The Agile Scrum methodology simplified

The Agile Scrum methodology is an iterative and incremental framework used to manage software development projects and other types of projects.

In mathematics, iteration refers to the action of repeating a process. Iterative calculation is a method of solving an equation by successive approximations. The term iteration comes from the Latin verb iterare which means “to walk” or from iter “path”. The iteration process is frequently used in algorithms.

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Agile versus Scrum

Agile and Scrum are two approaches used in software development to improve team flexibility, communication and productivity. Here is a comparison between the two:

?Agile : Agile is a philosophical approach or methodology to development that emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and responsiveness to change.

It values people and their interactions, operational software, collaboration with customers and responding to change.

Agile does not prescribe a specific process, but provides principles and values to guide software development.

?Scrum: Scrum is a specific Agile framework for project management that structures development processes in iterative and incremental cycles called "sprints".

The framework can be simply translated as “Working environment”.

It consists of key roles such as the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team, as well as various artifacts (like the Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog) and rituals (like the Sprint Planning Meeting and the sprint review).

Scrum offers a more defined structure compared to Agile, making it a popular choice for many software development teams

Comparison :

Flexibility: Agile is more flexible because it can be applied in different ways depending on the needs of the team and the project. Scrum offers a more rigid structure with its specific roles, artifacts and rituals.

Complexity: Agile is less complex to implement because it does not prescribe a specific process, giving teams greater freedom to adapt. Scrum, on the other hand, has a more formal structure that may require deeper learning and stricter adaptation.

Project management: Scrum is more geared towards project management, offering specific roles and practices to structure the development process. Agile, on the other hand, is a broader philosophy that can be applied to various aspects of business, not just software development.

In summary, Agile is a broader philosophical approach while Scrum is a specific Agile framework, providing a more formal structure for project management. Teams typically choose between the two based on their specific needs, company culture, and Agile maturity level.

Here is a simplification of the fundamental principles of Scrum:

Self-Organizing Teams:

Scrum teams are autonomous and self-organizing. They are responsible for achieving the project objectives.

Self-organizing teams are a fundamental concept within Scrum, which is an agile development methodology. In Scrum, teams are encouraged to be autonomous and take charge of planning, executing, and managing their own work.

Here are some key points about self-organizing teams in the context of Scrum:

Shared Responsibility: Team members share responsibility for the success of the project. They collaborate to achieve the objectives set during iterations (sprints).

Autonomy: Teams are free to make decisions about how to carry out their work and organize themselves to achieve the goals defined in the product backlog.

Self-organization: Rather than receiving direct instructions from outside, team members collaborate to decide what tasks to accomplish, how to accomplish them, and how to resolve any problems encountered.

Adaptability: Self-organizing teams are able to quickly adapt to changes and make real-time decisions to resolve issues that arise during development.

Shared leadership: Rather than having a traditional team leader, leadership is often shared among team members, based on their skills and areas of expertise.

Continuous Feedback: Self-organizing teams rely on continuous feedback to improve. They regularly evaluate their own performance and look for ways to optimize their effectiveness.

Transparency and communication: Transparency and open communication are essential for the successful functioning of self-organizing teams. This allows each team member to have a clear view of goals, progress and challenges.

In summary, self-organizing teams in Scrum are autonomous work groups, responsible for planning, executing and managing their own work, with the aim of delivering value efficiently and effectively. adaptable.

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Incremental deliveries:

The project is divided into small parts called "sprints", generally 1 to 4 weeks. At the end of each sprint, a working version of the product is delivered.

Incremental deliveries, in the context of Scrum, refers to the practice of delivering features iteratively and regularly throughout the development of a project. This approach is fundamental to the Agile methodology, of which Scrum is one of the most popular frameworks.

Here are some key points about incremental deliveries in Scrum:

Iteration: Scrum divides development into iterations called “sprints”. Each sprint has a fixed duration (typically two to four weeks) and ends with an incremental delivery of functional and eventually usable features.

Feature Priority: Features are sorted by priority in the product backlog. During each sprint, the team chooses which features to develop based on their priority and feasibility.

Iterative development: The development team works on a specific set of features during each sprint. These features are developed, tested and ready to be delivered at the end of the sprint.

Continuous Feedback: Incremental deliveries allow parties to regularly see the progress of the project and provide feedback. This promotes adaptation and continuous improvement of the product.

Risk Reduction: By delivering features incrementally, risks are reduced because issues can be identified and resolved earlier in the development process.

Transparency and visibility: Regular deliveries provide full transparency on the progress of the project, allowing parties to closely monitor development and make informed decisions.

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In summary, incremental deliveries in Scrum are an essential practice for ensuring efficient and adaptable development, enabling teams to deliver value on a regular basis and responding flexibly to changing customer needs.

