The Scrum framework
Contents |
Abstract
In the complex technology and business world we live in today, there is a need for project management practices that can be considered flexible. When looking at for example product development, timing plays a huge role. Companies face growing pressure in delivering their products quickly to the market. This pressure can result in many uncertainties and increases the rates of failures. These uncertainties can be linked to traditional project management methods being applied, where deterministic practices are being used. This can lead to companies not being able to evolve quickly or inexpensively enough when nearing the end of the development lifecycle. With the product development example in mind the ultimate goal is to deliver great customer value, Agile practices do that by constantly seeking involvement in the product development e.g. from the customer. Getting validation, and evaluating if what is being made is meeting the set business case [1]. This business case sets the objectives and success criteria for the project. In agile project management this validation is done more often. Even though in many cases the success of the project or the real benefits can‘t be seen until the project has been finalised, then it can be considered an advantage for project that are being manage with agile approaches that this constant validation, and close relationship with the stakeholder will result in target benefits being met [2].
Scrum is an Agile project Management framework, where projects are managed in short sprints or iterations. The control or project management is moved from the traditional central scheduling to the teams itself. Where individuals closer to the actual work take charge of the decision making. With this frameworks the feedback loop between customers and developers is much shorter, the progress is visible, inspections are done constantly and adaptations done when needed. [3]. This is especially important in complex projects where companies have to be able to adjust to changes in scope or specifications. From that perspective it can be said that the Scrum framework is the opposite to deterministic project management approaches where detailed plans are being done with, e.g. work schedules and Gantt charts. (reference 2)
Background
It was in 2001 that the Agile Manifesto where a group of 17 people which called themselves the The Agile Alliance met and from that meeting the Manifesto for Agile Software Development emerged "[4]. It can be said that these men started an Agile movement. When signing the Agile Manifesto you agree to follow a couple of principles as e.g. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer's competitive advantage. (Addresses how projects are manage all the way through the life cycle); Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project (Addresses how Stakeholder management/involvement is); Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done (Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
(reference https://www.pmi.org/learning/library/agile-project-management-scrum-6269)
Application
Sprint planning meeting
- Product owner: sets what has to be completed in that sprint
- Team: determines what actions are needed to get that done, the how
Daily scrum
- How the process is being tracked.
- Visual board is constantly being updated
- With columns like
- Bare minimum to do, doing, done. (Story, to do, In Progress, To verfiy, Done)
- In the daily scrum meeting the team meets together and moves tasks around the visual board.
- An explanation on how burndown charts give a good overview of the work done and how well the work is progressing. (Put in picture of burndown chart)
- Short description on agile project management tools existing to do so.
Sprint review
- Meeting that is after a sprint has been done
- There stakeholders are invited and provide feedback to the work done
Sprint retrospective meeting
- Is a meeting that the ScrumMaster leads and goes over what went well and what can be done better in the next sprint in respect to the Scrum process framework and practices, an action plan is made for the next sprint to ensure that the next sprint will be more effective and enjoyable than the previous one.
Release planning
- Short introduction on how that can be done for a quarter.
Benefits
- More transparency
- Ability to adapt to changes
- Better alignment
- Can resul in faster way to the market (references needed)
Limitation
- Some have concluded that agile methodology does not work at scale, Therefore argue that scaling Scrum is a possibility. Maybe introduce shortly the combination of agile and more traditional, in that case Safe can be mentioned (could link to an article here). Another point to consider is why the waterfall method shows a better overview for the customers to have a better picture of timing and how projects are being managed.
Conclusion
Annotated bibliography
References
- ↑ Highsmith, J. (2009). Agile Project Management: Creating Innovative Products (2nd ed.). Addison-Wesley Professional.
- ↑ Project Management Institute, Inc.. (2017). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)(6th ed.). Project Management Institute, Inc (PMI).
- ↑ Schwaber, K. (2004). Agile Project Management with Scrum (Developer Best Practices) (1st ed.). Microsoft Press.
- ↑ Manifesto, Agilemanifesto.org Highsmith, J. (2001) History: The Agile Manifesto, (Accessed on 12th of February),
