Month: July 2019

Certified Scrum Master: Say Nothing and Let the Development Team Figure it Out

Yes, in ideal development scrum teams, Scrum Master does not provide a solution but facilitates the discussions towards the solution. Certified Scrum Master is the servant leader in Agile Scrum teams to help achieve their goals. Scrum Master helps improve the business value and assists in the implementation of Scrum both at the team level as well as at the organization level.

Scrum Master

Scrum Master is one of the key roles in the Scrum team who ensures the relationships in the team are smooth for the operation of the Scrum team. Scrum Master definitely teaches, explains, shares experiences, and has a positive outlook toward the implementation of the Scrum. Whenever a difficult situation arises in the team, Scrum Master does the coaching and raises awareness so the team members are able to find the solution themselves. Scrum Master removes any external impediments the team is facing and in certain cases help the team to remove the impediments themselves.

Facilitation is one of the key responsibility of the Scrum Master. They help organize the Scrum events such as Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. Scrum Master works with the Product Owner to ensure the team has everything needed to achieve their goals.

Scaling Scrum

Scrum Master plays a key role in Scaling Scrum at an organization level. Large Scale Scrum is a challenge in the big organizations and coordinating the multiple Scrum teams is needed. Scrum Master helps the team realize the team capacity and backlog refinement. Scrum Master guides the teams in the Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing stages of the Scrum Team.

Scrum Master initially works at the team level to make them self-organizing and high-performing. Next, Scrum Master observes the team from a broader perspective. Next, Scrum Master expands the coaching at an organization level to inculcate a culture change. Working with other Scrum Masters is crucial for a Scrum Masters to understand the best practices.

At times, Scrum Master lets the team fail and understand the situation and adapt in the next Sprint. Even when the team becomes self-organized, the Scrum Master is needed for continuous improvement and performing teams. A Scrum Master is open to experimenting, asking questions, encourage conversations, and finding out better ways to get things done.

Scrum Master can introduce fun games and conduct cupcake get-togethers to encourage conversations. Offering small gifts and appreciating the team on achievements helps in team engagement.

Certification

To get Scrum Master certification, you need to attend a two-day paid workshop by a Certified Scrum Trainer. ( Only about 300 worldwide). After completing the class, you can take the test online from your home or office. The test is a 50 question multiple choice test and you have one hour to complete it. In order to receive the certification, you need to get 74%. You have 90 days to take one more time without paying fees.

The test has most questions from the Agile Manifesto and the Scrum Guide. It is an open book test and hence you can have the material by you for reference during the test. However, the time limit is crucial. Some questions on the Scrum roles may be confusing but it is okay. You have an option to get back to a skipped question if you are unsure. The test is included with the training fees for the first two attempts.

Getting the certification definitely helps boost the resume and understand the Scrum concepts. To maintain the certification, you need to keep earning the educational units. Every organization has a different way of adopting Scrum. Some Scrum Masters might perform dual roles as a developer or a tester. Scrum Masters can work on multiple teams and definitely help in backlog refinement in certain Scrum adaptations. Often developers are frustrated as to why the Scrum Masters are following up outside of the Scrum events. Ideally, Scrum Master is helping change the mindset of the organization to improve the business value.

Hollywood Calling

Hollywood is the must-visit attraction in Los Angeles, CA to get close with your stars or to be one. With Allegiant offering flights to LAX international airport from the region, reaching to LA is now a click away. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign, Santa Monica Pier, Getty Center, and the Universal Studios Hollywood are some of the top attractions in Los Angeles, California!

California is the third-largest state in the USA and Los Angeles is the biggest city in California. The City of Angeles is the home of the Stars and is a city busy with tourism, events, and economic activity. It can be overwhelming to decide what to see if you have limited time. Booking ahead saves a ton of money and you can get flights and hotels at an affordable rate. You need to plan what to attractions to visit during your stay in LA. Most people plan their trip around sports or cultural events so they can get most of their trip.

LAX airport itself is like a big city and is overwhelming again. 🙂 Most hotels operate free shuttles from the LAX airport. (the best way to get around)

Universal Studios Hollywood

Universal Studios Hollywood is more of a video shooting studio than of a theme park. The Studio tour will take you throughout the studio in a tram. The live commentary provides information about the studio and the sets. The 4d experience during the tour is very thrilling. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is the latest attraction of Universal Studios Hollywood. You can find Harry Potter fans in their costumes, pick up your wands, have some butterbeer, and walk through the halls of Hogwarts. The ride takes the visitors through a quidditch game and around fly the castle. Pets show, Transformers show, Water World, Walking Dead, and other park highlights are very entertaining. Lockers are available to store extra luggage and the park has plenty of food joints. Book tickets online to get a discount and there are options for multiple visit tickets.

Hollywood Walk of Fame

To get a glimpse of Hollywood, start with the Hollywood Walk of Fame at the Hollywood Boulevard. Each star costs around $30K and the funds go to the film association and to maintain the star. You can see the Dolby Theater and walk the stairs where Oscar stars go every year. The Chinese Theater has handprints and signatures of famous film stars in the entrance. The walk is very entertaining and fun. There is a wax museum, Ripley’s museum, and Hollywood history museum in the same area if you are interested.

