Project Management A to Z

Scrum What Is It? A Beginner’s Guide to Simple and Powerful Teamwork Method

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Scrum What Is It? Simple Explanation for Everyone

Many people in work today hear about “scrum.” Maybe your manager say, “We do scrum now.” Or your teammate ask, “You know scrum?” And you wonder, scrum what is it? Don’t worry. It sound strange, but it is not difficult. In this article, I will explain to you in simple way – no big words, no confusion.

Scrum What Is It – Basic Meaning

So first, scrum what is it exactly?

Scrum is way to manage work, especially when people work together on big project. Mostly used in software, but now used in other areas too. Scrum help teams to work better, faster, and more organized. It is part of “agile” methods.

But what make scrum different? Scrum break work into small time boxes, usually 1 or 2 weeks. These are called sprints. In each sprint, team plan what to do, do the work, and check what they finished. Then repeat again next sprint.

Simple words: Scrum is teamwork with steps and clear time for doing and checking.

Why Is It Called “Scrum”?

Funny name, right? Actually, the name come from rugby sport. In rugby, “scrum” is when players huddle together and push forward. Same in work – team stay close, help each other, and move forward together.

So again, scrum what is it? It’s way for team to push together and finish work step-by-step.

How Scrum Work in Daily Life

Let’s see simple example.

You are building an app with team. In normal way, maybe one person do planning, other do design, other code, and in the end testing. Sometimes this take many months.

With scrum, team plan together in sprint planning. They decide what to do this sprint – maybe login page and user profile. Then during the sprint (1–2 weeks), team work. Every day they have daily stand-up – short meeting (15 minutes) to say what they did, what they do next, and if any problem.

At end of sprint, team show result in sprint review, and after that they talk about what was good or bad in retrospective. Then start new sprint.

So, scrum what is it? It’s organized way to make progress in small steps, with full teamwork.

Roles in Scrum Team

Scrum is not just free style. It have some clear roles:

1. Scrum Master

This person is like coach. Not boss. Help team follow scrum rules, remove problems, and keep things smooth.

2. Product Owner

This person know what user or customer want. They decide what features are most important. Make list called Product Backlog.

3. Development Team

These are people who do the work – coding, design, testing, writing, etc. Team is usually small – 5 to 9 people.

Everyone have role, but they work together, respect each other. No blaming, no finger-pointing.

Scrum What Is It in Different Jobs?

You think scrum only for IT? No, that’s old thinking. Today, many companies in many industries use it.

a. Marketing

Marketing teams use scrum to launch campaigns. In each sprint, they work on new message, ad, social media post, then test and repeat.

b. Education

Teachers and online course creators plan lessons in sprints. They test student feedback and improve content.

c. Product Design

Scrum help product team to make physical items too – from vacuum cleaner to smartwatch.

So you see, scrum what is it? Not just software thing – it’s smart way to manage progress in any job.

Main Benefits of Scrum

Why so many teams use scrum now? Because it give real benefits. Not only for company, also for people.

Faster Result

In every sprint, you finish something. Even small, it’s real progress. No need wait months to see result.

More Feedback

After each sprint, team show work and get feedback. This help to make product better step by step.

Team Spirit

Because of daily meetings and shared planning, people feel more connected. Team become strong, not just group of individuals.

Easy to Adapt

If market or customer change, you can change plan next sprint. Scrum is flexible.

Less Waste

Because of short sprints and clear goals, team avoid wasting time on useless things.

So again, if someone ask scrum what is it, you can say: “It’s way to finish real work faster, with more teamwork and less stress.”

Tools That Help With Scrum

To do scrum properly, some teams use tools. Not must, but they help.

  • Jira – very popular for managing sprints and backlog

  • Trello – simple and good for small teams

  • ClickUp – all-in-one platform

  • Miro – for whiteboarding and sprint planning

But remember: Tools are not more important than mindset. Scrum is about people, not software.

Problems in Scrum (and How to Fix)

Scrum is great, but not magic. If team not serious, it not work. Here are some common problems:

  • Bad Daily Meetings – If people don’t prepare or talk too long, meeting waste time.

