What happens in the Daily Scrum?
The more we keep focusing on the technique, we end up losing on the power and essence of simplicity.
Daily Scrum is no exception from this trap for every Scrum team overlooking as one very trivial event around techniques applied part of a framework.
The real power of Daily Scrum resides in collectively looking at the work done so far and replan accordingly for the next 24 hours to optimize achieving the Sprint Goal.
No doubt, the Impediments we identify in the Daily Scrum often force changes to the plan. Hence the team adjusts its plan for the day to get around the blockages. And it exactly this one most important thing, the Daily Scrum is all about.
“You aren’t going to fix problems in fifteen minutes — I don’t care how task-oriented you are.” “You’re right; that’s not what the Daily Scrum are for. They’re to point out problems — or what in Scrum we call ‘impediments’.” ― Jeff Sutherland, The Power of Scrum
It is because of its true nature of the Daily Scrum promoting transparency and self-organization, every other role apart from the Development Team members are pulled in only based on invitation . Even the Scrum Master beyond a point is moved to ‘Incognito’ mode.
What happens within the Daily Scrum?
- The Development Team take this time and appreciate reinforcing the Sprint Goal
- The Development Team quickly look out for knowledge gaps and challenges as a team to highlight solving after this event
- The Development Team create a sense of urgency given the length of the Sprints and co-ordinate for better team work by showing their commitment to each other
- The Development Team leverage this as a forum to promote transparency through quick sync up of each other on the progress made in reference to the Sprint Goal
- The Development Team promote a culture of trust and provide / seek honest feedback
I understand there are a few who expect a detailed agenda on how the Development Team drive this event might get articulated this blog post. Am not trying anywhere to come up with a blue print for this sensible event.
Remembering the most famous quote from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, “Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.”
Figure out how you are going to achieve all these and also quickly? Whether by going around in circles calling out individual ALM tool backlog item numbers or driving quick conversations around ‘Whats’ happening around the goal?’
Decide what works for you and continue getting better with it but never forget the essence behind the alignment every event is meant for.