Tips To Get Better At Scrum

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Scrum has become something of a buzzword in commerce of late, but what is it, and why all the fuss? That’s what we’re going to talk about in the brief article that follows, so let’s great to and explain what Scrum is.

What Is Scrum?

The best description of Scrum could be a framework involving a set of meetings, tools, and roles within a team that is used to bring together different teams working on different areas of the same project. It is part of the family of Agile frameworks.

Agile came to be a couple of decades ago when some innovative players in the software development world began to look at how they could get more out of the individuals employed in various roles. Put simply; they saw that there was no reason why Dave in Customer Service could not add to the development of a product by way of ideas and brainstorming.

The basis of Scrum is that developments are made in short sessions, which enables problems to be dealt with quickly, so there is no impact on delivery. It also empowers the individuals involved to bring hidden talents to the fore, rather than being restricted to a limited role. One important aspect of Agile and Scrum is that the old and traditional management hierarchy no longer applies. There will be management roles, but they may change per project. So, what are the benefits of using Scrum?

Why Use Scrum?

First, we should say that although developed for the software world, Agile has not remained there. This type of operating framework lends itself equally to marketing, sales, research, and technology and has its place in industrials settings in some cases. Some of the benefits of Scrum are:

Greater productivity
Easier dealing with problems as they occur
Better staff morale
Quicker delivery to more satisfied clients
Better quality product
Lower costs
More complex tasks can be achieved.

Put simply; Scrum is the way to go if you have product development programs that frequently need changes applied. Now let’s talk about how you and your team can get proficient in Scrum and some additional tips.

Some Important Tips

If you are looking at switching to Scrum, the following tips will certainly help:

1. Arrange Training

You are asking your team – from upper management down – to embrace an entirely new method of working. Agile differs greatly from the traditional ‘waterfall’ method of working and maybe confusing to your staff at first. This is why a proper training program with a professional and accredited Scrum training company is vital. They will come to you, or you can arrange your sessions at a conference center or other facility, but you must ensure everyone undergoes the Training and completes any tasks. In general, people are averse to change in the workplace, which brings us neatly to our next point.

2. Be Prepared for Opposition

You are expecting everyone to make a massive change in the way they work, and the training sessions will help them understand that it is actually beneficial to all. However, those who currently enjoy a management position and a title may feel they are being undermined by the restructuring of the team and the apparent demotion to simply being a Scrum leader.

It is essential that they understand there is no loss of status at all; it is simply that they will be putting their ideas to the fore alongside everyone else. You will endure the ‘we’ve always done it like this’ stance, but it will be overcome when the benefits are described and demonstrated.

3. Choose Your Teams

You will know your staff and who is capable of more than they are currently able to give due to the restricted job role they are employed for. This does not exist in Scrum, so be careful to choose your teams by way of talent and potential rather than experience and standing. Often, the best solutions come from people you least expect them from.

Those are our three core tips with Training as the primary importance. We’ll finish with a short piece about Agile and Scrum and the future of business.

Is Agile The Future?

Above, we have mentioned a number of reasons why agile is the future and not just in software development. It allows you to develop your teams and individuals to become more adept and involved in projects they would normally have been left out of. The result is one that wins for the client and also for you, as your staff will be more satisfied in their job and feel that they are a valuable asset and appreciated.

Start by talking to the Scrum training companies now and see how you can get your business up and running with this Agile framework.