Project Management Scrum: the Versatile Framework Method

The project management scrum method is not so much a process, technique, or definitive method. It is, instead, a framework in which you can use different processes and techniques, such as the scrum-Kanban hybrid, scrumban. Scrum, which works well with Agile project management, promotes transparency, inspection, and adaptation.

One of the key components of the project management scrum method is the scrum team. The team, which is self-organizing and cross-functional, consists of a product owner, the development team, and a scrum master. Having the team be self-organized and cross-functional allows for the team to best organize themselves and their time and not rely on others outside of the team.

The product owner is responsible for the product backlog, which expresses the backlog items and organizes these items to best achieve goals and missions. The product owner makes sure that the product backlog is visible and transparent while showing the scrum team what to work on next.

A product backlog is an ordered list that outlines what is known to be needed in a product. It includes all features, enhancements, functions, requirements, and fixes that are changes that may be made to the product in the future. These items contain a description, order, estimate, and value.

The development team does the actual work in producing the product in question. As a self-organizing entity, no one tells the development team how to turn the product backlog into increments of potentially releasable functionality. There are no titles and no sub-teams within the development team. The members of this team are responsible for creating the increments. The best size for the team is between three and nine members to maximize productivity and reduce the need for complex coordination.

The last member of the scrum team is the scrum master. The scrum master is responsible for supporting the scrum as outlined in the scrum guideline. They ensure that everyone understands scrum theory, rules, values, and practices. The scrum master helps the development team understand the product backlog and the goals, scope, and product domain outlined by the product owner.

The scrum master also helps facilitate scrum events, coaches the development team in self-organization and cross-functionality, and removes impediments to the team’s progress. They also help the development team create high-value products. Outside of the development team, the scrum master helps the organization implement and learn about scrum.

In the project management scrum method, a scrum event consists of “the sprint” and every event within a sprint. A sprint is a set time-period that is less than a month. During the sprint, the development team produces or improves upon specific work that is set to be completed and made ready for review by the end of the time-period.

How to Implement:

• Designate the product owner, scrum master, and members of the development team
• Have the product owner develop the product backlog
• Plan out the sprint by answering these two questions:
  • What can be done in this sprint?
  • How will the chosen work get done?
• Set a sprint goal and sprint timeline that is less than a month
  • A sprint goal is met through implementing the product backlog and provides guidance to the development tea
• Host daily scrums, which are daily 15-minute events for the development team held every day of the sprint
  • Host the daily scrum at the same time and place every day to reduce complexity
• During the daily scrum, discuss how the development team will work together to accomplish the sprint goal
• Conduct a sprint review at the end of the sprint where the scrum team and stakeholders collaborate about what was done during the sprint
• Use a sprint retrospective, which is a meeting lasting no longer than three hours, after the sprint review to inspect how the sprint went, identify the major items that went well, and create a plan for implementing improvements

When to use it: The project management scrum method is a versatile framework that can be used in a variety of industries from software to hardware and any type of product industry. Scrum is also helpful for managing and service operations, such as governments and marketing firms.

References
Scrum Guides. The Scrum Guide.
Project Management Institute. Agile project management with scrum.