Jeff Sutherland

Dr. Jeff Sutherland is recognized in software development and organizational management as the co-creator of Scrum, a framework that has influenced how teams and companies approach complex work. While at Easel Corporation, Sutherland launched the first Scrum team to accelerate software development, drawing on concepts from complex adaptive systems and rugby teamwork to create a lightweight framework that improved productivity. Alongside Ken Schwaber, he presented Scrum at OOPSLA and contributed to the creation of the Agile Manifesto. Sutherland and Schwaber also authored and maintain "The Scrum Guide," which provides the official definition of the framework.

Sutherland began his career as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, flying 100 combat missions over North Vietnam. He later joined the faculty of the University of Colorado Medical School, where he earned a Ph.D. and, as an assistant professor of radiology, biometrics, and preventive medicine, co-founded the Center for Vitamins and Cancer Research. Sutherland is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a master's degree in statistics from Stanford University and a doctorate in biometrics from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His background in military discipline, scientific research, and technology informs his multidisciplinary approach to agile methodologies and project management.

Following his academic career, Sutherland served as CEO and CTO of multiple software companies. He has demonstrated that Scrum's benefits extend beyond software and product development, adapting the framework for industries such as finance, healthcare, higher education, and telecommunications. Organizations including Google, Amazon, and the FBI have adopted Scrum to reduce costs and working hours while increasing productivity. Sutherland's experience teaching Scrum at Harvard Business School has influenced management workshops and executive education worldwide.

Sutherland is the author of several books, including "Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time," "A Scrum Book: The Spirit of the Game," and "First Principles in Scrum: Teams That Finish Early Accelerate Faster." His work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, covering topics such as "Agile at Scale" and "Embracing Agile." Sutherland's contributions to agile software development, project management, and organizational transformation are reflected in his published works and global speaking engagements.

As the inventor and co-creator of Scrum and Scrum@Scale, Sutherland has worked with companies worldwide to deploy Scrum and has launched global trainer programs for Registered Scrum Trainers and Registered Scrum@Scale Trainers. He continues to share best practices and insights on agile development, business process improvement, and innovation with organizations around the world. Sutherland's work as a signer of the Agile Manifesto has influenced the evolution of agile methodologies and project management practices across industries.