Scrum, Scrum, Scrum. What Is This?
When browsing through job descriptions in the tech industry, it seems almost every position mentions something like “familiarity/experience with Scrum.” Is it a cutting-edge programming language? Or perhaps the latest AI tool, like Chat-GPT? To find out, I delved into the Scrum book written by Jeff Sutherland, one of the founders of Scrum. And the answer? It’s neither of those things. Scrum is, in fact, a project management methodology. It has its roots in Agile, inspired by Toyota’s production philosophy. In this article, I will explain the basics of Scrum and why it is so popular.
Why Is It So Popular?
Scrum has gained popularity due to its emphasis on team collaboration, flexibility, self-responsibility, and continuous improvement, as well as its focus on customer satisfaction. By breaking complex problems or large projects into smaller, manageable parts, Scrum enables teams to work in short, iterative cycles called “Sprints.” These short cycles offer adaptability in the face of unexpected challenges or requests.
Throughout each Sprint, team members work closely together, holding daily meetings to foster collaboration and facilitate continuous improvement across the entire project. In the Scrum methodology, individual achievements take a backseat to collective success. Scrum discourages the idea of “heroes” and instead promotes the concept of a cohesive team working together to efficiently and effectively complete tasks.
Ideal Team In Scrum
In Scrum, teams are often compared to a commando squad, emphasizing the importance of having a cross-functional group of individuals with all the necessary skills to complete a project end-to-end. This includes expertise in various areas such as development, design, testing, and marketing. By having a diverse skill set within the team, it ensures that all aspects of a project can be effectively managed without relying on external resources or creating dependencies that could slow down the development process.
Jeff Sutherland, one of the co-creators of Scrum, suggests that an optimum team size is seven members, with a possible variation of plus or minus two. This means that a Scrum team can have anywhere between five and nine members. The rationale behind this recommendation is that smaller teams tend to be more agile, adaptable, and can communicate more effectively. When teams are larger, communication becomes more complex, and decision-making can be slowed down, potentially impacting the overall efficiency and productivity of the team.
Roles In Team
There are three primary roles within a Scrum team: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Development Team.
Product Owner
The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and representing the interests of the stakeholders. They are the primary decision-maker regarding the product’s features and priorities. The product owner is responsible for managing the Product Backlog, which is a prioritized list of features, enhancements, bug fixes, and other tasks that need to be completed to deliver a successful product.
Scrum Master
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that the Scrum process is followed and helping the team adhere to its practices and rules. They act as a facilitator, coach, and servant-leader to both the Product Owner and the Development Team. The Scrum Master removes any obstacles or impediments faced by the team, ensuring they have the necessary resources and environment to perform their work effectively.
Development Team
The Development Team is a cross-functional group of individuals responsible for delivering high-quality, potentially shippable increments of the product at the end of each Sprint, which is a time-boxed iteration of work, usually lasting two to four weeks. The team consists of professionals with diverse skills and expertise, including but not limited to developers, designers, testers, and business analysts. The Development Team is self-organizing, meaning they decide how to best accomplish their work without being directed by external authorities. They work collaboratively with the Product Owner and Scrum Master to plan, design, build, and test the product increments.
Practices In Scrum
Product Backlog
The Product Backlog is a dynamic, prioritized list of features, enhancements, bug fixes, and other work items required to deliver a successful product. The Product Owner is responsible for managing and refining the Product Backlog, ensuring that the priorities align with the project’s overall goals and objectives.
Sprints
A Sprint is a time-boxed iteration, usually lasting two to four weeks, during which the Development Team works to complete a set of prioritized tasks from the Product Backlog. Each Sprint results in a potentially usable product increment, which can be demonstrated to stakeholders for feedback.
Sprint Planning
At the beginning of each Sprint, the team conducts a Sprint Planning meeting. The Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team collaborate to determine the highest priority tasks from the Product Backlog that will be included in the upcoming Sprint. The Development Team then breaks down these tasks into smaller, manageable work items and estimates the effort required to complete them.
Daily Scrum
The Daily Scrum is a short, daily stand-up meeting (usually 15 minutes or less) where the Development Team members share their progress, discuss any impediments, and plan their work for the day. This meeting helps improve communication, collaboration, and transparency within the team.
Sprint Review
At the end of each Sprint, the team holds a Sprint Review meeting, where the Development Team demonstrates the completed product increment to the Product Owner, stakeholders, and other interested parties. This meeting provides an opportunity for feedback and helps ensure that the product meets the stakeholders’ needs and expectations
Summary
This article explored Scrum, a project management methodology that has become increasingly popular in the tech industry due to its emphasis on collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement. The article detailed the ideal team size, roles within the team, and key practices such as maintaining a Product Backlog, working in Sprints, and conducting Sprint Planning and Daily Scrum meetings. By implementing Scrum, teams can better manage complex projects, enhance communication, and efficiently deliver high-quality products that meet customer needs while fostering a positive working environment.
