Understanding the Scrum Methodology

Scrum is an agile way to manage a project, usually software development. Agile software development with Scrum is often perceived as a methodology. However, instead of viewing Scrum as a methodology, think of it as a framework for managing a process.

Defining Scrum Methodology

Scrum is a framework that helps teams work together. Much like a rugby team (where it gets its name) training for the big game, Scrum encourages teams to learn through experiences, self-organize while working on a problem, and reflect on their wins and losses to improve continuously.

Scrum relies on a self-organizing, cross-functional team. The scrum team is self-organizing in that there is no overall team leader who decides which person will do which task or how a problem will be solved. Two specific roles support Scrum teams. The first is a Scrum Master, who can be thought of as a coach for the team, helping team members use the Scrum process to perform at the highest level.
Those are issues that are determined by the team as a whole. And in Scrum, a team is cross-functional, meaning everyone is needed to take a feature from idea to implementation.

The Scrum Process

1. Scrum software development starts with a wish list of features. The team meets to discuss the backlog. Likewise, what still needs to be completed. At the same time, how long it will take.
2. Scrum relies on an Agile software development concept called Sprints. Sprints are periods when software development is done. A Sprint usually lasts from one week to one month to complete an item from the backlog. The goal of each Sprint is to create a product that is easy to sell. Each Sprint ends with a Sprint review. Then the team chooses another piece of delay to develop, which starts a new Sprint. Sprints continue until the project deadline, or the project budget is spent.
3. In daily Scrums, teams meet to discuss their progress since the previous meeting and make plans for that day. The sessions should be brief, no longer than 15 minutes. Each team member needs to be present and prepared. The Scrum Master keeps the team focused on the goal.

Advantages of Scrum

1. In Scrum, time-boxed iterations are prescribed.
2. Scrum team commits to a specific amount of work in an iteration.
3. Scrum uses Velocity as a default metric for the planning and process improvement.
4. The scrum team is Cross-functional.
5. In Scrum, items are broken down so that they can be completed within one sprint.
6. Burn down chart prescribed Scrum.
7. WIP limited Scrum indirectly (as per sprint).
8. Estimation is prescribed in the Scrum.
9. In Scrum you cannot add new items to ongoing iteration.
10. The sprint backlog is owned by a specific team only.
11. Scrum Prescribes 3 roles PO (Product owner), SM (Scrum master) and Scrum Team.
12. The Scrum board is reset after each sprint.
13. The Prioritized product backlog is prescribed in the Scrum.

Drawbacks of Scrum

1. Scrum needs to be experienced, and high-level persons, lack of experienced person scrum process has some risk of scope creep.
2. The scrum team requires an experienced and committed team.
3. The less experienced scrum master can ruin the whole process of development.
4. If the task is defined poorly, then the project can be lead to inaccuracies.

To Wrap Up

Scrum is a well-defined process framework to structure your work. Hence, if your company is not using Agile software development methodology, the scrum is a good improvement for your team. Scrum is appropriate if your organization is stuck, and it needs a fundamental shift toward the more efficient process.