What is Scrum? All You Need to Know About This Agile Framework

Most successful organizations float multiple projects simultaneously but face many challenges in seamlessly handling them. It is not only overwhelming to manage these projects but also difficult to keep up with changing requirements. Clearly, it is not feasible to rely on traditional project management methods which might be outdated given the swiftly changing business environment today. As a result, the use of Agile methodologies, including Scrum, has shot up in recent years. In fact, 77% of all high-performing projects use project management software, many of which support the Agile methodology, as per NASSCOM. So, what is Scrum? It is a popular framework that enables teams to deliver high-quality results iteratively. Let’s take a deep dive into Scrum, its uses and benefits, and explore the latest trends in its adoption.

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What is Scrum in Agile Methodology?

We need to understand the Agile methodology before turning to what is Scrum. Agile is an umbrella term for various frameworks that emphasize adaptability, collaboration, and iterative development in project management. Scrum is one of the frameworks that specifically helps teams collaborate on complex projects. It is based on the idea that knowledge comes from experience while only known factors influence decisions. Here’s a further breakdown:

Core Principles

• Transparency: Everyone involved can access project information at all times
• Inspection: Assess progress at regular intervals in order to identify areas for improvement
• Adaptation: Adjust plans based on key learning

Self-Organizing Teams

Small, cross-functional teams are given the freedom to manage their work without any micromanagement.

Iterative and Incremental Delivery 

The work is divided into short cycles called sprints, generally extending between one and four weeks, with a focus on delivering functional features at the end of each sprint.

Scrum Events

There are ceremonies to guide the process. They include sprint planning, daily scrum, sprint review, and sprint retrospective. Let’s take a brief look:

Sprint

This is a time-boxed iteration that lasts for two to four weeks, during which the team creates a potentially shippable product increment.

Sprint Planning

The event is essentially a meeting where the team determines the work to perform during the sprint. The team also selects what they can deliver once they know the highest priority.

Daily Scrum

A short meeting (approximately 15 minutes), also known as daily stand-ups, a daily Scrum is where the team members synchronize their activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours.

Sprint Review

The team inspects the increment at the end of the sprint to gather feedback and adapt the product backlog.

Sprint Retrospective

It is a meeting held after the sprint review and before the next sprint planning. The team discusses what went well, what didn’t, and how they can improve.

Scrum Artifacts

The process results in products such as the product backlog and sprint backlog, among others.

Product Backlog

This refers to a dynamic list of features, enhancements, fixes, and technical improvements that are needed for the product.

Sprint Backlog

The development team creates it as a part of the product backlog items selected for a sprint, besides a plan for delivering them.

Increment

It is the sum of all product backlog items completed during a sprint as well as the previous sprints.

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What are the Key Roles in a Scrum Team and Their Responsibilities?

Every organization looking to decode what is Scrum needs to be aware of three key roles— product owner, Scrum master, and the development team. These roles not only promote accountability and collaboration but also continuous improvement.

Product Owner

The product owner creates and maintains the product backlog. They ensure that the team works on important tasks that align with business goals. They particularly ensure clear communication by acting as the primary liaison between stakeholders and the development team. Moreover, they review and accept the work done by the team to check if it meets the defined criteria.

Scrum Master

A Scrum master conducts all the ceremonies to ensure Agile development. They help the team understand and implement the principles. Scrum masters remove obstacles that might hinder the overall progress. Furthermore, they encourage the team to reflect on their processes, make improvements, and maintain their focus on the goals.

Development Team

The development team builds shippable product increments at the end of each sprint. They decide how to set about completing tasks and manage their workflow accordingly. The team participates in sprint planning to estimate the effort required for backlog items. Each of them has to be accountable for their work and update their progress during daily stand-ups.

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What are the Main Advantages of Using Scrum in Agile Project Management?

Now that we have covered what is Scrum in Agile, let’s take a look at its benefits:

1. Increases Flexibility

Scrum thrives in dynamic environments. It thus allows teams to adjust to changing requirements or new priorities midway without derailing the entire effort. It is quite handy in today’s fast-paced world where needs evolve quickly.

2. Enhances Market Delivery

Short sprints enable teams to supply a usable product into the hands of stakeholders and customers without delay. This, therefore, allows for feedback and iteration, leading to a quick turnaround for the final product.

