If you’re looking for a way to manage projects and develop products more effectively, then you need to learn scrum project management and how to become a scrum master.
Scrum is a process-based framework that allows teams to deliver projects and products of high quality on time, within budget, and with a relatively high likelihood of delivering satisfaction to the stakeholders and end-users.
This article is a concise and beneficial scrum master 101 tutorial that provides you an overview of the scrum framework and all you need to know on your journey to becoming a scrum master.
What is Scrum Project Management?
Scrum project management is a framework that is based on the agile project management methodology and it is typically used in software development projects.
Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people and organizations to manage increasingly complex projects. It helps to create value through the provision of adaptive solutions for complex problems.
With the agile methodology, project management and product development is based on an iterative and incremental approach.
This means that the project scope, requirements, and deliverables are decomposed and broken down into small pieces, and delivered in a series of short cycles or sprints.
When it comes to scrum, there are no fixed processes that must be followed. However, the processes and patterns used during scrum project management must fit into the framework.
Also, each element of the scrum framework serves a specific purpose that is key to the overall value and results that are realized with scrum.
The scrum team, which consists of a product owner, scrum master, and development team, works together to plan, execute and deliver the project according to the philosophy and theory of scrum.
The scrum project management approach is designed to be flexible and adaptable, and it can be used in a variety of project types.
One of the benefits of scrum is that it helps to ensure that all stakeholders are kept up-to-date on the project’s progress and that they have a say in its direction.
What is the Difference between Agile and Scrum?
It is very often to see agile and scrum used interchangeably to infer the same thing. While they are closely related and regularly used in the software development process, they are quite different.
Agile is a methodology that is based on the Agile Manifesto. It emphasizes continuous adaptation and improvement through collaboration between practitioners and feedback from users.
The agile methodology encourages self-organizing teams that are flexible and respond to change while supporting a lightweight framework that allows for iterations and frequent feedback.
Some of the frameworks that are supported by the agile methodology are scrum, kanban, and lean XP.
Scrum on the other hand is a framework supported by the agile methodology to create and deliver value in the current emerging business environment with increasingly complex problems.
Scrum focuses on delivering value as quality as possible through product increments while using rapid feedback and continuous improvement to increase functionality.
Also, scrum focuses on working and usable software products over extensive documentation.
What is the Scrum Theory?
The theory of scrum is essentially based on empiricism and lean thinking.
Empiricism asserts that knowledge comes from experience and making decisions from observations that are fact-based.
Lean thinking on the other hand is focused on the essentials for delivering the desired value and eliminating or reducing waste.
When using scrum, every process and event must ascribe to this scrum theory.
What are the 3 Pillars of Scrum?
The three pillars of Scrum are transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
Transparency refers to the open and visible nature of all aspects of the development process, including progress, problems, and completed work.
The goal of transparency is to create a shared understanding among team members and to promote accountability, trust, and the ability to adapt and make informed decisions.
Inspection refers to the regular review and evaluation of the work being done, as well as the processes and practices being used by the team.
The goal of inspection is to identify any issues or problems that may be affecting the team’s ability to deliver valuable work, and to make adjustments as needed.
Adaptation refers to the team’s ability to adapt and change in response to new information or challenges.
In Scrum, the team is expected to be flexible and to continuously improve, and the ability to adapt is key to this process.
By regularly inspecting and adapting their work, the team can stay focused on delivering value and can respond to changing needs and priorities.
How Does Scrum Work?
Scrum works by employing an iterative, incremental approach so as to optimize predictability in the project and control the project risks thus greatly increasing the chances of success of the project.
Scrum engages a group of people with the necessary skills and expertise to forge a team and do the project work. The team is expected to share and acquire skills as needed.
The scrum framework uses 4 formal events within a containing event which is the sprint for inspection and adaptation of the project work.
These events help to implement the empirical Scrum pillars of transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
What are the Scrum Values?
To use scrum successfully requires a team of people who can properly master the 5 values of scrum. These values are:
- Commitment.
- Focus.
- Openness.
- Respect.
- Courage.
First of all, the scrum team needs to be totally committed to the goal, and support each other fully.
They also have to be focused on the sprint work in order to progress toward the sprint goal as soon as possible.
The scrum team and the project stakeholders need to be open with each other about the work and its challenges.
They must be respectful towards each other and have the courage to do the right thing and take on tough challenges in the pursuit of meeting the goal.
These values give the scrum team a positive direction in their actions, behavior, work, and ultimately the outcome of the project.
