Master the Scrum framework with our comprehensive guide covering roles, events, artifacts, values, scaling, and implementation. Learn from certified Scrum experts with practical examples and best practices.
Navigate through all essential Scrum concepts and practices
Understanding the complete Scrum process and foundational principles
Scrum is a lightweight framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products. It follows a cyclical process with four key steps:
Prioritization and management of work items based on value and business needs
Scrum team chooses Sprint Goal and tasks from Product Backlog for the upcoming Sprint
Scrum Team and stakeholders inspect increments and determine future adaptations
Team reviews effectiveness and quality, making adjustments for future Sprints
Founded on Lean principles focusing on value delivery and waste elimination
Knowledge comes from experience and making decisions based on observation
Continuous improvement through iterative and incremental development
Regular inspection and adaptation to respond to change effectively
The foundation of Scrum's empirical approach to complex product development
Making work and outputs clear and visible to all stakeholders
Frequent checks on progress towards goals to detect deviations
Adjusting the process as soon as possible to minimize further deviation
The five core values that guide Scrum team behavior and decision-making
Scrum Team members have courage to do the right thing and work on tough problems
Everyone focuses on the work of the Sprint and goals of the Scrum Team
People personally commit to achieving the goals of the Scrum Team
Scrum Team members respect each other as capable, independent people
Scrum Team and stakeholders agree to be open about work and challenges
Understanding the self-managed, cross-functional team structure that drives Scrum success
Internally decides who does what, when, and how to accomplish work
Members have all skills necessary to create value each Sprint
Professionals aligned to the same goals and objectives
Holding each other accountable as professionals
10 or fewer members to maintain effective communication and collaboration
Flat structure with no sub-teams or hierarchies within the Scrum Team
Collective responsibility for Sprint success and product quality
Understanding the distinct accountabilities and responsibilities of each Scrum role
Value Maximizer
Maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team
Coach & Facilitator
Coaches Scrum and causes removal of impediments to team progress
Increment Creators
Create any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint
The five time-boxed events that create regularity and minimize the need for meetings
Produce usable Increments at the end of each Sprint while maintaining consistent duration throughout the project
Agree upon Sprint Goal, select Product Backlog items for Sprint, create Sprint Backlog, and plan how work will be accomplished
Product Owner proposes how the product could increase its value and utility in the current Sprint
Developers select items from Product Backlog to include in current Sprint
Developers plan the work necessary to create an Increment that meets Definition of Done
Monitor progress towards Sprint Goal, synchronize team activities, identify impediments, and plan next 24 hours of work
Review increments created during Sprint, determine what to do next, gather feedback from stakeholders, and adapt Product Backlog based on learnings
Discuss improvements to effectiveness and quality, identify what went well and areas for improvement, create action items for next Sprint, and enable continuous team improvement
Identify successful practices and positive outcomes
Discuss challenges and areas for enhancement
Create specific action items for the next Sprint
The three artifacts that represent work or value and provide transparency and opportunities for inspection and adaptation
Single source of work undertaken by the Scrum Team
Order items by value, risk, and dependencies
Continuously add detail, estimates, and order
Make visible to all stakeholders
Align all items with Product Goal
Set of Product Backlog tasks chosen for development during the Sprint
Single objective for the Sprint
Product Backlog items chosen for Sprint
How to deliver the Increment
Concrete stepping stone toward Product Goal
Meets all quality criteria
Ready for production deployment
Builds upon previous Increments
The shared understanding of what it means for work to be complete
The Definition of Done is a list of conditions that must be true to consider Increments truly done. It ensures consistent quality standards and provides transparency about completion criteria.
Ensures consistent quality standards across all Increments
Provides clear understanding of completion criteria
Creates common definition across team and stakeholders
Can be improved and expanded over time
Defined by organization if available as a standard for all teams
Must be mutually defined by Scrum Teams if no organizational standard
Scaling Scrum for multiple teams working on a single product
One Product Owner, One Product Backlog, One Product Goal at all times
Multiple Scrum Teams working together on the same product
Teams create integrated increment together
Managing dependencies is key to success
Coordinate multiple Scrum Teams and ensure integration of work
Ensure work from multiple teams integrates properly
Identify and manage dependencies between teams
Facilitate coordination and communication
Resolve integration issues and impediments
Teams don't need to synchronize Sprints but should coordinate integration points
Emphasis on creating integrated increments rather than individual team outputs
Critical success factor requiring continuous attention and planning
Additional coordination mechanisms beyond standard Scrum events
Key metrics for measuring Scrum team performance and process health
Percentage of Sprint Goals successfully achieved
Story points or work items completed per Sprint over time
Team happiness and engagement levels
Defect rates, technical debt, and code quality
Quality and accuracy of Sprint planning sessions
Participation and value derived from Daily Scrums
Stakeholder participation and feedback quality
Completion rate of retrospective action items
Addressing typical obstacles in Scrum implementation and adoption
Team members have specialized skills, creating bottlenecks and dependencies
Team members struggle with self-organization and autonomous decision-making
Varying Sprint durations disrupt team rhythm and predictability
Additional work is added to Sprint after Sprint Planning, disrupting focus
Pressure to deliver features leads to shortcuts and technical debt
Unclear or inconsistent quality standards lead to varying increment quality
Step-by-step guide to successfully implementing Scrum in your organization
Strong commitment from organizational leadership
Comprehensive Scrum education for all team members
Access to experienced Scrum coaches and mentors
Allow time for team learning and process maturation
Take your Scrum knowledge to the next level with our comprehensive training programs