top of page


Trends in Scrum
As a Scrum trainer, I get the chance to hear from people working in widely different industries - from finance to healthcare to tech....
Mary Iqbal
4 days ago3 min read


A Roadmap for Product Definition
One of the recent trends that I am thrilled to hear about is that many organizations are - at last! - starting to take note of the importance of defining their products.
Mary Iqbal
Jul 65 min read


D is for De-Motivating
If you want to de-motivate your Scrum team, be sure to grade them every Sprint based on # of points delivered or worse - % complete! I...
Mary Iqbal
Jun 303 min read


Trust but Verify at the Sprint Review
There’s a reason we often say, “Trust but verify.” It's because trust is important — but to build and maintain trust we need...
Mary Iqbal
Jun 232 min read


Common Growing Pains for New Scrum Teams
When a new Scrum team first starts working together, they go through some common growing pains. Knowing what to expect for a new Scrum team can help make things go a little smoother.
Mary Iqbal
Jun 154 min read


AI tools for Agile teams
Below are some of my favorite tools for Agile teams - and each has added elements of AI into their offerings. Included in this list is...
Mary Iqbal
Jun 121 min read


Product Owner vs. Product Manager
Organizations define Product Manager and Product Owner roles differently. Company size, industry, and structure all play a role. Scrum...
Mary Iqbal
Jun 102 min read


Signs of a High Performing Team
The purpose of the Scrum Master is to improve the adoption of Scrum. So, it makes sense that the Scrum Master should ask the question: What does a high-performing Scrum team look like? After all, how can you know what you're shooting for if you don't know what "great" looks like?
Mary Iqbal
Jun 83 min read


Keep Scrum Simple
Scrum actually has very few rules. It’s a simple framework with just enough—but not too much—structure to help teams work together.
Mary Iqbal
Jun 22 min read


Scrum Is Growing Up
Scrum has come a long way from its early days as a radical approach to managing complex work. Once considered experimental, even risky,...
Mary Iqbal
Jun 22 min read


When to Cancel the Sprint
According to the Scrum Guide, a Sprint can be cancelled—but only by the Product Owner, and only if the Sprint Goal becomes obsolete.
That sounds a bit vague, doesn’t it? What does “obsolete” really mean?
Mary Iqbal
May 243 min read


Undone Work: A Monkey on the Scrum Team’s Back
In Scrum, “Done” means done. Not halfway done, not “almost there,” and certainly not “we’ll get to it next Sprint.” Yet, many teams find...
Mary Iqbal
May 183 min read


Integrating UX Design into the Scrum Framework: Stop Rework!
Cross-function teams don't need to constantly hand off work to another team. They have all the skills that they need to deliver usable product.
Mary Iqbal
May 123 min read


Burnout on the Scrum Team
Burnout can impact the whole Scrum team. Fortunately, there is a cure in the house.
Mary Iqbal
May 53 min read


Teamwork is not a luxury
Organizations don’t adopt Agile for the sake of being Agile. They do it because they want to deliver value sooner. That’s the goal:...
Mary Iqbal
Apr 282 min read


Building Bridges with Leadership
Agile teams need great leadership
Mary Iqbal
Apr 213 min read


Great Scrum Masters Make Great Leaders
Let’s set the record straight: Scrum Master is not a dead-end job. In fact, it might be the best stepping stone to real leadership you could ask for.
Mary Iqbal
Apr 192 min read


That's Not the Point of Points
Imagine a Scrum team that cuts down trees. The team consists of Paul Bunyan and Homer Simpson. To size their work, they assign points to...
Mary Iqbal
Apr 42 min read


Don't Overload the Sprint
Don't overload the Sprint - it's not helpful and it slows down value delivery.
Mary Iqbal
Apr 42 min read


Do you need that ticket?
Transparency in Scrum isn’t about proving you’re busy. It’s about ensuring the most valuable work gets done.
Mary Iqbal
Mar 311 min read
bottom of page