NOTE: This proposal was refactored from “PMP? ScrumMaster? What’s The Difference?”. Based on feedback from reviewers and colleagues, we added some more presenters and moved to a broader-scope away from the just the PMI vs. Scrum angle. The content will also integrate outputs from my related talk at the upcoming Scrum Gathering :END-NOTE

This interactive workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to collaborate with some of the leading experts in Agile Project Management practices (Pat Reed, Michele Sliger, and Sanjiv Augustine) who will be sharing their opinions, valuable experiences and insights into the evolving role of the PM on agile teams.

The session will begin with a half hour presentation and orientation of the role of a Project Manager in an Agile environment; followed by a brief comparison of popular Project Management methodologies and practices (e.g. PMBOK, Scrum, RUP). The presentation will include a comparative analysis of core PM practices to promote a deeper understanding of new ways of thinking that a traditional project manager will need to adapt to be successful in an Agile Environment.

Participants will then have the opportunity to identify questions or problem areas around Agile Project Management in an Open Space clinic. These can range from specific confusions mapping Agile to the PMBOK to more philosophical questions like:
* If a ScrumMaster is mostly the same as a facilitative Project Manager or a democratic Team Lead, then why don’t they just call it that?
* If Agile threatens the job security of a Project Manager, does that really place people over process?
* Isn’t a test-based CSM the same as a PMP, and for that matter don’t certifications incentivize competitive behavior?
* If certifications don’t matter, then why are they so popular among recruiters and professionals?

The problems and questions will be posted on a storyboard and prioritized by popularity using a group normative process. The panel of Project Management experts will select the highest ranked problems and break into working groups to review and explore solutions for 30 minutes. Afterwards, the group will reconvene and review key findings and recommendations to the full group of participants.

This clinic open space will repeat a second time, covering the next set of problems and questions; and reconvene for group review and wrap up.