An introduction to Scrum

Software has changed a lot over the last couple of decades, and more importantly, it keeps changing. Naturally, the software development process changes, too. 

Agile software development is an iterative, adaptable approach to working that’s flexible enough to accommodate advances in technology and shifting customer requirements. One of the most popular Agile frameworks is Scrum, in which small teams focus on incremental product development in short periods of time. When implemented effectively, Scrum helps teams boost efficiency and adaptability while collaborating more closely with customers. 

In this blog post, we’ll break down the key principles of Scrum, as well as events and artifacts so you can decide whether Scrum is the right Agile framework for you.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is an Agile framework for software development. Traditional software development processes operate linearly, following a strict pattern of planning first, then developing, then testing, and so on. Agile software development, on the other hand, takes a more iterative approach by breaking initiatives into smaller stretches of time called sprints, which last between two and four weeks. 

During each sprint, the development team adds and improves features to gradually deliver the best product possible. Testing and development happen frequently and often overlap. Scrum teams meet daily to track their progress, enhance transparency, and address roadblocks.

The Scrum framework is characterized by its focus on teamwork and collaboration. In fact, the name Scrum is taken from rugby scrums, a part of the game that requires a coordinated team effort.  

Originally designed for use in software development, Scrum is now used by organizations, teams, and project managers across all disciplines. The framework works well for smaller teams tackling tasks that involve changing deliverables, unknown solutions, and frequent interaction with clients or end users.

What is Scrum methodology? 

The Scrum framework is sometimes referred to as the Scrum methodology, although it is more accurately described as a framework. Unlike project management methodologies that prescribe processes, procedures, and documentation, Scrum provides lightweight structure for delivery, leaving the specifics of how to work up to the team. To better solve complex problems, Scrum is intentionally vague and acknowledges the unpredictable nature of product development while emphasizing the importance of continually inspecting and adapting work. 

In addition to empowering teams to think creatively as they iterate, Scrum organizes features and goals into a prioritized list. This way, the team focuses on the most important work first.

Scrum key principles

The Scrum framework is built around six core principles. Each aspect of the Scrum method, from daily sprint meetings to Scrum artifacts, reflects these principles.

The six key Scrum principles are: 

1. Control over empirical processes: With its focus on transparency, adaptation, and frequent evaluation, the Scrum method helps development teams test and improve their product at each stage of the process.

2. Self-organization: To successfully use the Scrum framework, each member of the team must fully buy into the process. This commitment requires a high level of independence and self-organization. 

3. Collaboration: To deliver the best product possible, a software development team has to work together. Teams share responsibility and accountability throughout each cycle. As the saying goes: Succeed together, fail together. 

4. Value-based prioritization: One of Scrum’s defining features is its flexibility. To adapt to and address new demands and requirements for the project, Scrum teams constantly evaluate and reprioritize each task they need to accomplish. 

5. Timeboxing: In the Scrum methodology, each element of a sprint has a clearly defined timeline. The sprint itself is two to four weeks long, and daily meetings also operate on strictly held timelines. 

6. Iterative development: Because Scrum is an Agile framework, products are built iteratively. This iterative progress allows for constant improvement, flexibility, and, at the end of the day, a high-quality product.

Who is part of a Scrum team?

To help each sprint operate smoothly, there are three main Scrum roles and responsibilities to every Scrum team: development team, product owner, and Scrum master. Typically, there is one product owner, one Scrum master, and several developers to a team.

The product owner manages the product backlog and is the point of connection between the team and the customer, ensuring that the team understands customer requirements and works on the most high-value tasks. The Scrum master ensures that the whole team understands how to implement the Scrum framework and facilitates Scrum events. And the development team is made up of individuals who work on developing the product.

Steps of the Scrum process

The Scrum framework is built around a number of events so the team can collaborate, plan, and deliver incremental value. The following are some of the most common Scrum events.

Sprint planning

If you’re traveling in unfamiliar territory, you don’t just start driving. You’ll want to consult a map and figure out the best route to your destination first. Similarly, Scrum teams don’t select a few backlog items and launch pell-mell into a sprint. There’s a lot of planning involved. 

A sprint planning meeting, held at the beginning of each sprint, should be a few hours long and aim to identify the sprint goal while answering these questions: 

• What are we going to achieve by the end of this sprint? 

