be a change agent in their organization; i.e. to creatively develop solutions to the problems that Scrum practices surface.

The instructor reserves the right to declare questions outside the scope of this class at his discretion.

•  Free Coaching – When students take a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) Course with Apple Brook Consulting®, they also receive FREE coaching beyond the class.  If a student has questions or a need for light mentoring/coaching, they can contact ABC via Email and we will respond within 2-3 days.  If the effort is more involved, ABC may recommend additional coaching / mentoring time on a paid basis.  

•  Free Networking / Career Help – All students are sent a LinkedIn connection request from Daniel Gullo so that the student can become part of the support network that Daniel and ABC provide.  Students are sent an invitation to the Apple Brook Consulting® private group on LinkedIn.

•  Core Agility Newsletter – Students are automatically signed up for the Apple Brook Consulting® monthly newsletter which features articles, tips, tricks, etc. and regional course announcements.  If a student does not want to receive these, they may opt-out by clicking “Unsubscribe” at the bottom of any Email at any time.

Because the certification requirements set forth by the Scrum Alliance require TWO (2) FULL DAYS of classroom instruction, two (2) full days of participation in class are necessary and required. Therefore, electronics may ONLY be used at appointed break times.If a student does not adhere to this rule, they will be asked to leave the class. No refunds or certifications will be granted. Any student who is asked to leave may reschedule at a time when they can devote the necessary time and attention to the course. An additional surcharge will be added to cover logistical costs incurred.

When students take a Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM) Course with Apple Brook Consulting®, they leave the course as a fully fledged Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM), not just a candidate for CSM.  Apple Brook Consulting® believes that students should be rewarded for their hard work in class.  This is why students will take the exam at the end of the second day; to ensure they are able to: log-in, access the CSM exam, and ultimately get the certification in a timely manner.  With other trainers, the student may be waiting weeks or months to receive the certificate.  For more information about the CSM Exam, please see: Becoming A Certified ScrumMaster.

Students must attain a passing score on the CSM Exam to complete the certification (currently 24/35). Thus, while Apple Brook Consulting® attempts to position each student for success through the classroom experience and is there to support you through the process of taking the test, actually passing the exam is dependent upon each student’s abilities and performance. 

As part of the course registration fee, students are able to take the CSM Exam up to TWO (2) times, as noted on the Scrum Alliance website.  Each subsequent attempt requires payment of an additional $25.  Students of Apple Brook Consulting’s CSM courses have a 99.3% pass rate for the CSM exam on the first attempt.  ALL students who have taken the exam the second time have passed.  However, because Apple Brook Consulting is dedicated to our students’ success, if any student requires more than two attempts, we will pay for the additional exam fee.  We will also help provide clarification to the student while taking the exam so that they understand what the questions are asking, just in case there is some confusion.

Because the certification requirements set forth by the Scrum Alliance require TWO (2) FULL DAYS of classroom instruction, NO CLASS TIME may be missed during these two days.  If a student misses ANY class time for any reason, they not be permitted to continue.  Any student who is unable to meet the attendance requirements may reschedule at a time when they can devote the necessary time and attention to the course.  An additional surcharge will be added to cover logistical costs incurred.

Class Work Products and Other Artifacts   moreAnything created or shared by the attendees in class becomes the property of the instructor and Apple Brook Consulting.  These work products and artifacts may be used freely by the instructor or Apple Brook Consulting® for marketing and training purposes.

Photographs and/or video may be captured during the class for training and marketing purposes. The ownership of these materials remains with the instructor and Apple Brook Consulting®.  Usage of these materials is solely at the discretion of the instructor and Apple Brook Consulting®.

If registration is cancelled from the time of registration to two weeks before the first day of class, 75% of the registration fee will be refunded.
If registration is cancelled from two weeks before class up to one week before the first day of class, 25% of the registration fee will be refunded.
There will be NO REFUNDS issued within one week prior to the first day of class.

From time to time, Apple Brook Consulting may find it necessary to cancel a class, e.g. due to illness, insufficient number of students, force majeure, etc.  In the event that a class is cancelled, Apple Brook Consulting will issue a refund for the class registration fee.  All other costs incurred are the student’s responsibility.  Refunds will be given in a timely manner according to the policy set forth by the payment processor (e.g. Paypal, Eventbrite, etc.)

From time to time, Apple Brook Consulting works with aspiring trainers who will be teaching portions of the class.  In some rare cases, when the aspiring trainer has reached the level when they are ready to become a fully-fledged CST, Apple Brook Consulting may allow the co-instructor to teach the entire class with Daniel Gullo providing additional commentary and input.  This has no effect on the certification process for the course.

Agreement to these terms is indicated by the student’s registration for the respective class(es) and ongoing participation; i.e. if you remain in class, it indicates that you agree to the terms.

At the present time and in select situations, Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) has contracted out the logistics, catering, registration, customer services, and payment processing services of other organizations through the formation of certain strategic alliances and partnerships.  These organizations handle the booking of the venue, catering, etc. which allows Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) to focus solely on delivering an OUTSTANDING classroom experience!!! 

