Introduction to Agility
The agile methodology was originally developed for the software industry to enable developers to thrive in an environment of constant change. It refers to a set of methods and practices based on the values enshrined in the Agile Manifesto. It advocates the use of incremental, iterative work cycles called sprints.
What is Scrum?
Scrum is a process framework that reduces complexity and focuses on developing products that meet specific business needs . Most of the time, the words scrum and scrum Training agile are used interchangeably, but there is a difference. While agile denotes the set of methods, Scrum refers to the framework used to implement the agile methodology. Scrum is a subset of Agile.
This article is intended to serve as an easy introduction to implementing agile project management using the Scrum framework.
Where is the Agile Scrum Framework used?
Agile methods are not only limited to the software industry , but have recently found applicability in many industries and organizations. Agile methods can be applied wherever a product is involved. Both large and small organizations can benefit enormously from Scrum when implemented properly. Management also began to embrace agility. This was confirmed by on-site research conducted by the Learning Consortium in 2015. There is plenty of literature available on topics such as tools. processes and methods. However, the Learning Consortium found that mindsets and people are more important than processes.
Key Characteristics of Agile
- Satisfy the customer and continuously develop the software. Changed requirements are adopted in order to give the customer a competitive advantage.
- Constant communication with the user’s representative to determine the functions to be integrated.
- Focused and self-organized teams are best suited to Agile. Cross-functional teams work as a cohesive entity.
- Project teams must consist of motivated people. Autonomy should be granted to get the job done. A decent work environment and support system must be established.
- Focus on delivering a working product often. Delivery is preferred in the shortest time possible.
- The primary measure of success is a working product.
- Resource availability and team skills are considered before committing to a project.
- Agile processes promote sustainable development. Developer. Sponsors and users keep a constant pace.
- Technical excellence and good design must be continuously developed and improved.
- The team regularly reflects on how to improve and become more effective. After reflection, their work processes are adjusted accordingly.
Benefits of Agile
Throughout the duration of the project, there is constant communication between the project team and the customer. There is a higher level of collaboration, therefore the team has a deeper understanding of the customer’s requirements. The agile framework allows customers to participate in prioritizing the planning and review of new features. This promotes transparency and honest communication. In addition, the team works to develop features that deliver the greatest business value to customers. All work processes are time-limited, this ensures on-time delivery. Costs become predictable and proportionate to the work that can be done in each time box. The use of agile methods results in high-quality development and testing, as the project is broken down into small, manageable units. Testing and verification follow each build iteration , so problems can be identified and fixed early. Any discrepancies in expectations can also be dealt with effectively.
Building blocks of an agile Scrum
There are several people and processes that make up Scrum. Here is a quick overview of everything that is required to implement the agile methodology.
scrum team
Scrum teams consist of developers, testers, database experts, support staff, the Scrum Master and the Product Owner. They work closely together for a defined period scrum Training of time to deliver the promised features. A Scrum team usually consists of 7-9 people.
product owner
The product owner represents the interests of the user. He is given the authority to determine which features are integrated into the end product.
Scrum Master
The Scrum Master oversees the Scrum Team. He is responsible for the team’s productivity and for resolving any issues or concerns that arise.
sprint
A sprint is a predetermined time interval in which a specific amount of work is completed. The period can be anywhere from two weeks to a month depending on the project and the needs of the team. During the sprint, the team works on tasks to make them available for review, deployment, or production, depending on the situation.
user history
Scrum does not require extensive documentation for product requirements , they are defined by user stories in the following format.
*As a <user/user type>, I want to achieve <an achievable goal/target> *
User stories should be short, realistic, realizable and testable and measurable. Acceptance criteria must always accompany the user story. These criteria serve as supporting documents and further refine the user story. These must be carefully written as the test cases and scenarios are designed based on these acceptance criteria.
