Scrum Framework
for Agile Methodology
as described by the "Scrum Guide" from www.scrum.org
(Free Web Tutorials)

by Michael Thomas

In this tutorial you will learn about the Scrum Framework as described by www.Scrum.org and other Scrum information.

Note: On the Agile Methodology Home page, you can download the whole Agile Methodology site (all content, tutorials & examples) !!!

This tutorial covers: Scrum Framework as described by www.Scrum.org

Prerequisites

Read the Agile Methodology tutorial home page.

Objectives

Learn the definition of Scrum
Learn the history of Scrum
Be exposed to Scrum as described by the "Scrum Guide" created by www.scrum.org
- The Scrum Concepts
- Scrum Team
- Scrum Events
- Scrum Artifacts

Scrum Tutorial

Definition of Scrum

Definition - www.scrum.org
- Scrum (n): A framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. (Source: from PDF titled "The Scrum Guide")
- Scrum is a management and control process that cuts through complexity to focus on building software that meets business needs. Management and teams are able to get their hands around the requirements and technologies, never let go, and deliver working software, incrementally and empirically.
- Scrum itself is a simple framework for effective team collaboration on complex software projects.
Definition - Wikipedia.org
Scrum is an iterative and incremental agile software development methodology for managing product development. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Definition - in 1986 by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka
Scrum was first defined as "a flexible, holistic product development strategy where a development team works as a unit to reach a common goal" as opposed to a "traditional, sequential approach" in 1986 by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Where did the word "Scrum" come from?
In rugby football, a scrum refers to a tight-packed formation of players with their heads down who attempt to gain possession of the ball. (Source: Wikipedia.org) The scrum (or scrummage) formation in rugby is used to restart the game after an event that causes play to stop, such as an infringement.

History of Scrum

In 1986 Scrum was first defined by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka (see above definition).
In 1995, first publication of the scrum methodology by Sutherland and Schwaber at the OOPSLA '95 in Austin, Texas. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Scrum was first tried and refined at Individual, Inc., Fidelity Investments, and IDX (now GE Medical).
In 2001, Jeff and Ken were amongst the 17 software development leaders creating the Manifesto for Agile Software Development.
In 2001, the book "Agile Software Development with Scrum" by Ken Schwaber & Mike Beedle was published.
In 2002, the Scrum Alliance was created. (Certified Scrum Master programs, etc...)
In 2006, Jeff Sutherland created his own company, Scrum.inc
In 2009, Ken Schwaber founded Scrum.org
In 2010, Scrum.org publishes the first version of the "Scrum Guide".

The "Scrum Guide" by www.Scrum.org

www.scrumguides.org - you will want to download (or view online) the official "Scrum Guide" by Jeff Sutherland & Meet Ken Schwaber. As of 2015 the "Scrum Guide" has been translated in over 30 different languages.

NOTE: The rest of the Scrum topics below comes primarily from the "Scrum Guide".

Scrum Concepts (source: Scrum Guide)

Scrum Process Framework (not a process or technique)
- Scrum is a process framework that has been used to manage complex product development since the early 1990s.
- Scrum is not a process or a technique for building products.
- Scrum is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques.
Empirical knowledge
- Knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on what is known (aka empirical process).
- Empirical evidence (also empirical data, sense experience, empirical knowledge, or the a posteriori) - is a source of knowledge acquired by means of observation or experimentation. (Source: Wikipedia.org)
Transparency and Common Language (understanding)
- Stake holders (those responsible for the outcome) need transparent access to parts of the process key to them.
- A common language must be used among team members.
- The definition of "Done" needs to be understood between the developers and those accepting the deliverables.
Inspection & Adaptation
- Inspect the progress towards a sprint goal to identify deviations that are not acceptable.
- The frequency of inspection should not hinder progress.
- Unacceptable deviations are adjusted.
- Inspection may find improved processes that create new levels of acceptable deviations.

Scrum Team (source: Scrum Guide)

Scrum Team
- Scrum Teams are self-organizing and cross-functional.
- Self-organizing teams choose how best to accomplish their work.
- Cross-functional teams have all competencies needed to accomplish the work.
- Scrum Teams deliver working products iteratively and incrementally, maximizing opportunities for feedback.

