Scrum an agile project management method

Martin Průcha, 18. 10. 2023

Scrum is an agile project management method, especially in software development. It is based on an iterative and incremental approach to development, which means that development is divided into shorter periods of time called “sprints”. At the end of each sprint, the team should produce a working version of the product.

The main roles in Scrum include:

Product Owner:

Responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog, which is the list of features, customizations, and fixes that the team will develop.
Has the best understanding of customer needs and business requirements and is responsible for maximizing the value the team produces.
Is the only person who can change the order or content of the product backlog.

2. Scrum Master:

Is responsible for ensuring that the team follows scrum practices and techniques.
Removes obstacles that could hinder the team’s work.
Acts as a coach for the team, helping them to continuously improve and work efficiently.
Serves as a bridge between the team and the outside world, protecting the team from distractions.

Development Team:

Consists of professionals who do the work to create and deliver the product.
It is responsible for analysis, design, implementation, testing, and documentation during each sprint (typically a 2-4 week cycle of work).
At Scrum, the development team is self-organizing and multi-disciplinary, which means it has all the skills needed to complete the work and make decisions about how best to accomplish the work.

In addition to these core roles, Scrum can interact with other stakeholders and interested parties who may not have a formal role in the Scrum process, but may have an interest in the outcome of the project and can provide feedback to the team

Benefits of Scrum include:

Scrum is more structured than agile development. This means that it can be easier to stay on track and meet deadlines.
Scrum can be a good choice for projects that need to be completed quickly. This is since the time-boxed sprints force the development team to focus on completing the project in a certain time frame.
Scrum produces more documentation than Agile development. This is an advantage if you need extensive documentation for your project.

A simplified example of using scrum in a software development team that wants to create a new mobile application:

Vision and Product Backlog Our team wants to create a mobile app for tracking physical activity. The Product Owner will create a list of features and requirements known as the Product Backlog. This list can include features such as:

– User registration and login.

– Tracking user steps.

– Displaying physical activity statistics.

– The ability to share their achievements on social media.

Sprint Planning The team decides that the first two-week sprint will focus on creating a basic prototype with user registration and login functionality. These features are selected from the Product Backlog and moved to the “Sprint Backlog”.
Daily Scrum (Daily Stand-up) Each day during the sprint, the team will meet for a short 15-minute meeting where each member will communicate:

– What did they do yesterday?

– What does he/she plan to do today?

– Did he or she encounter any obstacles?

Working on Sprint During the two-week sprint, the development team works on implementing features from the Sprint Backlog. Testers are continuously testing new features.
Sprint Review At the end of the sprint, the team presents the completed features to the Product Owner and stakeholders. If something is unfinished, it can be returned to the Product Backlog.
Sprint Retrospective The team then discusses what worked well in the sprint, what could have been better, and what steps they will take to make the next sprint more successful.
Next Sprint The process is repeated for the next set of features from the Product Backlog.

This cycle repeats until the application is complete and ready for release. With regular check-ins and an iterative approach, the team can respond to changes flexibly and deliver quality results.

Scrum is a specific type of agile development that focuses on short, time-boxed sprints. Usually, these time-boxed sprints span a month or less, with another one beginning immediately after the last. Scrum is important tools for managing complex projects. However, it haas strengths and weaknesses.

author: TRIXIT.s.ro

foto: unsplash.com