• How are we going to achieve it? 

• Why is this sprint valuable? 

Like other Scrum events, it helps to use software so your sprint plan is a living document that can be updated as needed. By using a visual collaboration solution like Lucid, you can easily visualize the goals you plan on achieving as your whole team edits and collaborates in real time.

Daily Scrum

Daily sprint meetings—often called daily scrums or daily standups—are short meetings (ideally fifteen minutes) held at the same time each morning. During these meetings, the development team discusses what they accomplished the day before and what they hope to accomplish today, enhancing communication and proactively identifying blockers.

Sprint review

The Scrum method encourages transparency between all stakeholders. Sprint review meetings help facilitate this transparency. Held at the end of each sprint, these meetings allow the Scrum team to present the product in its current iteration to stakeholders. Based on the feedback given in this meeting, the product owner refines the product backlog. 

Sprint retrospective

While sprint review meetings are attended by a number of stakeholders, sprint retrospectives are just for the Scrum team. These meetings are held at the end of each sprint and give team members a chance to reflect on the previous sprint, covering individuals, processes, interactions, and tools.

During sprint retrospectives, ask your Scrum team a series of questions: What went well? What went poorly? And, most importantly, what can be improved in the next sprint? Sprint retrospectives encourage continuous improvement so teams can become more efficient and agile over time.

Scrum artifacts

We’ve covered a lot of Scrum jargon, but we’re not quite done yet. In Scrum, an artifact is simply a mechanism or tool for managing and completing work. The following are the four main Scrum artifacts.

Product backlog

The product backlog, maintained by the product owner, is a list of requirements for the final product. As priorities change, the product owner manages and reorders the backlog. At the beginning of each sprint, Scrum teams will select a certain number of items from the product backlog to address during that sprint.

Sprint backlog

Each sprint, the items selected from the product backlog are put into the sprint backlog. Often, these items are organized on a Scrum board, a visual framework for tracking the progress and priority of each item. Items are sorted into columns on the board: stories, to do, in progress, and complete. 

The sprint backlog is maintained and used solely by the development team. As tasks are completed, the development team moves them through the columns.

User story 

User stories are a way of describing backlog items. The product backlog is essentially a list of features that need to be included in the final product and user stories describe those features from an end user’s perspective. For example, why does the user need this feature and how will it look in practice?

Product increment

At the end of each sprint, you are (hopefully!) left with a pile of completed work items. Together, these accomplished items make up the product increment. Which is to say, the product increment is simply the working version of the product at the end of a sprint.

The benefits of Scrum

The benefits of Scrum lie largely in the fact that it is an iterative approach. By using the Scrum framework, your team will be better able to adapt to the ever-changing world of software development and deliver a product that gets better with each sprint. 

Implementing a new process, framework, or project management methodology for your team often comes with challenges, but Scrum offers plenty of unique advantages. Some of the benefits of Scrum include: 

• Adaptability: Scrum requires frequent check-ins and updates, so if tasks need to change, this issue won’t languish for weeks before someone notices. You’ll be able to identify a problem or necessary change and pivot quickly. Scrum teams also see continuous improvement over a product’s lifespan rather than a few periods of big change.

• Visibility: With Scrum, stakeholders have the ability to see incremental progress, not just at certain intervals around the beginning and end. Stakeholders have more opportunity to be involved, as does the entire team, giving everyone the chance to collaborate and gain visibility into improvements. 

• Efficiency: Like other Agile frameworks, Scrum aims to prioritize work and deliver value more efficiently. If you and your team execute Scrum well, you’ll see a boost in efficiency and alignment among your team.

Effectively implementing Scrum as a team 

Above all else, Scrum is about a handful of people working together efficiently to deliver iterative increments of value. To most effectively utilize the Scrum framework, team members must be available for communication and collaboration throughout the sprint. Team members should also be willing to take on different roles as needed to deliver a working product and meet sprint goals.

Learn more about the roles and responsibilities that are required for a Scrum team so you can decide whether your team is a good fit for the Scrum framework. Remember, you don’t have to follow Scrum exactly; you can customize your approach to ensure you boost alignment and efficiency while respecting what works best for your team.