Enterprise License Handbook 1 Introduction The Scrum Alliance Enterprise License (EL) program will provide an avenue for an organization to enable qualified CSTs to elevate their focus by appointing a qualified Endorsed Scrum Trainer (EST) who can help fulfill the business/market demand for foundational certification courses (CSM and CSPO). The new Enterprise License program will benefit qualified CSTs in the following ways: Allowing CSTs to focus more of their energy towards higher levels in organizations to achieve greater agility and transform the world of work Partnering with the Scrum Alliance to develop and drive adoption for new products/programs aimed at providing more value for clients and the community This handbook is designed to give organizations an overview of the Scrum Alliance Enterprise License program and detail the application process. Benefits of Earning an Enterprise License Organizations with a Scrum Alliance Enterprise License have the following benefits: Ability to appoint a qualified EST who can lead private and public CSM and CSPO certification courses Visibility for the EST to list courses on Scrum Alliance s website Authorization to use the official Scrum Alliance EST badge to promote the affiliation and the program offerings (a camera ready version will be provided) Enterprise License Criteria To be granted an Enterprise License, organizations must document on the Enterprise License Application how they meet the following criteria: Organization Eligibility The organization applying for the Enterprise License must: Be a legal business entity formed at least 3 years with a published, or otherwise documented, Agile/Scrum training and coaching focus Have a minimum of 3 full-time personnel (staff or contracted) employed with the organization for at least 3 years Have a CST with controlling interest of the organization, as demonstrated by one of the following: o Having a majority ownership o Having a less than majority ownership, but with veto rights on decisions
CST Eligibility The organization applying for the Enterprise License must identify the CST who has a controlling interest of the organization. He or she must: Hold active status CST currently and for at least 3 years. To be considered active status, a CST must sign the annual CST Agreement, pay the annual CST license fee, and fulfill all renewal requirements. Have an average of 400 CSM or CSPO certifications logged through the Scrum Alliance website annually over the past three full calendar years (e.g., for application in 2016, the number of certifications from the full calendar years of 2013, 2014 and 2015 will be averaged) Have no unresolved, substantiated complaints on file at Scrum Alliance 2 Endorsed Scrum Trainer (EST) Eligibility The organization applying for the Enterprise License must identify the individual who will be their EST. That individual must: Hold current active status CSP. To be considered active status, a CSP must pay all renewal fees and accept the online license agreement. Be employed or contracted by the organization applying for an Enterprise License for at least six months Have at least 2 years of professional work experience as a ScrumMaster, Product Owner or Team Member within the last 5 years o Have co-trained with the organization s CST a minimum of 5 ScrumMaster and/or Product Owner courses within the last 2 years and submit student evaluations for those 5 courses that demonstrate at least 80% positive feedback on all evaluation questions. Have not served as the EST for a different organization holding an Enterprise License within the last two years (prior to date of application) (or less, if the individual has a signed statement from organization releasing them from this obligation) Enterprise License Terms The organization, through its Authorized CST Agent, must indicate agreement to uphold the following terms of the program: The license is awarded to the organization, and the organization takes full responsibility for the EST s performance. There will be a maximum of 1 EST per organization for 2016 (at which point this will be evaluated for expansion). The CST and EST must hold an active status CSM to train the CSM course and/or an active status CSPO to train the CSPO course. The EST will not be a trainer for, or participate in teaching classes for, any Scrum certification body other than Scrum Alliance. The organization granted the Enterprise License will distribute the Survey Monkey link (provided by Scrum Alliance) at all courses conducted by an EST. Scrum Alliance will review student feedback data on a monthly basis. The organization granted the Enterprise License will utilize the Scrum Alliance hosted platform for student registration and evaluation distribution, when available. The organization granted the Enterprise License will commit to having its EST attend and participate in at least 1 Scrum Alliance Global or Regional Gathering every 2 years.