The Scrum Team
A scrum team is a unit responsible for creating and maintaining the product backlog and ensuring that the product is delivered on time and within budget.
It is a cross-functional and self-organizing team with all the team members having the required skills to create value in each sprint. The team decides internally who does what, when, and how.
The team is a small group of people that consists of one product owner, one scrum master, and developers that ideally should number between 2 to 8 people.
They are responsible for all product-related activities including stakeholder collaboration, verification, operation, experimentation, testing, research and development, and other requirements to meet the product goal.
The team should be small enough to be light and nimble but large enough to get significant work done in each sprint to progress toward the product goal.
What are the Scrum Team Roles?
A scrum team is made up of 3 roles. The product manager, the scrum master, and the developers. While the stakeholders have input into the product, they are not part of the scrum team.
The team can only have one product manager and one scrum master. However, the developers are often 2 and above.
Smaller scrum teams generally communicate better leading to increased productivity. The recommendation is that a scrum team should not exceed 10.
Each of these scrum roles has a responsibility and accountability in product development. These are the scrum team roles for the team.
1. Product Owner
The product owner is responsible for maximizing the value to be gotten from the product being delivered by the scrum team. Note that a product is a vehicle to deliver value.
The product owner is also responsible for effective product backlog management. This includes:
- Developing the product backlog and effectively communicating the product goal to the team members.
- Creating the product backlog items and ensuring it is clearly communicated to the scrum team.
- Ordering and prioritizing the product backlog items.
- Ensuring the product backlog is transparent, visible, and understood.
When working on a project, the product owner’s decisions must be respected. These decisions are visible in the content and ordering of the product backlog, and the product increment at the sprint review.
While it is not necessary that the product owner personally handles all of the above work and can choose to delegate some parts, the accountability and responsibility remain tied to the product owner.
2. Developers
The developers are members of the scrum team responsible for the creation of any aspect of value product increment in each sprint. There are various broad and diverse skills needed across different domains by the developers.
The developers are accountable for:
- Creating a sprint backlog for each sprint and a realistic plan for attaining the sprint goal.
- Instilling quality in the product according to the definition of done.
- Adapting the sprint plan daily in order to meet the sprint goal.
- Holding each other responsible for meeting the sprint goal.
3. Scrum Master
The scrum master is responsible for establishing scrum as defined in the scrum guide. It is their responsibility to ensure everyone on the scrum team and organization understands and practices the scrum theory and practice.
The scrum master has to enable the scrum team to improve practices within the framework while being a true leader to the scrum team and organization.
They are to coach the team members in cross-functionality and self-organization and help them focus on delivering valuable increments in each sprint to meet the definition of done.
The scrum master is to ensure that all scrum events take place, and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox. They are also to aid in the removal of impediments to the scrum team’s progress.
The scrum master serves the organization by:
- Removing barriers and impediments between the scrum team and stakeholders.
- Helping employees and stakeholders to understand and enact an empirical approach to projects and complex work.
- Leading and coaching the organization on the scrum theory and its adoption.
The scrum master serves the product owner by:
- Helping in the establishment of empirical product planning for a complex environment.
- Facilitating stakeholder collaboration.
- Helping to find ways and techniques for effective product goal definition and product backlog management.
- Helping the scrum team to understand the need for clear product backlog items.
What are the Scrum Events?
Scrum events are formal opportunities for the scrum team to inspect the scrum artifacts and adapt towards the desired goals.
There are 4 scrum events contained within a sprint which is the containing scrum event. Each of these events is time-boxed and must hold to establish the scrum framework.
Aside from the sprint, the other scrum events are sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, and sprint retrospective.
1. Sprint
The sprint is the container event for the other 4 scrum events. This is where all the work required to achieve the project goal happens.
A sprint is a fixed-length event of a month or less, and each sprint begins immediately after the previous one ends.
Each sprint can be considered a mini project, and it is during sprints that the project or product ideas are transformed into value.
2. Sprint Planning
This is a scrum event that initiates each sprint and is done on the first day of the sprint. It defines the work to be done to meet the sprint goal.
Sprint planning focuses on the tasks from the product backlog to be done, the goal of the sprint, and how it is to be achieved. This is done by the decomposition of the selected product backlog items for the sprint.
The result of this scrum event is the sprint backlog which consists of the sprint goal, selected product backlog items for the sprint, and a plan for achieving this goal.
The sprint planning is time-boxed to a maximum of 8 hours for a month sprint and shorter for shorter sprints. For example, if the sprint is 2 weeks, then sprint planning should be time-boxed to 4 hours.