  • No Clear Goals – If sprint goal is not clear, team confused what to do.

  • Too Many Changes Mid-Sprint – Scrum is flexible, but not during sprint. Don’t change all the time.

  • Missing Roles – If no Scrum Master or Product Owner, team may lose direction.

To fix, need communication, learning, and respect for the process.

Scrum What Is It – Final Words

So, we reach end of the journey. One last time: scrum what is it?

It’s not hard. It’s system that help people work together better. Small team, short cycles, fast feedback. If you tired of long meetings, bad results, or lost deadlines, maybe scrum is answer.

No need to be expert. Start small, learn step-by-step. Try one sprint with your team. You will see the difference.

Remember: Scrum is not just work method. It’s culture of trust, teamwork, and growth.

Scrum Framework Explained Simply: Roles, Sprints, and Real Benefits for Teams

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What Is Scrum Framework? Understand It with Simple Words and Real Examples

In today’s working world, many companies want to deliver faster and better. Customers don’t want to wait one year for product. They want results soon, and they want flexibility. For this, many teams follow scrum framework.

But what is this scrum framework? It is not new, but still many people don’t fully understand how it works or why so many teams use it. In this article, I will explain it in simple words, like I would explain to my friend. Not too much theory—just what is really useful to know.

What Is Scrum Framework?

The scrum framework is a way of working in a team to create products or solve problems. It is part of the agile family, but more specific. It gives clear roles, events (meetings), and way to manage tasks. Scrum helps team to work in small steps and improve always.

Scrum is based on three main ideas:

  • Transparency: Everyone can see what is happening.

  • Inspection: Team checks often what is going good or not.

  • Adaptation: Team can change direction based on feedback.

Scrum is not a tool or software. It is a way to manage teamwork in short cycles, called sprints (usually 2 weeks). In each sprint, the team delivers small working part of the product.

Who Created Scrum?

The scrum framework was created by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the 1990s. They made it to solve problems in software projects. Before Scrum, many projects failed or took too long. Scrum made teams more flexible and focused.

Today, Scrum is used not only in IT but also in:

  • Marketing

  • Product design

  • Education

  • HR teams

  • Construction projects

Any team that works on complex problem can use Scrum.

Key Parts of Scrum Framework

To understand scrum framework, we must know its main parts. There are roles, events, and artifacts. Don’t worry, I explain in easy way.

Scrum Roles

  1. Product Owner
    This person decides what should be built and in what order. They make sure the team builds what gives most value to customer.

  2. Scrum Master
    Like coach of the team. Helps remove blockers and make sure team follows Scrum rules.

  3. Development Team
    People who do the work. Not only developers—it can include designers, testers, writers, etc.

Scrum Events

These are the meetings that happen regularly.

  • Sprint: Main working time box. Usually 1–4 weeks. After every sprint, you have a working product part.

  • Sprint Planning: Meeting before sprint starts. Team decides what work to do.

  • Daily Scrum: Short 15-minute meeting every day to talk about progress.

  • Sprint Review: At end of sprint, team shows the work to stakeholders.

  • Sprint Retrospective: Team talks about what went well and what can improve.

Scrum Artifacts

These are important things used in scrum framework.

  • Product Backlog: Full list of work needed. Ordered by importance.

  • Sprint Backlog: Work selected for current sprint.

  • Increment: The actual working product made in sprint.

Why Scrum Framework Is Useful in Real Work

Let’s say you are building a mobile app. In traditional way, you make full plan, code for months, then test, then release. If something goes wrong, you find too late.

But with scrum framework, you do it differently:

  • Plan for 2 weeks

  • Build login page

  • Show it to customer

  • Get feedback

  • Improve in next sprint

Step by step, with feedback, your product becomes better. Less waste. Less stress. Faster delivery. That’s the real power of Scrum.

Benefits of Scrum Framework

Many teams use scrum framework because it gives real benefits:

1. Faster Results

You deliver small product part after every sprint. No long waiting.