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Product Backlog:

The list of features, improvements and bug fixes to be made is called "Product Backlog". This is a list prioritized by business value.

The Product Backlog in Scrum is a prioritized list of all the features, enhancements, fixes, and other deliverables that are needed to accomplish the project goals. It's maintained by the Product Owner and serves as the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product.

Here's an outline of what the Product Backlog typically contains:

Items: These are individual pieces of work that need to be completed to deliver the product. They can be user stories, features, bug fixes, technical tasks, etc.

Description: Each item should have a clear and concise description that outlines what needs to be done. This description should provide enough information for the development team to understand the requirements.

Priority: The items in the Product Backlog are prioritized based on their importance to the project and the value they bring to the product. The Product Owner is responsible for continuously reprioritizing the backlog based on changing requirements, feedback, and business needs.

Estimates: Items may be estimated in terms of effort, complexity, or time required for completion. This helps the team understand the size of the work and plan accordingly. However, in Scrum, it's important to note that estimates are not commitments, and they may change as more information becomes available.

Dependencies: Any dependencies between backlog items should be identified and documented. This helps the team understand the order in which work should be completed and any potential blockers that need to be addressed.

Acceptance Criteria: Each item should have clear acceptance criteria that define when the work is considered complete and meets the customer's expectations. These criteria should be agreed upon by the Product Owner and the development team.

Refinement: The Product Backlog is continuously refined through collaboration between the Product Owner and the development team. This involves breaking down larger items into smaller, more manageable tasks, clarifying requirements, and removing items that are no longer relevant.

Transparency: The Product Backlog should be visible and accessible to the entire team. This promotes transparency and ensures that everyone is aligned on the project's priorities and goals.

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By maintaining a well-groomed and prioritized Product Backlog, the Scrum team can effectively plan and execute iterations, or sprints, to deliver valuable increments of the product in a timely manner.

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Sprint Planning:

At the start of each sprint, the team selects the elements of the Product Backlog that it will carry out during the sprint.

Sprint Planning is a crucial event in the Scrum framework, designed to set the direction for the upcoming sprint. It typically involves the Scrum Team, which includes the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and Development Team.

Here's a general overview of the Sprint Planning process:

Preparation: Before the meeting, the Product Owner prioritizes the Product Backlog based on the business value and requirements. The Development Team reviews the top items in the Product Backlog to understand what needs to be done.

Sprint Goal: The Product Owner communicates the objective or goal for the sprint. This goal provides focus and guides the team in their work throughout the sprint.

Scope Selection: The team selects the items from the Product Backlog they believe they can complete within the sprint. They consider factors such as complexity, dependencies, and their capacity for work.

Task Breakdown: Once the scope is selected, the team breaks down the selected Product Backlog items into smaller, actionable tasks. This breakdown helps in estimating and tracking progress during the sprint.

Estimation: The team estimates the effort required for each task. This estimation can be done using techniques like Planning Poker or relative sizing. It helps in understanding how much work can be realistically accomplished within the sprint.

Capacity Planning: The team ensures they have enough capacity to take on the selected work. They consider factors like team members' availability, holidays, and any other commitments.

Commitment: Once the team has a clear understanding of the work and their capacity, they commit to delivering the selected scope by the end of the sprint. This commitment is made collectively by the team.

Sprint Backlog: The outcome of Sprint Planning is the Sprint Backlog, which includes the selected Product Backlog items, the tasks breakdown, and the commitment made by the team.

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Sprint Planning typically has a timebox, usually one to two hours per week of sprint duration. The goal is to keep the meeting focused and efficient. Throughout the sprint, the team collaborates daily during the Daily Scrum to discuss progress, impediments, and adjust the plan as necessary to meet the sprint goal. At the end of the sprint, the team reviews the work during the Sprint Review and reflects on their process during the Sprint Retrospective, which then feeds back into the next Sprint Planning session.

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Daily Scrum:

Every day, the team meets for a short meeting (Daily Stand-up) to share what has been accomplished since the last meeting, what will be done before the next meeting, and identify possible obstacles.

The Daily Scrum, also known as the daily standup, is a key event in the Scrum framework used in Agile software development. It's a short, time-boxed meeting typically held at the same time and place every day. The primary purpose of the Daily Scrum is for the Development Team to synchronize activities and plan for the next 24 hours.

Here's how it generally works:

Time and Place: The Daily Scrum should be held at the same time and place every day to establish a routine. It's often held in the team workspace, and it should be brief, ideally lasting no more than 15 minutes.

Participants: The meeting involves the entire Development Team, including the Scrum Master and the Product Owner. However, only the Development Team members are required to actively participate and provide updates.

Format: Each team member answers three questions:

What did I accomplish yesterday?

