“Scrum is like your mother-in-law, it points out ALL your faults.”
Ken Schwaber
The most successful companies engaged in software development are getting their 100% results by following the Scrum methodology that initially identifies its roots with Agile methodology. Agile is neither a set of rules nor a set of guidelines; it is but a set of principles that one needs to follow in order to achieve the desired outcome. Further, Scrum is one of the techniques that helps you to follow the agile methodology.
Click here, to read more about Agile Methodology.
Definition of Scrum
Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland in their book entitled as The Scrum Guide™
The Definitive Guide to Scrum: The Rules of the Game (November 2017) defines Scrum as:
Scrum (n): A framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value.
Scrum is:
• Lightweight
• Simple to understand
• Difficult to master
Scrum is not a definitive technique rather it allows you to create a fusion between product management and your own work techniques to launch a product. This project management framework developed by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland emphasises upon continuous improvement and scalability in your final product and your work environment. Scrum is meant to manage and monitor the functionality of the development procedure.
Scrum framework includes:
Scrum Values
Every Scrum team member is insisted upon following these five values: commitment, courage, focus, openness and respect. It becomes pertinent for any scrum team to adapt these moral values if they desire to get 100% results as only a responsible and morally responsible team will be able to communicate effectively and solve any obstacle that may pose difficulties to reach the ultimate goal.
Scrum Team
The scrum team is highly responsible for maintaining flexibility, creativity and productivity. Therefore, the team is further bifurcated into three aspects and all three of them have a certain role to perform.
#Product Owner
The product owner maintains the product backlog and is also responsible for increasing the value of the product. The product owner tries to maximise the product value developed by the scrum development team. The responsibilities of the product owner are :
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Be transparent with the product backlog items,
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Ensure everything on the product backlog is visible to each and every member of the scrum team,
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And, he is the one who will be accountable for the product.
#Development Team
The development team as the label suggests works on the development of the product. The development team consists of professionals who work on the product which will be released at the end of the sprint. The best of the scrum is that all the members of the development team working on the product are self-responsible, by which it means that there is no hierarchy in the group. They distribute the work on behalf of their own understanding and capabilities. Also, the development team members cannot be more than 9 in number.
#Scrum Master
The Scrum master is the most integral part of the whole framework. He is the one who is monitoring the whole scrum event and the sprint. Scrum master promotes and supports the scrum values among the scrum team and ensures that all of them are followed correctly. The scrum master’s duty is to serve the organisation, the product owner and the development team. He ensures that the product backlog is available to everyone associated with the product. Furthermore, he verifies that the product development process is understood completely and checks the agility of the development procedure. Lastly, he is also responsible for conducting scrum events and management of the sprint.
Scrum Event
The scrum event is further bifurcated into the following five events:
#Sprint Planning
An event occurs at the beginning of the sprint, where the product backlog items are decided. These items decided the work to be done during the whole sprint.
#Daily scrum
A mandatory 15-minute time-boxed meeting for the development team to discuss work and create a plan for the next 24 hours.
An everyday 15minutes StandUp!
#Sprint review
A time-boxed event held at the end of the Sprint to analyse the Increment and adapt the product backlog if required.
#Sprint retrospective
A time-boxed event held for self-introspection for the Scrum Team to create a plan for improvements to be performed in the upcoming sprint.
Usage of Scrum
Developed in the early 1990s, Scrum has been extensively used and adopted by thousands of companies worldwide. This framework has the capability to reduce flaws and release products on time. Below given are some of the benefits of adopting scrum for your organisation:
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-Quicker release of useable products to users and customers
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-Promotes high-quality work and products
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-Promotes a high productivity level
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-Reduces costs by saving time
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-Ensures flexibility as it allows to incorporate changes as they occur
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-Ensures employee moral values
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-Boosts user satisfaction
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-Allows you to handle and complete complex projects
Note:
We have also used The Scrum Guide™: The Definitive Guide to Scrum by Ken Schweber and Jeff Sutherland for our blog.