Scrum Simulation With Minecraft

This free e-book presents a stepwise approach to perform a full Scrum Simulation With Minecraft. An outstanding learning activity for teaching Scrum. It is free to use and adapt, licensed under Creative Commons.

Timing:

8 hours (full day), divided in:

• Minecraft Bootcamp – 2 hours;
• Pre-Game – 1 hour;
• Game – 4 hours;
• Post-Game – 1 hour;

Overview:

The products of my MSc dissertation at the University of Liverpool includes two gamified learning activities, focused on teaching agile project management.

To design these learning activities I created a pre-exercise survey for agile instructors, that was answered by several agile instructors. The results are a clear picture of the paradigm conflict for students.

It evidences that the mindset imposed by traditional project life cycles, based on predictive/waterfall models, remains dominant. The Scrum Simulation is a good place to fight against such mindset, as the students will feel for the first time what is to be “agile” – a great experience that can be a turning point for them.

Learning Points:

The values and roles of Scrum represent a big paradigm shift for professionals whom are familiar with traditional approaches for project management, where command-and-control-ism and micro-management are imperatives. This learning activity provide to the students a great opportunity to experience the Scrum framework, with several elements of a real-world project.

In my agile classes, the Scrum simulation is the last mile of the training – the “cherry on the cake”. This is where the students evolve their own comprehension, seeing how all the pieces fit together: values, principles, roles, ceremonies and artifacts.

Link to Game:

The free e-book and templates are available at http://eepurl.com/b8fIY5

Julio Oliveira

Agile Coach at GFT Group, previously I’ve worked at multinational companies, such as Volkswagen, Toyota, Bradesco, Globo Network and CIELO. Graduated in Computer Networks Management, Postgraduate in Software Processes Management, MBA in Project Management, Master in Information Systems Management from the University of Liverpool (UK). Holder of the following credentials: PMP and PMI-ACP (Project Management Institute), CSM (Scrum Alliance), DevOps Master (EXIN) and Certified SAFe 4 Agilist (Scaled Agile).

Professor of Agile, Design Thinking and Gamification disciplines in the Master Business Innovation (MBI) program at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar) .

Creator of the Lean Gamification Design method.

www.leangamification.design