Scrum Team Members (source: Scrum Guide)

Product Owner
- Is one person (not a committee) who is responsible for the final product.
- Is accountable for the product backlog. They may perform the tasks or delegate the tasks.
  - Clearly expressing Product Backlog items;
  - Ordering the items in the Product Backlog to best achieve goals and missions;
  - Optimizing the value of the work the Development Team performs;
  - Ensuring that the Product Backlog is visible, transparent, and clear to all, and shows what the Scrum Team will work on next; and,
  - Ensuring the Development Team understands items in the Product Backlog to the level needed.
- Decides what the Development Team works on.

Scrum Master
- Is a servant-leader for the Scrum Team.
- Service to the Organization
  - Leading and coaching the organization in Scrum adoption
  - Working with other Scrum Masters to increase Scrum adoption
Development Team
- Consists of all the cross-functional professionals needed to delivering a working product (functionality) at the end of each Sprint.
- Is empowered by the organization to manage their own work resulting in efficiency and effectiveness.
- The team knows how to turn Product Backlog into Increments of potentially releasable functionality (Sprints). No other person including the Scrum Master is needed.
- Every member of the team has the title developer. No other titles are used regardless of the specialized skill or work being performed. There are no sub-teams. Everyone is called "developer" and is a member of the team.
- The team size is 3 - 9 members. (Note: Less than 3 may not have the skills needed. Greater than 9 is hard to coordinate.)

Scrum Events (source: Scrum Guide)

The Sprint
- A time-box of one month or less during which a "Done", useable, and potentially releasable product Increment is created.
  A Sprint can be equated to a project.
- Each Sprint has a goal of what is to be built, a design and flexible plan that will guide building it, the work, and the resultant product Increment.
- Only the Product Owner can cancel a before a Sprint. Because of the short duration of a Sprint this may rarely happen.
- Sprints contain and consist of:
  - Sprint Planning
  - Daily Scrums meetings
  - Development Work
  - Sprint Review
  - Sprint Retrospective
- During a Sprint
  - No changes are made that would endanger the Sprint Goal
  - Maintain quality goals
  - In an empirical environment, scope may change as more is learned. Those changes are then re-negotiated between the Product Owner and Development Team.
Sprint Planning
- This is a collaborative work of the entire Scrum Team.
- For a one-month Sprint the time-box is a maximum of eight hours.
- The Scrum master makes sure the event takes place, time-box is honored and the purpose is understood.
- Topic One: What can be done this Sprint? (What product increment can be delivered.)
- Topic Two: How will the chosen work get done? (What work is needed to deliver the product increment.)
- Sprint Goal
  - Is an objective set for the Sprint that implements a functionality within the product backlog.
  - What functionality is implemented within the Sprint.
Daily Scrum Meeting
- The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute time-boxed event for the Development Team to synchronize activities and create a plan for the next 24 hours.
- You inspecting the work since the last Daily Scrum and forecasting the work that could be done before the next Daily Scrum.
- What is covered in the meeting?
  To meet the sprint goal....
  - What did I do yesterday?
  - What will I do today?
  - Are there any obstacles or risks?
- This is a key inspect and adapt meeting
Sprint Review
- A Sprint Review is held at the end of the Sprint to inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog if needed.
- Attendees include the Scrum Team and key stakeholders invited by the Product Owner
- Time-box for 1 month Sprint is four hours.
- The Scrum Team and stakeholders collaborate about what was done in the Sprint.
- Based on that and any changes to the Product Backlog during the Sprint, attendees collaborate on the next things that could be done to optimize value.
- This is an informal meeting, not a status meeting, and the presentation of the Increment is intended to elicit feedback and foster collaboration.
Sprint Retrospective
- The Sprint Retrospective is an opportunity for the Scrum Team to inspect itself and create a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint.
- The Sprint Retrospective occurs after the Sprint Review and prior to the next Sprint Planning.
- Time-box for a one-month Sprint is three hours.

Scrum Artifacts (source: Scrum Guide)

Product Backlog - The Product Backlog is an ordered list of everything that might be needed in the product and is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product.
Sprint Backlog - The Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and realizing the Sprint Goal.
Increment - The Increment is the sum of all the Product Backlog items completed during a Sprint and the value of the increments of all previous Sprints.

Resources

www.scrum.org - Scrum.org was created in 2009 by Ken Schwaber, one of the founders of Scrum.
- www.scrumguides.org - download/read the official "Scrum Guide" written by Jeff Sutherland & Ken Schwaber.

Books