What is Scrum and how does it differ from a methodology?
Scrum is a framework, not a methodology, and this distinction is crucial for its correct implementation in teams. While a methodology is a detailed recipe that, when followed to the letter, always guarantees the same results, Scrum offers a set of flexible elements that must be implemented as a whole, allowing dynamic adaptation to the needs of the team and the project.
What are the main elements of Scrum?
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Events: The events in Scrum are sprints, sprint planning, daily Scrum, sprint review and sprint retrospective. Each of these events plays a vital role in the development cycle and has a specific purpose.
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Artifacts and their commitments: include the product backlog (along with its commitment, the product goal), the sprint backlog (its commitment is the sprint goal) and the Definition of Done (which commits the team to the product increment).
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Responsibilities: Responsibilities in Scrum are divided between the Scrum Master, the product owner and the developers.
Why are Scrum events necessary?
Events in Scrum are fundamental for work structuring and team synchronization. For example:
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Sprint Planning: defines what is to be achieved and how it will be done in the next sprint, resulting in the sprint backlog as a product of the planning.
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Daily Scrum: facilitates daily synchronization in a maximum of 15 minutes, addressing progress towards the sprint goal.
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Sprint Review: presents the product increment to stakeholders, gathering valuable feedback for continuous improvement.
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Sprint Retrospective: analyzes the team's ways of working, seeking to improve its efficiency for future sprints.
What role do artifacts play in Scrum?
Artifacts in Scrum are key tools that help direct the team's work and manage project priorities:
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Product Backlog: living list of items that must evolve based on feedback and changing priorities.
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Sprint Backlog: team strategy for meeting sprint commitments, adjusted as circumstances arise.
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Product Increment and Definition of Done: Ensures that deliverables meet the quality standards defined by the team.
What are adaptive control models and why are they relevant in Scrum?
Scrum employs adaptive control models, similar to a GPS, which are essential for navigating in highly uncertain environments:
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Transparency: making relevant information visible, just as a GPS updates traffic and displays the map.
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Inspection: assessing information and progress, ensuring that the path travelled is the right one.
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Adaptation: make decisions based on the information obtained, redirecting the path when necessary.
How do predictive and adaptive control models compare in Scrum?
Predictive control models are applied in linear and low-uncertainty contexts, where project managers play a crucial role in ensuring that the objective is achieved as efficiently as possible. In contrast, adaptive models, such as Scrum, focus on exploring and discovering often unknown solutions, constantly adapting as the project landscape changes.
Adopting Scrum as an approach within a team allows for dealing with complexity and managing uncertainty more effectively, using principles and practices that foster collaboration, adaptability, and continuous performance. Once teams understand these concepts and principles, they can be more efficient and respond with agility to product development challenges.
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