3 License Renewal The license will be renewed initially at the end of 2016 and annually thereafter, upon successful demonstration by the organization on the EL Renewal application of the following: The CST must meet all CST renewal requirements as referenced in the CST Renewal Program effective January 1, 2016, including the payment of the annual fee. Quality of instruction and soundness of business as evidenced by an absence of unresolved, substantiated complaints submitted to Scrum Alliance. Quality of EST instruction as evidenced by student feedback demonstrating: o A minimum of 80% of students provide feedback. o A majority positive feedback average of at least 80% on all Scrum Alliance evaluation questions. o Scrum Alliance will review student feedback data on a monthly basis. A minimum of 400 CSM or CSPO certifications logged annually through the Scrum Alliance website by the organization. A minimum of 100 (of the 400 certifications) must be logged by the EST. A personal statement providing evidence that having an EST elevated the organization s CST in focus and improved professionalism. Attestation to continued agreement with Enterprise License specifications. The Scrum Alliance reserves the right to terminate the Enterprise License if at the time of renewal, the renewal criteria have not been met. Application Decision Approval Process and Fees The first step in pursuing Enterprise License status is the submission of the Enterprise License application and the non-refundable application fee of $250.00 USD via the following link: https://www.regonline.com/elapplicationfee Once it is determined that a complete application has been submitted, the application will be reviewed and a determination communicated within 60 days. If the Enterprise License is granted, the organization will be sent the license agreement and an invoice for the annual license fee of $5,000.00 USD (prorated based on the date of approval). Continuation of the licensed status is dependent upon all of the following: Successful course data to validate the quality of instruction, Payment of the annual license fee of $5,000.00 USD plus a per student fee of $50.00, And successful adherence to program requirements. Denial Process Applicants will be provided with thorough written denial reasons that they can use to inspect, adapt, and reapply within a stated timeframe. The application fee of $250.00 will be due at the time of reapplication.
Corrective Action 4 The Scrum Alliance will initiate corrective action to address insufficiencies in Enterprise License holders through both a warning program and a more formal system of probation, suspension, or termination of the Enterprise License. Warnings The Scrum Alliance reserves the right to issue warnings to Enterprise License holders for action or events that are unsatisfactory, but that alone do not warrant probation, suspension, or termination. Three warnings issued to an EST will constitute one warning issued to the Licensee and will result in a complaint being filed by the Scrum Alliance against the EST with the Disciplinary Panel. Three warnings against Licensee will result in a complaint being filed by Scrum Alliance against Licensee with the Disciplinary Panel. The Scrum Alliance may issue a warning for the following: EST evaluations for a course are unsatisfactory and do not reflect positive feedback of at least 80% with at least 80% of attendees responding. A substantiated complaint submitted to Scrum Alliance. An example: Edward is approved as an EST. In Edward s first month of training, his student feedback data reflects 65% positive feedback, which falls below the 80% requirement. Edward is issued a first warning. In Edward s third month of training, a client files a complaint stating that they feel they did not receive quality training for their employees for a private course. The client provides specific details that Scrum Alliance was able to confirm with the training facility where the course was hosted. Edward is issued a second warning. In Edward s sixth month of training, his student feedback data reflects 75% positive feedback, which again falls below the 80% requirement. Edward is issued a third warning, a complaint is filed with the Disciplinary Panel, and the Licensee receives one warning. Probation, Suspension, or Termination The Scrum Alliance reserves the right to put on probation or to suspend or terminate the Enterprise License if one or more significant substantiated complaints are received by the Scrum Alliance about the organization holding the Enterprise License, its CST, and/or EST. Anonymous complaints will not be considered. The Scrum Alliance may also initiate a complaint if any of the following occur: The organization fails to deliver or maintain the program as it was approved by Scrum Alliance. The organization fails to comply with stated program requirements. The organization is involved in activity which is contrary to Scrum Alliance policy or is detrimental to the Scrum Alliance. An EST or the Licensee organization receives three warning strikes. The terms of the probation, suspension, or termination will be determined by a Disciplinary Panel after an investigation of the matter and outlined in formal communication to the organization holding the Enterprise License. These may include, but are not limited to: The EST being restricted from instructing CSM or CSPO courses for the organization (indefinitely or for a designated period of time). The organization losing its Enterprise License.
Should it be determined that the Enterprise License status is put on probation, suspended, or terminated, Scrum Alliance will notify the Enterprise License holder s CST of the action. The notice includes the following items of information: Reason for the probation, suspension, or termination. Effective date. Terms. 5 The decision of the Scrum Alliance Disciplinary Panel is appealable. Appeals Should an applicant be declined Enterprise License status or if the status is suspended or terminated, the applicant is afforded an opportunity to appeal the decision in accordance with the following procedures. An appeal must be made in writing to the Scrum Alliance (support@scrumalliance.org) within thirty (30) days of receiving the determination being appealed. The written appeal must include the stated appeal, the reason for the appeal (including relevant supporting materials), and appellant's contact information. When an appeal is received, the Scrum Alliance shall convene a three-person Appeals Panel to consider the appeal, ensuring that no members of the Panel have actual or apparent conflicts of interest with the case at hand. The function of the Appeals Panel in a given case is to review the decision being appealed based on the record that was presented at the time of the determination. The appeal shall be considered within thirty (30) days. The Scrum Alliance shall notify the appellant of appeal decisions within sixty (60) days from the Appeals Panel determination. Appeals Panel decisions shall be final.