Scrum
has become one of the most popular Agile methodologies used for
software and product development. Various factors have contributed to
this popularity. The methodology works very well with complex projects
where requirements change often and/or the technology is new and not
used before. How does Scrum do this? What supports this framework?
Scrum is rooted in values through its various principles. One of the
most important principles of this Agile framework is Empirical Process
Control which is based on the ideas of transparency, inspection, and
adaptation. Detailed upfront planning takes a backseat as decisions made
are based on observation and experimentation. Let’s examine the ideas
behind Empirical Process Control.
All aspects of every Scrum process are observable by all stakeholders
contributing to an open work culture. Scrum Artifacts like Project
Vision Statement, Prioritized Product Backlog, and Release Planning
Schedule are visible to all. Scrumboards and Burndown Charts are
accessible easily to gauge the progress of the Development team. Tools
like the Daily Standup Meetings make the progress and problems in the
project transparent. At the end of every Sprint, the
Product Owner
and Stakeholders view the Sprint deliverables developed by the
Development team. All of these tools and mechanisms support Empirical
Process Control through a great deal of transparency.
Inspection and adaptation occurs throughout the Development process
using Scrum. Elements are inspected during the Sprints through meetings
and artifacts. Feedback is collected from end users and affected parties
for the improvement of the product. The deliverables are inspected at
the end by the Product Owner/Stakeholders through the demonstration by
the Development team. All elements inspected, made possible through a
transparent mechanism, are then improved through effective adaptation.
Impediments are removed on a daily basis, risks are identified as the
project moves along, change requests are incorporated as deemed fit. All
of these ideas come together to make Empirical Process Control a highly
effective way of software/product development.
The other five principles of Scrum are Self-organization,
Collaboration, Value-based Prioritization, Time-boxing, and Iterative
Development. All of these principles work cohesively to bring out major
benefits from Scrum. As mentioned earlier, there is a continuous stream
of feedback leading to improvements. Thus, value is delivered
continuously through iterative processes which are designed for people
to maintain a sustainable pace. There is also early delivery of high
value. This is carried out through the “Create Prioritized Product
Backlog” process which makes sure that the items which possess the
highest value for the customer are developed and delivered first.
Time-boxing in Scrum leads to greater levels of efficiency. Most
elements which are not required are eliminated or minimized which adds
to the effective functioning of the team. Members of the Development
team are highly motivated through processes like Conduct Daily Standup
and Retrospect Sprint. Needless to say when teams are highly motivated
they perform very well. There is a lot of collaboration among the
cross-functional self-organized team members which results in faster
problem resolution which is ideal for complex projects.
Further, a customer-centric framework is built by the special stress
laid on business value and a collaborative approach towards
stakeholders. Owing to better transparency and collaboration, employees
experience and enjoy elevated levels of trust in the work environment,
which contributes to their productivity. A collective ownership of a
project by a self-organizing Scrum team allows for improved quality
results. The collaboration is conducive to the achievement of near full
potential of the cross-functional team and increased velocity.
All these value-based principles of Scrum generate factors that
create an innovative environment of continuous learning. With all these
benefits of Scrum it becomes evident why the framework is popular in
software/ product development.
To
know more details about it kindly visit:http://www.scrumstudy.com/blog/why-go-for-scrum/