3. Daily Scrum
This is a daily meeting for the developers to assess the progress toward the sprint goal.
The daily scrum is not a status meeting but an avenue for the developers to decide the most important things to do within the next 24 hours to move as close to the sprint goal as possible.
The focus of the daily scrum is on the most important sprint backlog items. This scrum event is time-boxed to 15 minutes.
4. Sprint Review
This event is designed to inspect the outcome of the sprint and adapt according to the product goal or project baseline.
The results of the sprint are presented to the stakeholders at the end of the sprint and they are examined for progress toward the product goal.
This event is time-boxed to 4 hours for a one-month sprint and shorter for shorter sprints. The feedback from this event is incorporated into the product backlog.
5. Sprint Retrospective
This is the last event done in a sprint. It is done by the scrum team and the sprint is analyzed with the goal of planning ways to increase the effectiveness of processes, tools, people, interactions, and the definition of done.
This way, the team identifies what was effective during the sprint, and what was not. Helpful changes are to be identified and incorporated into the sprint backlog of the subsequent sprint.
The time-box for the sprint retrospective event is a maximum of 3 hours for a one-month sprint and shorter for shorter sprints.
Read Also: How can a DevOps Team take Advantage of Artificial Intelligence?
How Scrum can Help Improve Project Efficiency
The goal of a project manager is to manage projects as efficiently as possible and deliver quality results. One way of improving project efficiency is by using scrum effectively.
The scrum theory is based on lean thinking to eliminate the waste of time and resources. It also promotes empiricism and making decisions based on gathered and proven evidence.
Using the scrum framework and adhering to the scrum theory allows the scrum team members to eliminate the need for irrelevant meetings, and stay focused on a task at a time. This way tasks are completed quickly.
The use of rapid feedback via sprint reviews and retrospectives also ensures adaptation which helps in process and product optimization.
5 Tips for Effectively Using Scrum in Your Project
A lot of organizations despite having a great project team and product idea somehow find it difficult to manage projects and products effectively.
If you are managing projects using a scrum framework and it is not used, it becomes counterproductive in the long run to your project and team.
These 5 tips can help you use scrum the right way to manage your projects and achieve the desired success.
1. Identify Scrum Roles Quickly
There are 3 scrum roles. The product owner, developers, and scrum master. Each of these roles denotes who is responsible and accountable for every task throughout the project.
In a nutshell, the product owner sets up and prioritizes the tasks, and the scrum master documents them and puts them on the scrum board while promoting the scrum framework, while the developers focus on the execution of the tasks.
Establishing these roles quickly enables every member of the team to start off knowing their roles and responsibilities thus leaving no lacunas.
2. Define and Prioritize User Stories
User stories are the tasks that make up the project life cycle. These are actions that must be done to deliver the project or product successfully.
They include features, enhancements, and fixes for the product or service. Defining and prioritizing these user stories is essential to get the product quality right.
These user stories go into the product backlog which the product owner manages.
While product refinement is an iterative process that can go on throughout the project, having a well-defined and prioritized list from the onset will help the scrum team have a clear and concise idea of the product goal.
Having a prioritized product backlog early helps the developers get to work and produce a usable product as soon as possible.
3. Daily Scrum Stand Up
The daily scrum is one of the scrum events or ceremonies. It is a daily meeting time-boxed for 15 minutes where the developers assess their progress toward the sprint goal and set the tone for the day’s workflow.
While this meeting is time-boxed for 15 minutes, it is common to see developers exceed this time, and thus counterproductivity sets in.
A simple and effective way to avoid this from happening is to hold the meeting at the same time and place daily while standing up.
This enables the daily scrum to be done according to the scrum guide as people do not really want to stand for more than 15 minutes every day.
4. Stay Agile
Scrum is a framework that is designed to manage projects and develop products according to the agile manifesto.
When using scrum, it is important to always check processes during the sprint retrospectives and ensure that they conform with agile practices.
If the ‘scrum’ being used is not in line with agile practices, then it is not being effectively used.
5. Effective Sprint Retrospective Meetings
The sprint retrospective is the last scrum event in a sprint. Here the sprint is analyzed based on how it went with respect to the processes, people, tools, communication, and definition of done.
The ultimate goal is for continuous improvement and devising ways of increasing effectiveness. It is important that the sprint retrospective is effective and serves its purpose.
The team needs to identify what went well in the sprint and what did not while suggesting useful changes to be incorporated into the product backlog and future sprints.
What Kind of Project is Suitable for Scrum?