What will I do today?

Are there any impediments blocking my progress?

Focus: The focus of the Daily Scrum is on planning the work for the next 24 hours and identifying any obstacles or issues that may impede progress. It's not a problem-solving meeting; rather, it's an opportunity to raise awareness of challenges that need to be addressed outside of the Daily Scrum.

Stand-up: The term "stand-up" emphasizes that participants should remain standing during the meeting to keep it short and focused. This helps to avoid long-winded discussions and encourages everyone to stay engaged and concise.

Adaptation: Based on the information shared during the Daily Scrum, the Development Team may adjust their plan for the next 24 hours, update the Sprint Backlog, or collaborate to resolve any impediments.

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The Daily Scrum is a crucial practice in Agile development because it fosters transparency, communication, and collaboration within the Development Team. By holding this brief meeting every day, teams can stay aligned, identify issues early, and adapt their plans to deliver value incrementally throughout the Sprint.

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Sprint Review:

At the end of each sprint, the team presents the features achieved during the sprint to stakeholders for feedback.

A sprint review is a regular meeting that takes place at the end of each sprint as part of the Scrum methodology. It allows the Scrum team to present the work accomplished during the sprint to relevant stakeholders, such as the customer, product owner, or other members of the organization.

Here is an overview of the key elements of a sprint review:

Presentation of completed features: The Scrum team presents the features developed and completed during the sprint. This may include software demos, mockups, reports, or other relevant deliverables.

Feedback and discussion: Stakeholders give feedback on the work accomplished. This may relate to functionality, ergonomics, performance, or other aspects of the product.

Discussion of delays or obstacles: If any problems were encountered during the sprint, they are discussed openly. The team can identify obstacles that have hindered their progress and propose solutions to resolve them.

Product Roadmap Update: Based on the discussions and feedback received, the product owner can update the product roadmap or product backlog. This may involve prioritizing product backlog items differently or adding new items based on identified needs.

Planning for the next sprint: After the sprint review, the Scrum team usually holds a sprint planning meeting to define the goals for the next sprint and select the product backlog items to include in it.

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The sprint review is an important opportunity for the Scrum team to show its progress, gather valuable feedback, and ensure that the product is moving in the right direction based on the needs of the stakeholders. It also promotes transparency and collaboration within the team and with external stakeholders.

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Sprint Retrospective:

After the sprint review, the team meets to discuss what went well, what could be improved, and implement actions to improve.

A sprint retrospective is a regular meeting in the Scrum methodology where the Scrum team reviews the past sprint to identify what worked well, what didn't, and how they can improve for the next sprint.

Here is an example structure for a sprint retrospective:

Preparation : Plan the meeting in advance and make sure everyone is available. Prepare a comfortable, interruption-free workspace. Gather relevant data, such as burndown charts, user feedback, etc.

Introduction : The Scrum Master recalls the objective of the retrospective: to identify what worked well, what did not work and what can be improved. Everyone introduces themselves to establish an open and trusting atmosphere.

Collection of data : Each team member shares their observations about the past sprint. Use techniques like whiteboarding, post-it notes, or online tools to note positives, negatives, and areas for improvement.

Identification of strengths: The team reviews which aspects of the sprint worked well and why they were successful. This can include achievements, effective collaborations, quality deliverables, etc.

Identification of weak points: The team discusses the issues encountered during the sprint. Encourage openness and transparency to identify areas needing improvement.

Root cause analysis: For each weak point identified, dig deeper to understand the underlying causes. Ask open-ended questions to encourage in-depth analysis.

Suggestions for improvement: The team generates ideas to resolve identified issues and improve the process. Encourage creativity and innovation.

Action plan : The team selects the actions to take for the next sprint. Each action must be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-defined (SMART). Assign responsibilities for each action and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Fence : The Scrum Master summarizes the key points and the action plan. Thank the team for their participation and commitment. End the retrospective on a positive note, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning.

Follow up : Make sure to follow the actions agreed upon during the retrospective in the next sprint. Repeat the process at the end of each sprint for continuous learning and continuous improvement.

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Transparency and adaptation:

The principles of transparency and adaptation are fundamental. Progress, obstacles and changes are visible to everyone, allowing for quick adjustments.

In the context of Scrum, transparency and adaptation are two fundamental concepts that contribute to the success of the Agile project management framework.

Here's what they involve:

Transparency: Scrum encourages transparency at all levels. This means that all relevant information regarding the project, including challenges, progress and risks, must be accessible to all stakeholders.

Scrum artifacts such as the Scrum Dashboard, Product Backlog, and Sprint Backlog are ways to make information transparent and accessible to all team members.

Transparency promotes trust and collaboration within the team and with external stakeholders.

