Scrum is a framework for project management that helps teams be more effective and efficient. It allows you to track progress and ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page. Scrum is an agile methodology, which means that it can be adapted to meet the needs of each project. This blog post will discuss what Scrum is and how you can use it to improve your project management skills!
Scrum vs Agile
Scrum is one of the frameworks in the Agile umbrella. As such, they share many commonalities and differences. Let’s discuss them below.
Similarities
Both approaches emphasise customer collaboration, iterative development, and a focus on delivering working software quickly. In addition, both Scrum and Agile place a strong emphasis on self-organisation and cross-functional teams.
However, there are also several key differences between Scrum and Agile.
For instance, while Scrum is a set of rigid rules that must be followed, Agile is more flexible and can be adapted to fit the needs of any organisation. In addition, while Scrum only allows for work to be done in two-week sprints, Agile allows for more flexibility in terms of timeframes.
Another key difference between Scrum and Agile is that Scrum teams are self-organising, while in an Agile environment, the team members are typically assigned roles by the project manager. Finally, Scrum teams typically have daily stand-up meetings to track progress, while Agile teams meet less frequently.
As a result, Scrum is often seen as more prescriptive than Agile.
Why Use Scrum?
In today’s fast-paced business world, organisations are always looking for ways to improve their project management methods. One approach that has gained popularity in recent years is Scrum.
Scrum is a flexible and adaptive framework that helps organisations better plan, execute, and track their projects.
Let’s see what benefits you can reap:
First, you’ll notice improved communication and collaboration among team members. By holding regular meetings and using a shared whiteboard, team members can easily stay up-to-date on the project’s progress and identify potential problems early on.
In addition, Scrum encourages team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently. This strategy helps create a more empowered and motivated team that can meet deadlines and produce high-quality results.
Overall, Scrum is a practical approach that can help organisations improve their project management processes.
The Scrum Framework
The Scrum framework is based on artefacts and ceremonies.
Scrum Artefacts
Scrum artefacts are tools that help the Scrum team manage their work and track their progress. They are essential for ensuring that your team works efficiently and effectively and that the product is delivered on time and to quality standards.
The three primary artefacts are the product backlog, the sprint backlog, and the increment. Let’s analyse them below.
Product Backlog
In Scrum, the product backlog is a list of all features, functions, and changes that need to be made to a product. It is typically maintained by the product owner, who is responsible for ensuring that the backlog contains feasible and valuable items for the customer.
Think of the product backlog as a roadmap for the development team.
This Scrum artefact provides guidance on what should be worked on next. As such, it is constantly evolving and changing as new information arises.
To ensure that the product backlog is always up-to-date, the Scrum team should regularly review and revise it during their sprint planning sessions.
Sprint Backlog
The Sprint Backlog is a prioritised list of work for the Scrum Team to complete during the sprint. The product owner is responsible for creating and maintaining the Sprint Backlog, which includes:
- User stories
- Tasks
- Defects
The Scrum Team then estimates the amount of work that can be completed during the sprint and adds items to the Sprint Backlog accordingly. The Sprint Backlog is a living document that is constantly updated as new information is discovered or as priorities change.
At the end of the sprint, the product owner reviews the Sprint Backlog to ensure that all planned work has been completed and to update it for future Sprints.
Increment
In Scrum, the increment is the sum of all the product backlog items completed during a sprint and all previous sprints. It is the value that the Development Team delivers to its customers.
Remember: The increment must be in a usable condition even if it is not quite finished.
The primary purpose of the increment is to allow stakeholders to provide feedback so that the Development Team can incorporate it into future sprints. The increment must meet the scrum definition of done, which means it must be thoroughly tested and ready for release.
Pro tip: Each team has different definitions of “done.” Make sure you set this definition before beginning a project.
The stakeholders should also review the increment to ensure that it meets their needs. The goal is for each increment to be an improvement over the previous one so that the product gradually becomes more and more valuable over time.
By delivering increments regularly, Scrum ensures that stakeholders always have a clear idea of what they are getting, and they can provide feedback that will guide future development.
Scrum Ceremonies or Events
Scrum ceremonies or events have several advantages. They:
- Help project managers by providing a structure for progress and a way to track milestones.
- Give team members a sense of ownership over their work and a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
- Ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal.
- Provide a way to reflect on what has been accomplished and identify areas for improvement.
In sum, scrum ceremonies are an essential part of effective project management. Here are the main events you should include in your framework once you adopt Scrum:
Organise the Backlog
The “organise the backlog” ceremony is an integral part of Scrum, and it helps to ensure that the product backlog is always up-to-date and ready for the next sprint. The product owner is responsible for maintaining the backlog, and they will typically review it every week.
Here’s what happens during the review:
The product owner will add any new items that have been identified, and they will also prioritise existing items.
The “organise the backlog” ceremony allows the team to give feedback on the product backlog and suggest changes to the priorities. It is also an opportunity for the product owner to provide more information about upcoming items.
Ultimately, the “organise the backlog” ceremony aims to ensure that the product backlog is always accurate and up-to-date. Thus, your team can be confident that they are constantly working on the most important items.
Sprint Planning
Sprint planning is an essential part of Scrum, too. Sprint planning aims to define what work will be done during the upcoming sprint. This stage involves:
- Identifying the user stories that need to be completed
- Estimating the effort required to complete each story
- Adding the stories to the sprint backlog
Sprint planning is typically conducted at the beginning of each sprint, and it is essential to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the planning process. When everyone is on the same page, your sprint will be successful.
Sprint
In Scrum, a Sprint is a time-boxed period during which a cross-functional team works to deliver potentially shippable increments of work. Sprints are typically two weeks long, but they can be shorter or longer depending on your team’s needs.
During each sprint, the team sets aside time for:
- Planning
- Development
- Testing
- Daily stand-up meetings
- Sprint retrospective
At the end of the sprint, the team demo their work to stakeholders. Sprints provide structure and discipline for Scrum teams, helping them to focus on delivering value. Therefore, sprints ensure that your team is constantly making progress.
Sprint Review
Sprint review is a meeting that takes place at the end of every sprint, in which the Scrum team presents their completed work to the product owner. The product owner then has the opportunity to give feedback and make suggestions for improvements.
The sprint review is an essential part of the Scrum process, as it ensures that the team is always working on tasks that are aligned with the product owner’s goals.
Sprint Retrospective
The sprint retrospective allows the team to reflect on what went well during the sprint and identify areas for improvement. The retrospective should be conducted at the end of each sprint and facilitated by the Scrum Master.
Remember: Your team should discuss both the positive and negative aspects of the sprint.
That’s how you can identify concrete actions that can be taken to improve future sprints. The retrospective is a crucial opportunity for the team to learn and improve. Therefore, you should never miss it.
Wrap Up
Scrum is a popular framework for managing software development projects. It is designed to help businesses make faster progress by breaking projects down into smaller pieces and allowing teams to work independently on each piece.
However, Scrum can be costly to implement, especially for small businesses.
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