While a lot of people assume that scrum is only suitable for developing software products, that is not true. Scrum can be used for any project or process that requires adaptive solutions to complex problems.
Scrum framework was initially developed for creating software products, but over time it has evolved to be used for different projects in different domains, and even organizational operations.
However, there are some projects where the project scope and requirements are fixed from the onset and do not really require a change-driven approach.
In such cases, the traditional approach to project management may be more suitable. Examples include most construction projects.
As a project manager, you need to evaluate the project needs and decide the best approach, processes, and methodology to use to achieve the desired goal.
How to Become a Scrum Master
The scrum master is one of the 3 scrum roles. It is an important role as the scrum master is the key facilitator and promoter of scrum practices and events in the scrum team and organization.
If you are interested in becoming a certified scrum master, the following tips will help you to realize this goal.
First and most important, you need to learn the basics of Scrum. While this scrum master 101 article has provided a lot of insight, you need to go the extra mile and get more information from this website and the scrum guide.
When you have learned the scrum basics, then you should be thinking of getting a recognized scrum master certification which will demonstrate your knowledge and familiarity with the scrum master role and responsibilities.
Each of these certifications has its unique specifications and you may need to take preparatory courses before registering and taking the certification examination.
There are different scrum certifications you can choose from. These include Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I) by Scrum.org, Certified Scrum Master (CSM) by Scrum Alliance, and Scrum Master by Scrum Inc.
What Techniques could the Scrum Master use?
There are a number of techniques that a Scrum Master could use to facilitate the Scrum process and help the team be more effective. Some examples include:
1. Leading Scum Ceremonies
The Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the Scrum ceremonies, which include the daily stand-up, the sprint planning meeting, the sprint review, and the sprint retrospective.
By facilitating these meetings and ensuring that they are conducted in a structured and productive manner, the Scrum Master can help the team stay focused and on track.
2. Removing Impediments
One of the main roles of the Scrum Master is to help the team remove any obstacles or impediments that are blocking their progress.
This may involve working with other teams or departments to resolve issues, or it may involve providing resources or support to the development team.
3. Coaching the Team
The Scrum Master should act as a coach and mentor to the development team, helping them to improve their skills and become more effective in their roles.
This may involve providing training or guidance, or simply offering support and encouragement.
4. Protecting the Team
The Scrum Master should also act as a protector of the team, ensuring that they are able to work in a stable and supportive environment and that they are not interrupted or disrupted by external factors.
What is Difference between Scrum master and Business analyst?
The Scrum Master is a member of the Scrum team who is responsible for facilitating the Scrum process and helping the team to be more effective.
The Scrum Master is a coach and mentor who helps the team to understand and follow the Scrum framework and to adopt the values and principles of Scrum.
The business analyst on the other hand is a role that is focused on understanding the needs of the business and translating those needs into clear and concise requirements for the development team.
The business analyst works closely with the development team and the product owner to understand the business goals and objectives and to ensure that the work being done aligns with those goals.
When does the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust Cycle Occur in Scrum?
The plan-do-check-adjust (PDCA) cycle occurs throughout the Scrum process.
The PDCA cycle is a continuous process of planning, executing, reviewing, and adapting that is designed to help the team continuously improve and evolve.
In Scrum, the PDCA cycle begins at the start of each sprint, when the team develops a plan for the work that needs to be done.
The team then works to execute the plan, completing the tasks and delivering the work that has been committed to.
Once the work has been completed, the team reviews the work and assesses its progress. This may involve conducting a sprint review or a sprint retrospective, or it may involve simply reviewing the work as a team.
Based on the results of the review, the team can then make any necessary adjustments to their plan or processes in order to improve their performance and deliver more valuable work in the future.
This may involve updating the product backlog, changing the way they work, or adopting new tools or techniques.
What does Transparency mean in a Scrum Environment?
Transparency in a Scrum environment refers to the open and visible nature of all aspects of the development process, including progress, problems, and completed work.
The goal is to create a shared understanding among team members and to promote accountability, trust, and the ability to adapt and make informed decisions.
Who makes the Final Decision on Ordering the Product Backlog?
The product owner is responsible for making the final decision on ordering the product backlog in a Scrum environment.
The product backlog is a list of all the work that needs to be done in a project, and the product owner is responsible for prioritizing and ordering the items on the list based on their value to the business.
The product owner works closely with the development team to understand the technical feasibility of the items on the backlog and to prioritize them accordingly.
The product owner is also responsible for ensuring that the backlog is transparent, understood, and actively maintained.
Conclusion
The use of the scrum framework and agile practices has revolutionized the management of projects and the development of software products.
