Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I) Certification: Bridging Scrum and Kanban for Enhanced Agility

Key Facts

• Launch Date: 2019
• Founder: Ken Schwaber, co-creator of Scrum and founder of Scrum.org
• Number of Certified Professionals: As of 2023, over 20,000 professionals hold the PSK I certification globally.
• Certification Validity: The certification is valid for life, with no need for renewal.

Target Audience
The PSK I certification is ideal for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, Developers, and Agile Coaches who are looking to optimize their Scrum practices with Kanban principles. This certification is particularly useful for professionals who want to improve flow efficiency in their Scrum teams, reduce cycle times, and achieve smoother product delivery.

Core Learning Objectives
The PSK I certification focuses on expanding the understanding of flow-based Agile frameworks. Key learning objectives include:

• Understanding how Kanban practices can complement Scrum without replacing it.
• Learning how to use Kanban metrics, such as Work in Progress (WIP) limits, cycle time, and throughput, to improve team performance.
• Gaining practical knowledge in visualizing workflow, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing value delivery.

Skills and Knowledge Gained
Professionals who achieve PSK I certification will gain:

• The ability to coach teams on flow optimization while maintaining the structure and benefits of Scrum events (Sprints, Reviews, and Retrospectives).
• Skills in combining Scrum and Kanban, improving overall Agile practices within their teams.
• Expertise in using Kanban metrics like lead time and WIP limits to enhance predictability and efficiency.
• Knowledge of how to visualize workflows and identify process bottlenecks to continuously improve product delivery.

• Pre-requisites: While there are no formal prerequisites for PSK I, candidates should have a solid understanding of Scrum principles. Previous experience working with Scrum teams is highly recommended, as well as familiarity with Kanban practices.
• Training Requirements: Although training is not required to take the PSK I exam, Scrum.org offers Professional Scrum with Kanban courses, typically delivered over two days. These workshops, led by Professional Scrum Trainers (PSTs), are designed to prepare candidates for both the exam and real-world application.
• Exam Format:
  • Number of Questions: 45 multiple-choice and true/false questions
  • Time Limit: 60 minutes
  • Passing Score: 85%
  • Retake Policy: Candidates can retake the exam by purchasing another attempt, with no limits on the number of retakes.
• Certification Levels: The PSK I certification stands as a single-level certification that combines elements of both Scrum and Kanban. There are no advanced levels for PSK, but further expertise can be gained through Scrum.org’s Professional Scrum Master (PSM) or Professional Agile Leadership (PAL) certifications.
• Recertification: The PSK I certification is valid for life, meaning no renewal or additional training is required, offering a one-time investment with long-term benefits.

Impact on Teams and Organizations
Organizations that employ PSK I-certified professionals can expect enhanced workflow management, reduced cycle times, and better predictability in product delivery. The integration of Kanban into Scrum helps teams identify and resolve bottlenecks quickly, leading to more efficient sprint planning and higher-value delivery.

Real-World Application
At companies like Microsoft and Spotify, PSK-certified professionals have successfully integrated flow metrics into Scrum, leading to faster release cycles and improved team autonomy. This has enabled organizations to better manage their work-in-progress limits, ensuring that teams focus on delivering high-priority features.

Industry Recognition
The PSK I certification is widely recognized in industries like software development, telecommunications, and finance, with companies such as IBM, Google, and Cisco actively seeking professionals who can optimize team performance using a blend of Scrum and Kanban principles.

Cost of Certification
The PSK I exam costs $200. Optional training courses typically cost between $800 and $1,500, depending on the location and training provider. These courses are delivered by Scrum.org Professional Trainers (PSTs) and are designed to provide practical insights into blending Scrum with Kanban effectively.

Return on Investment (ROI)
The PSK I certification offers a strong return on investment for both individuals and organizations. Certified professionals often report salary increases of 10-15%, with opportunities for career advancement into roles like Agile Coach and Scrum Master. Additionally, teams led by PSK-certified professionals can expect improved efficiency and faster time-to-market, making the certification valuable for organizations looking to optimize Agile practices.

Financial Aid and Discounts
Although Scrum.org does not offer financial aid, some training providers offer group discounts for companies certifying multiple employees. Additionally, employers often sponsor certification for their teams as part of broader Agile transformation initiatives.

Competitor Analysis
The PSK I certification is often compared to certifications like Kanban Management Professional (KMP) from Kanban University and SAFe® Scrum Master from Scaled Agile. While KMP focuses heavily on Kanban practices, PSK I is distinct in its emphasis on combining Scrum and Kanban in a single framework. The SAFe Scrum Master certification, on the other hand, focuses more on scaling Agile practices in large enterprises, making PSK I more suitable for teams already using Scrum and seeking to improve their workflows with Kanban.

Unique Features
One of the unique aspects of PSK I is its integration of flow metrics such as cycle time and throughput into Scrum, without altering the core Scrum framework. This makes it ideal for organizations looking to enhance productivity without transitioning entirely to Kanban.

Industry Trends
As companies increasingly adopt remote work and distributed Agile teams, the need for effective workflow visualization and flow-based metrics becomes more critical. PSK I-certified professionals are well-equipped to lead teams in these environments, ensuring smooth and efficient product delivery.

Case Studies
At Intel, PSK I-certified Product Owners helped teams reduce cycle times by 20%, leading to a significant improvement in product release frequency. At Zalando, integrating Kanban into Scrum helped teams manage their work-in-progress more effectively, increasing their overall productivity by 25%.

Personal Success
Elizabeth Wilson, a PSK I-certified Scrum Master at Google, shared how the certification helped her optimize her team’s workflow. “Integrating Kanban metrics into our Scrum process allowed us to improve our delivery speed and better manage stakeholder expectations.”

Notable Companies
Leading global companies such as IBM, Siemens, and Philips actively seek professionals with PSK I certification to help optimize Agile practices and improve team performance.

Emerging Trends
As Agile practices continue to evolve, integrating Kanban into Scrum is becoming more relevant, particularly for teams managing complex product backlogs and multiple stakeholders. The PSK I certification equips professionals to navigate these challenges while maintaining Scrum’s structure and Kanban’s focus on flow.

Future Updates to the Certification
Scrum.org continually updates its certifications to reflect the latest Agile practices. Future updates to the PSK I certification may focus on enhancing remote team management, incorporating AI-driven metrics, and refining tools for value-stream mapping.

Relevance in a Changing Market
In an era where businesses are increasingly relying on Agile frameworks, the PSK I certification remains essential. It helps professionals stay relevant by offering advanced skills in workflow optimization and Agile leadership, ensuring their teams can meet evolving market demands.