Griffith Observatory and Hollywood Sign

Griffith Observatory has the largest telescopes and planetarium for visitors. Space research and exhibits at the venue provide a glimpse into the sky and space. The astronomers’ monument in the front has famous astronomers in the history of space. The museum will let you watch through the telescopes during the night and there are presentations throughout the day. Space and the stars are changing continuously and we are unable to capture the change in a lifetime. What we see that change is constant but in the space world, change takes a lot of time. 🙂

Griffith Observatory is also where you can get good pictures of the Hollywood Sign. There are hiking trails in the Griffith Park ad a Greek Theater at the bottom of the hill. You may spot a film star if you are lucky. You can reserve a bus tour that can take you through the luxurious mansions of famous stars and the places they hang out.

Santa Monica Pier

Beach is the most famous attraction in LA. Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach are famous for their boardwalks. The Santa Monica Pier is the end of the trail for Route 66 and that is the end! 🙂 The beaches are clean and safe for families. You can walk by the ocean or take a dip in the water. Santa Monica Pier is also a famous spot for movie shootings. Enjoy the sunrise and sunset at the Pier. You can take a day trip to Malibu beach from LA if time permits.

Downtown LA

Downtown LA is busy with high rise buildings, banks, corporate offices, and a lot of economic activities. Downtown LA also has museums and cultural centers where you can spend your time. Glass slide thru the OUE SkySpace is a must for a mini thrill. Abundant shopping and nightlife are available in Downtown LA.

Getting Around LA

Public transportation is the best mode of getting around LA. LADOT operates buses with a minimum charge around the famous attractions. LA Metro Rail is the fastest way to get around the city. Uber and Lyft are also widely available for local commute. Bicycles, electric kick scooters, skateboards, electric skateboards, and other boosted boards are available for rental in LA.

Union Station in LA has the most beautiful architecture with the biggest chandeliers and highest ceilings. But beware of the panhandlers and people asking for food or train fare. Homelessness is the biggest problems in LA and you can see that in the Union Station despite the warnings.

The locals are very friendly and helpful to visitors. I observed that they are not judgemental and are okay however you are. Unlike the MidWesterners, the Los Angeles locals are not immediately jumping to correct you but they let you adapt your own paths and styles. 🙂 I think LA is a lot of fun but I did not get to see Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus or Lilly Singh during my trip. 🙂

VRK Diet

Veeramachaneni Diet or VRK Diet is the popular diet emerging as a weight loss diet, diabetes diet, cancer diet, and a healthy alternative to a carbohydrate-based diet. Basic ingredients such as coconut oil, lemon juice, sea salt, ghee, and other high fats can keep you full for a longer time and reduce carb intake. VRK diet is the emerging diet for cancer patients to reduce the tumors and diabetes patients to remove diabetes from the body. The only risk is eliminating the medicines the doctors prescribe and just following the VRK diet in the initial phases.

Veeramachaneni Ramakrishna was in the Quad Cities recently as part of the US tour. He formulated a diet for his own self and it slowly expanded to the immediate family and friends. Now it has expanded to worldwide diet followers and many WhatsApp groups supporting the users through their journey. Some Chinese hospitals have adapted VRK diet to their cancer patients and observed the tumor has reduced completely. Several diabetes patients have ditched their medicines and by following the VRK diet they are reportedly doing absolutely fine. VRK diet also claimed to be helping women with cysts, period problems, and fertility issues.

VRK Diet and Diabetes

Veeramachaneni claims that medicines for Type 2 diabetes are making the patients drug addicts. The drugs let the patients generate more insulin on top of what the body already generates naturally to digest the glucose in the body. The extra insulin gets stored in the body as fat which in turn causes other complications in the body. The medicines the doctors prescribe are for reducing only the blood sugar which will not reduce the sugar in other parts of the body. The patients fall into a continuous cycle of drugs and sugar they never recover.

VRK Theory – Fat Metabolism vs Glucose Metabolism

The human body can survive on fat-based metabolism and glucose-based metabolism. Human cells can absorb only so much glucose and when they are full, insulin converts extra glucose into body fat. The insulin resistance of the body is the root cause of the diseases which can be mitigated with fat metabolism.

Fat-based foods keep you full for a longer time and do not need insulin to get absorbed into the body. On the other hand, carb-based foods generate a lot of glucose in the body which needs insulin to digest. Fat-based foods do not modify your daily required calories and are safe without any side effects. According to Veeramachaneni, timing the food intake will regulate the body sugars and you do not need medications at all!

VRK Diet

Veeramachaneni suggests that you only need a two meal, one meal, or complete liquid meal.

  1. Start the day with one liter of water, lemon juice, salt, and garlic. Have a teaspoon of cold-pressed virgin unrefined coconut oil at this time.
  2. After that, if you are following a two-meal diet, have heavy lunch and heavy dinner. Avoid taking any meals or snacks during the day. Liquids such as juices and tea are okay in between if you feel hungry.
  3. Similarly, for a one meal diet, just eat one heavy meal and substitute the rest of the diet with liquids.
  4. For a complete liquid diet, you do not consume any solids and fill your stomach with only liquids throughout the day.

Following your doctor suggestion is crucial about the VRK diet. Ditching the medicines may cause sudden changes in the body. One may customize their diet according to their food preferences. However, think that you have only two food coupons for the day and you can only use those to eat. Avoid eating whatever comes your way or whatever is available. Just because there is surplus food, we don’t have to eat it. Fasting also is a mechanism to cleanse the system and use up the extra fat stored in the body.

For people looking to change their lifestyle, VRK diet is a good way to start and may help in weight loss. Being aware of the food intake will result in healthy alternatives. Contact Veeramachaneni at +91 7671995599 to get added to the Whatsapp support groups who can suggest the diet items and share success stories.