2. More Team Involvement

Team decides the work, gives opinion, and feels more ownership.

3. Better Communication

Daily meeting and sprint review improve talk between team and customer.

4. Early Feedback

Customer sees the product early. If change is needed, you fix early.

5. Flexibility

Plans can change after each sprint. It’s not fixed forever.

Is Scrum Same as Agile?

No, but they are related.

Agile is like a mindset. It gives values and principles (like from Agile Manifesto).
Scrum framework is a specific method inside agile family. So Scrum is one way to do agile.

Other agile methods include Kanban, XP, SAFe, etc. But Scrum is most popular.

Common Problems with Scrum

Sometimes, teams say they use Scrum, but they don’t really follow it. Here are some problems:

  • No Product Owner, or unclear role

  • Daily meeting becomes long and boring

  • No real sprint review or feedback

  • Managers push too much work

  • No time for retrospective

If these happen, Scrum does not work well. To get full benefit, team must understand and follow the real scrum framework.

How to Start with Scrum Framework

If your team wants to try Scrum, follow these steps:

  1. Learn Basics: Read Scrum Guide (free online). Take intro course.

  2. Choose Roles: Who will be Product Owner, Scrum Master?

  3. Make Backlog: Write the tasks and order them.

  4. Plan Sprint: Start with 1–2 weeks.

  5. Use Tools: Try Jira, Trello, or ClickUp to track work.

  6. Improve Every Time: Use retrospective to get better each sprint.

Scrum Certifications

If you want to grow career in agile, Scrum certification helps.

  • Certified Scrum Master (CSM) – by Scrum Alliance

  • Professional Scrum Master (PSM) – by Scrum.org

  • Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO)

These prove your understanding of scrum framework and can help in job search.

Conclusion

The scrum framework is a simple but powerful way to manage teamwork, build products, and solve complex problems. It focuses on small steps, teamwork, early feedback, and continuous improvement.

In this article, we saw what is scrum framework, how it works, and why teams all over the world use it. If your team wants to work better, deliver faster, and be more happy, Scrum might be the right step.

Top 10 PMP Study Books: Best Guides for Learning & Practice Questions

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Best PMP Study Books for PMP Exam: Top Choices for Preparation and Practice

Preparing for PMP exam is not easy. It need good plan, strong study habits, and most important – the right books. Many people spend long time searching best PMP study books, but get confused because there are too many options.

In this article, I will share top 10 PMP study books for PMP exam. Some books are good for learning theory, and some are better for practice questions. I will also explain how to choose the best book for your study style.

Why Choosing Right PMP Study Books Is Important

When you study for PMP, not all books are same. Some books follow old exam format. Some have too much theory but not enough questions. That’s why selecting correct PMP study books is very important for success.

Good book should:

  • Follow the latest PMP exam content outline 

  • Explain topics in simple way

  • Include Agile and Hybrid content

  • Have practice questions with explanations

  • Give real exam-like experience

How to Use PMP Study Books

Before you buy any book, first check your learning style. Some people like reading full chapters. Some prefer short summaries and questions. You can also use two or three PMP study books together – one for learning, one for practice.

Tip: Don’t just read. Take notes, highlight, and solve questions daily.

Top 10 PMP Study Books 

Here is the list of best PMP study books based on latest exam content, reviews, and usefulness.

1. Rita Mulcahy's PMP Exam Prep 

This book is most popular. Many PMP holders used this to pass. Rita's way of teaching is fun and smart. It includes Agile and Hybrid, and also has good practice questions.

  • Good for: Deep understanding, real-world examples

  • Pages: 500+

  • Includes: Exercises, practice questions, tips

  • Buy this book at low price at Amazon.com

2. Head First PMP

This is very visual book. It has diagrams, images, jokes, and simple explanations. Perfect for people who don’t like dry reading.

  • Good for: Visual learners

  • Pages: 850

  • Includes: Practice questions, puzzles, summary

  • Buy this book cheap at Amazon.com

3. PMP Exam Prep Simplified by Andrew Ramdayal

Very clear and easy to understand. Includes detailed Agile content. Also comes with online video access and full mock exams.