3. Fosters Communication

Every stage of the project has to be explicitly transparent. Everyone is on the same page due to daily Scrum, sprint reviews, etc. It promotes better communication and collaboration within the team.

4. Offers Value 

The priority is to deliver features that provide the most value to the customer. The team refines the product backlog constantly owing to feedback and changing needs, keeping the focus intact on relevant matters.

5. Builds Morale

The self-organizing nature helps teams develop a sense of ownership. The team members can motivate themselves and increase their job satisfaction because they have more control over their work.

6. Mitigates Risk

Scrum’s iterative approach makes it easy to detect problems or roadblocks early. The issues can then be addressed within a sprint, preventing them from snowballing into a disaster later in the project.

7. Promotes Perpetual Growth

Scrum encourages continuous improvement with the help of sprint retrospectives. They give teams the space to reflect on their processes and identify areas for improvement. This augments efficiency over time.

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How Can Project Managers Implement Scrum Practices Effectively in Their Projects?

A project manager needs to follow several steps to implement Scrum effectively. Here are some of them:

1. Understand the Framework 

It is important to comprehensively understand what is Scrum and imbibe its methodologies before rolling out the methodology. A thorough understanding of its roles, events, and artifacts goes a long way in streamlining the process of adoption.

2. Train the Team

Educate team members about what is Scrum in terms of what the practices actually entail. The process can be undertaken via training sessions and workshops to help everyone understand their roles and responsibilities.

3. Define Roles Clearly

Assign the key roles while assembling the team. Everyone must be aware of their responsibilities. The team must be cross-functional with the necessary skills and experience to deliver the project. The team should be small (five to nine members) with the freedom to also organize independently. 

4. Establish a Product Backlog

Collaborate with the product owner to create a comprehensive product backlog. The list can include features, enhancements, bug fixes, and technical tasks required for the project, prioritized by importance.

5. Facilitate Scrum Events

Organize work into short sprints. Focus on various events like sprint planning, conduct daily stand-ups time-boxed to 15 minutes, and review to gather feedback. Lastly, undertake a sprint retrospective to reflect on the sprint and highlight areas for improvement.

6. Foster a Collaborative Culture

Build transparent channels to encourage open communication and collaboration within the team. The goal should be to create an environment where team members can share ideas, raise concerns, and take ownership of their work.

7. Use Scrum Tools

Leverage tools and software to manage the product backlog, track progress, and facilitate collaboration. For example, tools such as Jira, Trello, and Asana are some good options for visualizing work.

8. Remove Impediments

The project manager, who is generally the Scrum master,  should work on removing distractions that may hinder the team’s progress. It can involve resolving conflicts, addressing resource constraints, or streamlining processes.

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What are Some Emerging Trends in Scrum Methodology That Project Managers Should be Aware of?

If someone were to ask what is Scrum at some point in the future, the answer is going to be considerably different than the version today. Here are some emerging trends that need to be tracked:

Automation

AI is taking over the world and the world of project management is no exception. Many tools will, thus, use AI to automate repetitive tasks, predict potential roadblocks, and provide data-driven insights. For instance, there is immense scope for AI to automate sprint backlog refinement or identify patterns in data to improve sprint planning.

Hybrid Methodologies

Project managers are increasingly adopting a hybrid approach to Agile development. They use a combination of Scrum with Kanban or Lean, leveraging the strengths of each approach consequently. Here’s a good example: Kanban’s visual workflow management with Scrum can optimize task flow within a sprint.

Scrum at Scale

Scrum is ideal for small teams working on relatively contained projects. There is a growing trend of applying Scrum principles to larger, more complex projects. There will be an increase in the use of frameworks like SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) or LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) that scale Scrum practices across multiple teams.

Focus on Human-Centered Practices

There is a growing recognition for incorporating practices that prioritize humans within the methodology. In other words, companies will look to foster psychological safety within teams, encourage open communication, and pay attention to members’ well-being.

Boost Your Career With Emeritus

The use of Scrum and other Agile methodologies is only going to go up with time. It is projected that project management jobs in India are expected to touch 21.7 million by 2027. Emeritus offers project management courses designed to help you secure your dream job.  They cater to everyone from an aspiring individual to a seasoned professional. They provide practical insights on in-demand methodologies like Scrum, project planning, and execution. Enroll today and unlock the potential to become a successful project manager.

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