What exactly is Scrum?
- Mario Holt
- Aug 12, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 13
Scrum is an agile method that enables teams to manage complex projects efficiently and flexibly. Read this blog post to find out what Scrum is, what it is used for and when it makes sense.
Scrum is a method based on the principles of the Agile Manifesto. The Agile Manifesto is a set of values and principles that promote a customer-centric, iterative and adaptive approach to software development. Scrum is a concrete implementation of these principles in the form of a framework that defines roles, artefacts and events.
The most important roles in Scrum are the Product Owner, the Scrum Master and the development team. The Product Owner is responsible for defining and prioritising the requirements for the product, which are recorded in a document called the Product Backlog. The Scrum Master is responsible for adhering to the Scrum rules and supporting the development team in applying Scrum. The development team is responsible for building the product in short iterations called sprints, which typically last two to four weeks.
The most important artefacts in Scrum are the Product Backlog, the Sprint Backlog and the Increment. The Product Backlog is a list of requirements for the product, prioritised by the Product Owner. The Sprint Backlog is a subset of the Product Backlog selected by the development team for a Sprint. The Increment is the result of a Sprint and represents a potentially deliverable part of the product.
The main events in Scrum are the Sprint Planning, the Daily Scrum, the Sprint Review and the Sprint Retrospective.
Sprint Planning is a meeting where the development team, together with the Product Owner and Scrum Master, decide which requirements from the Product Backlog will be implemented in the next Sprint.
Daily Scrum is a short meeting at which the development team reviews the progress of the sprint and identifies possible obstacles.
Sprint Review is a meeting at which the development team presents the development results to the Product Owner and other stakeholders and receives feedback. The Sprint Retrospective is a meeting where the development team reflects with the Scrum Master on what went well and what needs to be improved.
What does the acronym scrum mean?
Scrum is not an abbreviation, it is a rugby term. In rugby, a scrum is a formation of several players who support each other and try to win the ball. The term was chosen by the inventors of the scrum method. It is intended to symbolise the cooperation and cohesion of the development team.
What is Scrum, what can you do with Scrum?
Scrum is a method originally developed for software development, but it can also be used in other areas. Scrum can be used to manage complex projects with a high degree of uncertainty, dynamism and customer focus.
The benefits of Scrum include
Faster delivery of high quality products to the customer
Higher quality through continuous monitoring and improvement
Increased customer satisfaction through regular feedback and adaptation
Increased motivation and self-organisation of team members
Increased flexibility and adaptability to change
When does Scrum make sense for an organisation?
Scrum is suitable for projects in organisations with the following characteristics
Complexity: The project is characterised by a large number of unknown factors and dependencies that cannot be planned in advance.
Dynamic: The project is subject to frequent changes in requirements, environment or technologies.
Customer focus: The project has a strong focus on the needs and expectations of the customer, who is actively involved in the development process.
Scrum is less suitable for projects with the following characteristics
Simplicity: The project has few or no unknown factors and dependencies that can be planned in advance.
Stability: The project is subject to little or no change in requirements, environment or technology.
Standardisation: The project has little focus on the needs and expectations of the customer, who is passively involved or not involved at all in the development process.
Conclusion about the Scrum Method
Scrum is an agile method that enables teams to manage complex projects effectively and flexibly. Scrum is based on the principles of the Agile Manifesto and defines a framework of roles, artefacts and events. Scrum is suitable for projects with a high degree of uncertainty, dynamism and customer focus. Scrum is less suitable for projects characterised by a high degree of simplicity, stability and standardisation.
What is a Scrum Team?
The Scrum Team is the smallest unit in Scrum and consists of three roles: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master and the Development Team. The Scrum Team works on the development of the product in a self-organised and autonomous way. The Scrum team has no hierarchical structures or titles. It is based on mutual respect and trust.
The Product Owner is the person who represents the vision and value of the product. He is responsible for defining and prioritising the requirements for the product, which are recorded in a document called the Product Backlog. The Product Owner is also the main point of contact for the customer and other stakeholders.
The Scrum Master is the person who ensures that the Scrum team follows the Scrum rules and lives the Scrum values. He or she is responsible for supporting the development team in the use of Scrum and for removing obstacles to progress. The Scrum Master is also the link between the Product Owner and the Development Team.
The development team is the group of people who develop the product in short iterations called sprints. The development team consists of three to nine members who have all the skills needed to deliver the product. The development team works together and independently to plan, design, implement, test and improve the product.
The Role of the Scrum Master
A Scrum Master is a role in Scrum that ensures that the Scrum Team follows the Scrum rules and lives the Scrum values. The tasks of a Scrum Master are
Coaching the Scrum Team in the use of Scrum
Encourage a culture of continuous improvement
Supporting the Product Owner in creating and maintaining the Product Backlog
Ensuring clear communication with customers and other stakeholders
Support the development team in planning and executing sprints to ensure the quality of the product. He will also facilitate Scrum events, including Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective.
He also identifies and removes obstacles that hinder or threaten the progress of the Sprint and protects the Scrum Team from external disruptions or distractions.
What is the role of the Product Owner?
A Product Owner in Scrum represents the vision and value of the product. The Product Owner defines and prioritises the requirements for the product in the Product Backlog.
They keep this document transparent, understandable and up to date, and work closely with customers and other stakeholders to understand and meet their needs and expectations.
They also work closely with the development team to provide feedback and answer questions.
At the end of a sprint, they review the increment and decide whether to release it.
What is a Product Backlog?
A product backlog is a document in Scrum that contains all the requirements for the product.
It is created and maintained by the Product Owner.
It consists of short descriptions of the benefits to specific users in the form of User Stories.
These are prioritised according to their estimated value to the customer.
It is regularly reviewed and adapted to reflect changes in the project.
It is never final or complete, but evolves with the project.
I hope this article helps you to understand Scrum better and to manage projects better and more efficiently in the future.
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