  • Good for: Quick learners, self-study

  • Pages: 550+

  • Includes: 3 mock exams, online access

  • Buy this book at low price at Amazon.com

4. The PMP Exam: How to Pass on Your First Try by Andy Crowe

Another favorite. Many people like this book because of straight-to-point writing and full mock test at the end.

  • Good for: Focused study

  • Pages: 600

  • Includes: Online exam simulator

  • The book is available for purchase at Amazon.com

5. PMBOK Guide 

This is the official book by PMI. Not easy to read but good to refer sometimes. It is not enough alone, but it support other PMP study books.

  • Good for: Understanding PMI terms

  • Pages: 370

  • Includes: Concepts and principles

  • Buy this book cheap at Amazon.com

6. PMP Pocket Prep App (Book + Mobile Practice)

This is not a big book, but useful as add-on. It gives daily small questions and short notes. Helps when you travel or commute.

  • Good for: Mobile practice

  • Format: App and digital

  • Includes: 1000+ questions

  • Buy the book here.

7. PMP Exam Practice Test Book by Christopher Scordo

If you already studied theory and want to do only questions, this is great book. It has 1000+ high-quality questions with answer explanation.

  • Good for: Practice only

  • Pages: 400+

  • Includes: 8 full exams

  • Buy book at low price at Amazon.com

8. PMP Exam Study Guide by Kim Heldman

Very professional book with online materials. It has study plan, chapter tests, and also videos.

  • Good for: People who like structure

  • Pages: 900

  • Includes: Online labs, glossary, review questions

  • Buy the book at low price at Amazon.com

9. Agile Practice Guide (by PMI)

This is not full PMP book, but very important for Agile part. Since exam has 50% Agile/Hybrid questions, this is useful to combine with other PMP study books.

  • Good for: Agile topics

  • Pages: 180

  • Includes: Examples, frameworks

  • The book is available for purchase at Amazon.com

10. PMP Flashcards (by Aileen Ellis)

Helpful for quick revision. These are small flashcards with key terms and formulas. You can use before exam to refresh brain.

  • Good for: Revision

  • Format: Printed or app

  • Includes: Terms, definitions, formulas

  • Buy this product at low price at Amazon.com

Which PMP Study Book Should You Choose?

If you are beginner, best combo is:

  • Rita Mulcahy’s book for theory

  • Scordo’s book for practice questions

  • Agile Practice Guide for Agile part

If you like visuals, Head First PMP is good. If you want mobile study, try Pocket Prep app.

You can check free sample pages on Amazon or author websites before buying.

Tips for Studying with PMP Books

  1. Follow latest exam content outline  – Make sure your book is updated

  2. Study daily – Even 1 hour is good, but be regular

  3. Solve practice questions – At least 1000+ questions before exam

  4. Understand, don’t memorize – Questions test your judgment

  5. Join online forums – Ask doubts and share tips with others

Remember, only PMP study books cannot make you pass. You need focus, smart plan, and good time management.

Conclusion

Preparing for PMP exam is big goal. Right books make the journey easier. In this article, we shared top 10 best PMP study books for PMP exam. Each book has different style – some are simple, some are deep, some are for practice.

Choose books that match your learning way. Use them daily, solve questions, and review weak areas. With right books and effort, you can pass PMP in first try.

Don’t forget – always check book edition is latest and matches exam outline. Good luck!

PMP Exam Content Outline 2025: Full Guide to Domains, Topics & Smart Preparation

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What Is PMP Exam Content Outline and Why You Should Know It

Many people around the world want to grow their career in project management. PMP (Project Management Professional) is one of the best and most respected certificate for this. But to pass PMP exam, it is important to understand the PMP exam content outline.

Some people study too much or wrong topics and still fail. This happens because they do not follow the correct outline. In this article, we will talk about what is PMP exam content outline, what are the domains, and what type of questions you can expect in 2025.

