Mastering Kanban Assessments: Your Guide to PSK I and PK I Success
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Kanban Assessments
Having recently passed both the PSK I (Professional Scrum with Kanban — scrum.org) and PK I (Professional Kanban 1 - prokanban.org) assessments, I’m eager to share my experiences and the resources that aided my journey. My aim is to support you in achieving success in your own Kanban endeavors!
Initially, my focus was solely on the Professional Scrum with Kanban (PSK I), but I soon realized the importance of grasping Kanban theory first, which led me to also pursue the PK I certification.
The First Steps
To commence your learning, take the Professional Kanban open assessment followed by the Scrum with Kanban open assessment. These will provide a clear understanding of your current knowledge and the areas that require attention.
I scored around 73% on my initial attempts, which set realistic expectations for my upcoming challenges.
Understanding Kanban Theory
Just as with Scrum, where one begins with the Scrum Guide, Kanban has its own equivalent known as the Kanban Guide. You can find it at kanbanguides.org. This guide encompasses several important topics, including:
- Definition of Kanban
- Reasons for Using Kanban
- Kanban Theory
- Kanban Practices
- Workflow Visualization
- Active Workflow Management
- Work In Progress Control
- Service Level Expectations
- Workflow Improvement
- Kanban Metrics
Thoroughly reading this guide will furnish you with a solid foundation for your learning journey.
Watch Some Videos
Next, I prefer to absorb knowledge through discussions on the topic. I discovered a fantastic prokanban.org YouTube playlist featuring ten short videos by Dan Vacanti and Prateek Singh that effectively walk through the Kanban Guide. This playlist totals around one hour.
Additionally, I recommend this insightful 30-minute video from Dan Vacanti discussing the significance of Kanban.
Finally, there’s a comprehensive playlist of 14 videos from Agile for Humans, hosted by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller, with special guest Dan Vacanti, titled "Fixing Your Kanban," which runs for about two hours.
After viewing these resources, I felt I had a substantial understanding of Kanban. Excitedly, I identified actionable strategies that could be implemented in my organization. Even if you do not pass the assessment, the insights you gain will be invaluable in practical applications.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to ensure your understanding is accurate. Thus, the journey continues.
Listen to a Podcast
Armed with a solid foundation in Kanban knowledge, I began exploring how others have integrated Kanban practices with Scrum. I found this 24-minute podcast to be an excellent introduction.
Two Must-Read Books
In the realm of Kanban, two books stand out as essential reads:
Actionable Agile Metrics for Predictability: An Introduction
Written by Daniel Vacanti, this book clarifies what can be tracked, the importance of various metrics, and their applications. Despite its questionable graphics, it remains a vital resource.
When Will It Be Done?
This follow-up book dives deeper into forecasting using flow metrics learned from the first book, providing practical applications for real-world scenarios.
Once you’ve read both, you’ll find yourself thinking like the authors of the assessments.
Read the Free Kanban Pocket Guide
The Kanban Pocket Guide helped solidify the concepts I had gathered from books and videos, integrating all my learning effectively.
Try the Open Assessments Again
By this point, you should feel more prepared to tackle the assessments again. Revisit these two:
- Professional Kanban Open Assessment
- Scrum with Kanban Open Assessment
Additionally, check out these assessments from thescrummaster.co.uk:
- Free PSK I (10 questions)
- Ultimate PSK I (70 questions - paid)
After attempting these assessments, you should notice improvements in your scores and receive feedback on areas that still require work.
Continue practicing, learning, and refining until you feel ready to succeed in the assessments.
Training Courses
While theoretical knowledge is essential, having a supportive environment to practice and discuss can significantly enhance your retention of the material. Training courses provide an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding beyond just passing the assessments.
However, due to time and budget constraints, I did not attend a course for this journey. If those limitations were not present, I would have pursued training from:
- Kanban training at prokanban.org
- Scrum with Kanban training at scrum.org
I have previously attended other courses from scrum.org, which were outstanding.
Summary
Reflecting on my learning, I wish I had discovered these concepts sooner, as they are sure to transform the teams I support daily.
I hope these resources guide your learning journey as they did mine. By working through the information provided, you will build confidence in your understanding of Kanban and its application within the Scrum framework.
With newfound knowledge and enhanced confidence, you’ll be well-positioned to pass the assessments. My primary goal was not merely to complete the assessments, but to acquire practical knowledge that benefits my teams and organization.
The assessments served as a means to validate my learning, enabling me to apply what I’ve learned with assurance. I plan to share further insights and experiences in upcoming blog posts.
If you’re not already following my journey, please do, and I look forward to connecting again soon.
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