Sprint 1 - Purpose & Definition

If you haven't read the overview of this series yet, you may find it here.

Purpose of Scrum

Starting in early 1990s Scrum was already used worldwide for many purposes. It is often misunderstood that the framework only applies to IT projects. The truth is, it can be used in anything from developing an algo trade platform to complex-daily-life issues.

Definition of Scrum

You must have heard dozens of people saying that Scrum is a methodology. In fact, it is not true (if you try out some of the available PSM I mock exams on the market or the Scrum Open Assessments, the word "methodology" is often used in trick answers). As stated in The Scrum Guide, Scrum is a framework.

A methodology is a set of principles, tools and practices which can be used to guide processes to achieve a particular goal. A framework is a loose but incomplete structure which leaves room for other practices and tools to be included but provides much of the process required.

Scrum is lightweight, simple to understand, but difficult to master. After all, The Scrum Guide is only a 19-page PDF and it's available in different languages, written in a straight-forward fashion. However, the difficult part is to apply it in different scenarios correctly and effectively. It takes much practice to truly understand the essence of Scrum, that's why an experienced Scrum Master is an invaluable asset to your team.

Extended Reading

This part is not included in The Scrum Guide, but the question came across my mind when I first read the definition - is Scrum same as Agile?

Not really.

Scrum is one of the many available approaches to implement Agile. The principles of Agile is a whole different topic and should be discussed separately. There are other ways such as Kanban, Lean, XP, DSDM... that you can use to enforce Agile in your projects.

End note of this article

A few common misconceptions were mentioned above. Of course, we can all say that these are just "terms used" so no need to be so picky, right?

If a PSM holder becomes the Scrum Master, he/she is supposed to ensure correct understanding of Scrum among team members. These definitions are the nitty-gritty and shall be respected all the time.

Hope you benefit from this "Sprint" with me. Leave a like or share the article if you found it useful. Next, we will discuss Uses & Theory of Scrum. See you in the next one.