What Is PMP Exam Content Outline?

PMP exam content outline is the official document made by PMI (Project Management Institute). It shows what topics will come in the exam. It is like a roadmap for your study. If you follow it, you study the right topics and save time.

Many people think PMP exam is based only on PMBOK Guide. But this is not true. PMBOK is just one source. The real exam is based on PMP exam content outline. So, always read the outline first before you start study.

Why PMP Exam Content Outline Is Important

There are many books, videos, and courses for PMP. But not all of them follow the latest outline. If you use old content, you may miss important topics.

So, PMP exam outline is like your compass. It tells you what to focus, what to skip, and how the exam is structured. It also tells about question style – like how many questions from each domain.

Latest PMP Exam Content Outline (2025)

As of 2025, PMI still uses the updated version of PMP exam content outline which was introduced in 2021 but confirmed again in 2024. It is still valid for 2025.

The exam is based on 3 main domains:

1. People – 42% of exam

This domain is about soft skills, team leadership, and working with people. Project manager is not only managing tasks but also managing team.

Some tasks in this domain:

  • Build team

  • Lead team

  • Resolve conflict

  • Support team performance

  • Collaborate with stakeholders

You can expect many scenario-based questions here. For example, "What will you do if two team members are arguing?"

2. Process – 50% of exam

This is the biggest part. It is about all technical parts of project management – like schedule, cost, risk, quality, procurement, and more.

Tasks include:

  • Manage project schedule

  • Control project scope

  • Manage risk and issues

  • Handle change requests

  • Use right tools and methods

If you know PMBOK processes, you will feel comfortable here. But PMP exam is not only about tools – you need to apply them in real situations.

3. Business Environment – 8% of exam

This is smaller part, but still important. It talk about how project connects with company strategy, goals, and outside environment.

Main topics:

  • Support organizational change

  • Align project with business needs

  • Follow rules and compliance

  • Deliver value to stakeholders

This part also include questions on sustainability and benefits realization.

Exam Format Based on Content Outline

According to the PMP exam content outline, here is what you can expect in exam format:

  • Total Questions: 180

  • Question Types:

    • Multiple choice

    • Multiple response

    • Matching

    • Hotspot (click on diagram)

    • Limited fill-in-the-blank

  • Time: 230 minutes

  • Breaks: 2 short breaks (10 minutes each)

Around 50% of questions are Agile or Hybrid, so not only predictive (waterfall) project method.

Study Plan Based on PMP Exam Content Outline

To pass PMP in 2025, you must study all 3 domains. But you can divide your time smartly based on exam weight:

  • People (42%) – study leadership, communication, conflict resolution, motivation

  • Process (50%) – learn cost, scope, time, quality, risk, and integration management

  • Business Environment (8%) – focus on business case, benefits, compliance

Also, take practice exams that follow the PMP exam content outline. This is most helpful way to prepare.

Important Tips for 2025 Exam

  1. Use Latest Material – Only study from books or courses that follow 2025 PMP exam content outline.

  2. Practice Agile and Hybrid – Half exam is based on Agile and hybrid model. Understand Scrum, Kanban, and Agile mindset.

  3. Focus on Situational Questions – Most questions are “what will you do next?” or “what is the best action?” type.

  4. Understand Role of Project Manager – PM is leader, communicator, planner – not only task manager.

  5. Use Mock Exams – Choose full-length practice tests that match real outline.

Where to Find Official PMP Exam Content Outline

PMI gives free PDF of PMP exam content outline on their website. You can search “PMP exam content outline PDF 2025” and download it.

That file has detailed explanation of domains, tasks, and enablers (skills you need). It is your first step before starting preparation.

Conclusion

If you are planning to take PMP exam in 2025, then reading and understanding PMP exam content outline is the most important thing. It shows what to study and how the exam is built.

Don’t waste time on topics not in the outline. Focus on real-world application, not only theory. Use new material, follow smart study plan, and take mock exams.

The PMP exam content outline is your guide to success. It help you prepare better, feel confident, and pass the exam in first try.

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