Tools

Only briefly and at a high level. The class is focused on Scrum itself as a set of practices. In keeping with the Agile Manifesto, we favor: Individuals and interactions OVER processes and tools

Distributed Teams

Only briefly and at a high level. In keeping with the Agile Manifesto: The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

Scaling

Scaling involves application of various practices within Scrum across an entire organization. It also requires knowledge of many supporting disciplines and concepts outside the scope of just Scrum itself. The scope of the COaLOs for this course apply to only a single Scrum Team for a single product which is the size suitable for a single Scrum Team.

My Organization

Only briefly and at a high level. We will entertain as many questions as possible and provide opportunities for sharing about your organization. However, given that there may be 15-30 other organizations represented in the classroom, we won’t have time to focus solely on saving any one person’s issues.  If you are interested in a class that would focus EXCLUSIVELY on your organization while learning the CSM and CSPO concepts, please contact us about holding a private, onsite training course.

Anyone who is interested in learning Agile / Scrum fundamentals (and understanding the role and responsibilities of the ScrumMaster) should take the CSM class. ScrumMasters are NOT simply “Agile Project Managers”.

In fact, the Product Owner role is often a better fit for existing Project Managers because many of the current activities of a traditional PM overlap with Product Owner responsibilities.

The CSPO class is also a must-have for those who are currently in the role of Product Manager.

If you know for a fact that you will be assuming the role of ScrumMaster, then you would be wise to take BOTH the CSM and CSPO since a big portion of your responsibility as ScrumMaster is to coach Product Owners as well as the Development Team.

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) offers a No-Haggle discount to the first 20 students for most classes.  Once the first 20 spots have been filled, the full price is in effect. Registrations less than 48 hours before the start of class are subject to the full price.  Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) also offers group discounts to organizations sending a large number of students.  NOTE:  Some courses are produced and promoted by partners of Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC).  For these classes, Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) has no control over the pricing or discounts.  All prices include all requisite Scrum Alliance fees for the first renewal cycle (registration, test fees, etc.).  Please do NOT call asking for other discounts.

Unemployed

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) does not currently offer a discount to unemployed individuals beyond the No-Haggle Price.

Students

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) does not currently offer a discount to students beyond the No-Haggle Price.

Groups

Contact Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) for details on ways we can tailer training for your group of six or more.

Early Bird

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC)  offers a No-Haggle price price for the first 20 registrants to a class.  This is subject to change at any time without notification.

Multi-class

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) does not currently offer a discount to prior students or students registering for multiple classes.

There is a whole list of benefits you receive as an alumni of an Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) class:  free coaching, free newsletter, access to a closed network of job seekers and employers, and much more.

If you really liked the class, then you also get the satisfaction of saying “Thank you!” by telling others about Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) and the satisfaction of helping someone else out in their Agile journey by recommending an instructor that you trust and enjoyed.   🙂

Both the CSM and CSPO provide a workbook that includes reference materials, fill-in-the blanks, area for taking notes, etc.  Other incidental supplies are also provided; such as Post-it notes, pens, pipe cleaners (optional), etc.  

Currently, there are no slides for the course.  On occasion, the trainer may use a slide deck, which is mostly a collection of photographs with title headings.  Material that is shown on the slides is echoed in the workbook; so, please don’t ask for a copy of the slides.  Thanks!

Some kind of modest clothing… please.  🙂

Because the classes involve moving around and are all-day long courses, students should plan to wear very comfortable, casual clothing so that there is no restriction of movement.  Temperatures can be extreme so make sure to bring a sweater if you get cold easily or wear very light clothing if you are typically warm. 

The instructor frequently wears shorts, t-shirt, and sandals/flip-flops to class to ensure comfort and to create a very casual, easy-going, welcoming learning environment.  Please don’t come in a business suit or other formal business wear.  There is really no need for that and there is a chance you will mess up your nice clothes.  You will also end up making EVERYONE uncomfortable.  🙂  Let’s have FUN!!

For both the CSM and CSPO, you will receive your certification on the second day of class.  

The Scrum Alliance CSM requirements currently include a 35 question exam; which the student must pass with a score of 24 or better.  

Apple Brook Consulting® (ABC) is one of the only training companies in the world who requires that the CSM exam be taken on the second day.

With almost ALL other instructors and companies around the world, the student leaves the class as a “CSM candidate” NOT a fully-fledged, Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM).  

Thus, we will take this exam in class on the second day of class so that the instructor can ensure that you have access to the exam and that there are no technical issues.  The exam is not proctored; i.e. the instructor will not prevent you from using reference materials such as your notes, the workbook, your Internet browser, or even collaborating with others in the class (just as you normally could if you took the exam outside of the class).  

The CSPO currently requires that you merely attend both full days of class.  In both cases, the instructor will upload your information to the Scrum Alliance at lunch time on the second day.  The expectation is that you will stay for the remainder of class or your name will be withdrawn from the Scrum Alliance and you won’t be certified.

Yes. The Project Management Institute (PMI) has determined that the CSM and CSPO are worth 16 PDUs due to the fact that the Scrum Alliance has issued a position on these courses as containing “2 full days” of instruction which constitute 16 Scrum Education Units (SEU).  The PMI PDUs would be listed under Category B as self-reported, continuing education courses. 

Normally, 1 SEU = 1 contact hour of instruction, except that the CSM and CSPO have been specifically deemed to be 16 SEUs. Normally, 1 PDU = 1 contact hour of instruction, except in this case.