Scrum Certifications!
Recently, I obtained the PSM I (Professional Scrum Master I) and the PSD I (Professional Scrum Developer I) certifications from scrum.org (Is there any website other than this one that is credible when discussing Scrum?).
The exam experience has been the best so far because it is not proctored; you simply open your browser and answer the questions. While this simplicity is appealing, it also makes it quite easy to cheat, especially with limitless online resources available (like AI). As I mentioned in my previous thoughts on certifications, this lack of security diminishes their real value for me.
The PSD I certification is arguably the easiest one I've ever achieved in my life. It's surprisingly straightforward, and you have ample time to tackle the questions. On the other hand, the PSM I and some of the others seem to align more closely with scrum.org's original intent, posing a bit more challenge due to the time constraints relative to question complexity.
The rationale behind not having a proctored exam might be that it forces you to answer all the questions within a tight timeframe, leaving no room for searching or other methods (at least before the era of AI). This becomes evident in the PSM I, where you face lengthy questions and extensive answer choices, coupled with a higher passing score, which could serve as a deterrent to cheating (before AI).
In conclusion, I'm a strong advocate for the Agile philosophy, and I consistently integrate its principles into my daily project work. However, Scrum, as a framework, has contributed to misconceptions about "what it means to be agile," leading to negative perceptions among companies and their developers (it's not uncommon to have reservations about the "agile person" on your team).
Considering all the points I've raised here and my previous reflections on certifications in general, I've come to the conclusion that these certifications are quite costly and, based on my experiences, not worth the investment. It's as simple as that.
Goodbye!