Why is Scrum a successful framework for businesses involved in creating complex processes? Put simply, Scrum relies on teamwork and communication to create a work environment that functions quickly and fluidly while mitigating the risk of unknown variables interrupting the development process. Scrum framework relies on an empirical process, meaning the work produced must be inspected frequently and the team must adapt quickly to changing requirements or issues. Scrum Theory relies on the following three tenets.

 

Transparency

The Certified Product Owner and ScrumMaster must be able to know what is happening with the development process as it progresses. This requires transparency on the part of the Development Team and open communication lines with the entire Scrum Team. Any issues or interruptions that come up need to be discussed so the ScrumMaster can help mitigate the number of interruptions the team experiences. The Product Owner must know where things stand so they can better ensure that the Team is producing products in the right order. The Scrum Team should outline clear definitions for a complete project, so each team knows what is an acceptable level of ‘doneness.’

 

Inspection

Each product must be inspected frequently during the development phase. This allows for the identification of issues and challenges that could change the resulting product. Keep in mind that inspection should never interfere with work being performed. The easiest way to ensure proper and frequent inspection is to review the work before moving to the next task. Frequent review before the project nears completion lets the team catch any errors or challenges with the product before moving to the next step.

 

Adaptation

If an error or challenge is present and the individual inspecting the product determines that any further work will exacerbate the error and will ultimately affect the quality of the product, the Team must fix the problem. This requires a degree of adaptability, shifting from existing work priorities and plans in order to return to the work that was already finished. To facilitate productive adaptation, the team has four formal review events:

• Sprint Planning: the initial meeting to outline work that needs to be produced and developed. The Team discusses any anticipated issues and ensures that everyone is on the same page before starting the project.
• Daily Scrum: daily meeting that outlines work plans for the day and addresses any issues found in the previous workday.
• Sprint Review: the inspection held at the end of the project’s work period that allows for final adaptations to be made to the Product Backlog based on any challenges uncovered during the previous development process.
• Sprint Retrospective: the final formal inspection that allows the Scrum Team to plan for the next phase of production; any issues that could affect the upcoming product are discussed and planned for.

 

The incremental approach to product development allows the Scrum Team to produce better quality work in a shorter amount of time. Relying on open communication, transparency, inspection, and adaptation ensures that the project is completed in a timely manner while minimizing interruptions and complications.

 

If you are interested in learning more about Scrum Certification or are ready to take the next step and become a Certified Scrum Product Owner, contact us today.