Adaptation: Scrum recognizes that projects are subject to change and uncertainty. Therefore, adaptation is essential to respond to these changes effectively.

Regular inspection of results, processes and work practices is built into Scrum. This allows the team to spot issues and opportunities for improvement quickly.

Scrum offers events such as the Sprint Review and Sprint Retrospective, where the team reflects on what worked well, what didn't work, and what can be improved, and commits to making adjustments .

Continuous adaptation is encouraged throughout the project to respond to changes in customer needs, priorities and market conditions.

In summary, transparency allows all stakeholders to have a common understanding of the status of the project, while adaptation allows the team to respond in an agile manner to changes and challenges that arise throughout the project. development process.

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Scrum Master:

The Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the Scrum process by removing obstacles and ensuring that the team follows the principles and rules of Scrum.

A Scrum Master is a key role in the Scrum framework, which is a popular agile methodology for managing software development projects and other complex endeavors. The Scrum Master serves as a facilitator and coach for the Scrum Team, which typically includes a Product Owner, Development Team, and occasionally other stakeholders.

Here are some key responsibilities of a Scrum Master:

Facilitation: The Scrum Master facilitates all Scrum events, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospectives. They ensure these meetings are effective and that everyone understands their purpose and outcomes.

Servant Leadership: The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team by removing impediments, facilitating discussions, and protecting the team from external distractions. They foster a collaborative and empowering environment.

Coaching and Mentoring: The Scrum Master coaches the team on agile principles, practices, and the Scrum framework itself. They help team members understand and implement agile values and principles in their work.

Process Improvement: The Scrum Master is responsible for continuous improvement within the team. They facilitate retrospectives to identify areas for improvement and work with the team to implement changes that increase productivity and effectiveness.

Conflict Resolution: The Scrum Master helps to resolve conflicts within the team and fosters a culture of open communication and collaboration.

Removing Impediments: The Scrum Master identifies and removes any obstacles or impediments that are preventing the team from achieving their goals. This may involve working with other teams or stakeholders to resolve issues.

Shielding the Team: The Scrum Master protects the team from external interruptions and distractions, allowing them to focus on their work during the Sprint.

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Overall, the Scrum Master plays a crucial role in helping the Scrum Team work together effectively and efficiently to deliver high-quality products or services. They act as a guide, mentor, and facilitator, ensuring that the Scrum process is followed and that the team is continuously improving.

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Product Owner:

The Product Owner is responsible for representing the interests of stakeholders and ensuring that the team is working on the most important Product Backlog items.

A Product Owner in the context of Scrum is a critical role responsible for representing the interests of the stakeholders and ensuring that the Scrum team delivers maximum business value.

Here's a breakdown of their responsibilities and role within the Scrum framework:

Product Vision: The Product Owner is responsible for creating and communicating the product vision to the development team and stakeholders. This vision serves as a guiding light for the team throughout the development process.

Product Backlog Management: The Product Owner maintains and prioritizes the product backlog, which is a prioritized list of user stories, features, bug fixes, and other tasks that need to be completed. They continuously groom and refine the backlog to ensure it reflects the current priorities and goals of the product.

Requirements Elicitation and Definition: The Product Owner works closely with stakeholders to gather requirements, understand user needs, and define the features and functionalities of the product. They translate these requirements into user stories or other appropriate backlog items that can be understood by the development team.

Prioritization: One of the key responsibilities of the Product Owner is to prioritize items in the product backlog based on their importance and value to the business. They make decisions about what features should be developed next and ensure that the team is working on the most valuable tasks at any given time.

Acceptance Criteria: The Product Owner defines the acceptance criteria for each user story or backlog item, which outlines the conditions that must be met for the work to be considered complete. This helps ensure a shared understanding between the development team and stakeholders about what constitutes a successful outcome.

Sprint Planning: During sprint planning meetings, the Product Owner works with the development team to select and commit to a set of backlog items to be completed during the upcoming sprint. They provide clarification and guidance on the items selected and answer any questions the team may have.

Review and Feedback: The Product Owner participates in sprint reviews to inspect the increment of work completed during the sprint and gather feedback from stakeholders. Based on this feedback, they may adjust priorities or refine the product backlog as needed.

Decision Making: The Product Owner is empowered to make decisions on behalf of the stakeholders regarding the direction and priorities of the product. They collaborate with stakeholders to ensure their needs are met while also balancing competing priorities and constraints.

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Overall, the Product Owner plays a crucial role in ensuring that the development team delivers a product that meets the needs of the stakeholders and provides maximum value to the business. They act as the voice of the customer and are responsible for guiding the product development process from conception to delivery.

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In summary, Scrum encourages collaboration, flexibility, and responsiveness to change while providing rapid iterations of high-quality product delivery.