Don McGreal
Bio
To be clear, Don McGreal, is not an official supporter of Evolved; no support should be assumed. At the same time, we think curious people should be aware of their work.
Personal or Business or Community websites:
More Publications
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**Summary:**
Don McGreal is best known as co-author of *The Professional Scrum Product Owner*, a foundational book for Product Owners and agile leaders. He is also a frequent author and thought leader on topics such as Scrum mastery, agile training, and experiential learning, and is co-founder of TastyCupcakes.org, a major resource for agile games and exercises.
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The Professional Scrum Product Owner: Leveraging Scrum as a Competitive Advantage
Authors: Don McGreal, Ralph Jocham
Description:
This bestselling book is a comprehensive guide to product ownership with Scrum, focusing on maximizing value and taking true accountability for product outcomes. Drawing on decades of agile experience, McGreal and Jocham cover all aspects of envisioning, emerging, and maturing a product. The book teaches readers how to plan strategy, manage complexity, continuously deliver value, and implement best practices for backlog and release management. It emphasizes the importance of defining success from the outside in, empowering Product Owners, and aligning teams behind a shared business model. Practical tools, real-world anecdotes, and actionable advice make this a foundational text for Product Owners and agile leaders.
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The Professional Scrum Product Owner: Leveraging Scrum as a Competitive Advantage
Authors: Don McGreal, Ralph Jocham
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional
Publication Date: 2018
ISBN: 9780134686479
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## Articles & Thought Leadership (selection)
### 1. **Raising the Bar for Scrum Mastery**
**Author:** Don McGreal
**Platform:** Improving.com Thought Leadership
**Publication Date:** 2024
**Description:**
McGreal discusses the evolving expectations of Scrum Masters and the importance of continuous learning and professional growth. He shares insights into how Scrum Masters can elevate team performance, foster a culture of improvement, and drive organizational agility.
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### 2. **Is Scrum Certification Training Worth It?**
**Author:** Don McGreal
**Platform:** Improving.com Thought Leadership
**Publication Date:** February 19, 2025
**Description:**
In this article, McGreal analyzes the value of Scrum certification training, addressing common questions about its benefits, career impact, and how it fits into a broader journey of professional development in agile roles.
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### 3. **What Training Works and Is It Still Worth It?**
**Author:** Don McGreal
**Platform:** Improving.com Thought Leadership
**Publication Date:** 2024
**Description:**
McGreal examines effective training and learning practices for agile professionals, evaluating the return on investment for training and the approaches that lead to meaningful business results.
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### 4. **TastyCupcakes.org: Games and Exercises for Agile Adoption**
**Authors:** Don McGreal, Michael McCullough
**Platform:** TastyCupcakes.org
**Publication Date:** Ongoing since 2009
**Description:**
Co-founded by McGreal, TastyCupcakes.org is a widely used resource of games and exercises designed to accelerate agile adoption and learning. The site offers practical, interactive activities for Scrum Masters, Product Owners, and agile coaches to use in workshops and training sessions, supporting experiential learning and team engagement.