There are many benefits to using an agile methodology in creating value through flexible solutions in complex environments, and the mastery of scrum is essential to creating and fostering this framework for teams and organizations.
Hopefully, this scrum master 101 tutorial is a stepping stone to achieving your goal of scrum mastery and greater project success.
FAQs
When does the next Sprint Begin?
The start of a new sprint begins immediately after the current sprint has been completed, and the team should have a clear understanding of when the next sprint will begin as part of their overall planning and scheduling process.
The Daily Stand-up Timebox should not Exceed how many Minutes?
The daily stand-up timebox, also known as the daily Scrum, should not exceed 15 minutes.
When does a Sprint Conclude?
A sprint concludes when the work committed to in the sprint plan has been completed, or when the sprint timebox has been reached, whichever comes first.
What is the Purpose of the Iteration Review?
The iteration review, also known as the sprint review in the Scrum framework, is a meeting that is held at the end of each sprint to review the work that has been completed and to discuss the progress that has been made.
The purpose of the iteration review is to provide an opportunity for the team to demonstrate the work that has been done and to receive feedback from stakeholders.
A Scrum Team is Experiencing a Growing List of Impediments. What Should be Done?
If a Scrum team is experiencing a growing list of impediments, it is important for the Scrum Master to address these issues as soon as possible.
The Scrum Master should work with the team to identify the root causes of the impediments and develop strategies to remove or mitigate them.
This may involve working with other teams or departments to resolve issues, or it may involve providing resources or support to the development team.
It is also important for the Scrum Master to track the impediments that have been identified and to follow up on their resolution.
This will help the team to stay focused and on track and to prevent small issues from becoming bigger problems.
If the impediments are not addressed in a timely manner, it can have a negative impact on the team’s ability to deliver valuable work and meet their commitments.
It is therefore important for the Scrum Master to be proactive in identifying and addressing impediments as they arise.
If Scrum Teams Become too Large they Should?
If Scrum teams become too large, they should be split into smaller, more manageable teams. Scrum teams are typically small, with a size of 5-9 members being optimal.
Larger teams can be less effective because they may have difficulty staying focused and may have more difficulty communicating and coordinating their work.
Splitting the team into smaller, more agile teams can help to improve communication and collaboration and can lead to better outcomes.
Which Accountability ensures Scrum is Understood and Enacted?
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that Scrum is understood and enacted within the team.
The Scrum Master is a coach and facilitator who helps the team to understand and follow the Scrum framework and to adopt the values and principles of Scrum.
The Scrum Master is responsible for promoting the adoption of Scrum and for helping the team to understand how to use Scrum effectively to deliver valuable work.
What is the Rationale for Scrum Teams implementing Short Sprints?
Scrum teams implement short sprints in order to deliver valuable work quickly and efficiently. Short sprints allow the team to focus on a small, well-defined set of tasks and to deliver those tasks in a short period of time.
This helps the team to stay focused and to make rapid progress, and it also allows them to adapt and make changes as needed in response to new information or changing priorities.
Short sprints also allow the team to receive frequent feedback from stakeholders and incorporate that feedback into their work.
This can help to ensure that the work being done is aligned with the business goals and objectives and is delivering value to the organization.
How Should a Scrum Team Deal with Non-Functional Requirements?
A Scrum team should deal with non-functional requirements in the same way that they deal with any other work that is included in the product backlog.
Non-functional requirements are typically broader and more abstract than functional requirements, and they may include things like performance, security, or usability.
To deal with non-functional requirements, the team should first prioritize them in the product backlog along with any other work that needs to be done.
The team should then work to break down the non-functional requirements into smaller, more manageable tasks that can be completed during a sprint.
Who Starts the Daily Scrum?
The daily Scrum, also known as the daily stand-up, is typically started by the Scrum Master.
The Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the daily Scrum and ensuring that it is conducted in a structured and productive manner.
What are Three Ways Scrum Promotes Self-Management?
1. Emphasis on self-organizing teams: Scrum promotes the use of self-organizing teams, which means that the team is responsible for determining how best to complete the work assigned to them.
This promotes a sense of ownership and accountability among team members and encourages them to take charge of their own work.
2. Emphasis on transparency: Scrum promotes transparency in all aspects of the development process, including progress, problems, and completed work.
This promotes open communication and encourages team members to be accountable for their work and to take ownership of any issues that may arise.
3. Emphasis on continuous improvement: Scrum encourages teams to continuously improve and evolve, and this requires team members to take an active role in identifying areas for improvement and taking ownership of their own development.
