Scrum approach reduces non-productive work and spreads testing throughout the development process. It allows teams to experiment and fail quickly, which reduces costs and time to market. In addition, Scrum enables a team to respond quickly to changes in the business and avoid scope creep.
In Scrum, a Scrum team is composed of three key roles: a Scrum master, a Product Owner, and a Team. The Scrum master is responsible for facilitating meetings and ensuring that the development process proceeds efficiently. As the product owner, he/she defines the backlog. The Team consists of the Scrum Master and team members. The Product Owner is the most senior member of the team.
The goal of Scrum is to deliver value to the customer. This means that teams create a functional, user-friendly piece of software every few weeks, known as an increment. Feedback from each increment helps the team decide what to do next. By delivering value frequently, Scrum encourages transparency and collective responsibility.
Scrum differs from Agile in several ways. While Agile emphasizes daily interaction between developers and business users, Scrum emphasizes a collaborative approach to project development. I have a separate post citing differences between Scrum and Agile.
- Accelerate business growth with Agile- Part 1
- Accelerate business growth with Agile Part 2: Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions on Agile.
In Scrum, developers and business owners work together to deliver software at a rapid rate. This process consists of several phases: planning, daily standup meetings, spring demonstration of the work product, and retrospectives to understand what went well and what needs improvement.
In Scrum, the team works under the guidance of a Scrum master, a person who serves as a coach for the team. A Scrum Master facilitates collaboration and helps the team perform at its maximum level. The Scrum Master also protects the team from unnecessary distractions and allows the team to focus on the sprint goal. The Scrum Master differs from a traditional project manager, however, in that a Scrum Master does not assign tasks or provide day-to-day direction.
In Scrum, the product owner has responsibility for what the team builds. He/she keeps a backlog of work organized in priority order. A Scrum master serves as a cheerleader for the team and ensures that the Scrum process is followed. Scrum teams are characterized by high morale, and each sprint produces a product ready for market.
Although, Scrum process begun for software product development, it can be applied to development other product too. Scrum-driven projects bring-on faster operational excellence.
The Scrum framework is an iterative process that requires teams to constantly review their progress and identify obstacles to progress. The process involves a series of iterations, each cycle lasting no longer than a week. In each cycle, the team iterates in order to deliver a new feature. These cycles are timeboxed and are generally completed within a month.
Related Reading:
- How to cut costs strategically using Kaizen
- Streamline processes and workflows with Gemba Walk.
- Top Ten Strategic Decision-Making Tools for Operational Excellence
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Categories: Scrum | Operations | Process Improvement
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