| teamwork (n.) - work done by several associates | | | | meetings to ensure the best quality work in the |
| with each doing a part but all subordinating | | | | most efficient time bracket. |
| personal prominence to the efficiency of the | | | | Why Scrum? |
| whole. | | | | The Scrum methodology is used for many |
| Merriam-Webster's got it right for the most part, | | | | reasons. As mentioned previously, Scrum is |
| but sometimes a generic definition just won't cut | | | | flexible enough to be implemented within any |
| it. What does teamwork really mean to those | | | | organization and adaptable enough to fit any |
| involved? What does it consist of? Who's | | | | customer base, business needs, and the |
| responsible for what tasks? Why is it important | | | | personalities, strengths, and project requirements |
| for people to come together to accomplish a | | | | of any development team. As a result, the Scrum |
| common goal rather than just asking people to | | | | methodology makes a project completely |
| play to their specific individual strengths? These | | | | developer-owned, allowing the team to take |
| are questions no dictionary can answer because | | | | complete ownership and responsibility for all |
| they're subjective; they depend on elements like | | | | accomplishments and shortcomings. This alleviates |
| the situation, the team goals, and the personalities, | | | | the sense of blending into the background that |
| strengths, and weaknesses of those involved. | | | | many employees may sometimes feel when |
| What is the Scrum methodology? | | | | working as a small fish in a big pond; with Scrum, |
| Teamwork and the idea of different parts | | | | this is impossible, because each developer has a |
| working together in harmony to make up a whole | | | | specific task and everyone is working together to |
| are attributes valued by all companies. Because of | | | | accomplish a solid common goal. |
| that universally held ideology, Scrum was created. | | | | The Scrum methodology also helps alleviate |
| Scrum is a very general, flexible working | | | | stress in the workplace, because it breaks larger |
| methodology, with the ability to be molded and | | | | projects up into the aforementioned smaller, more |
| sculpted to fit the needs of different teams, | | | | manageable stories. It allows the Product Owner |
| projects, and deliverable goals. Scrum is loosely | | | | to create a project backlog easily, and ensures |
| definable, adaptable best at an organization where | | | | team members are on the same page. The |
| goals are changing constantly and customers' | | | | stories also allow for a large amount of flexibility. |
| needs greatly influence how the organization | | | | For instance, if a customer has a problem with a |
| distributes tasks. In a nutshell, the Scrum | | | | specific portion of the product, team members |
| methodology adapts to the ever-changing needs | | | | can easily begin work on a new story that applies |
| of customers and business, and that methodology | | | | directly to the customer's issue instead of having |
| is yours to do with what you wish. | | | | to worry about many aspects of the project at |
| Scrum breaks projects down into chunks called | | | | once. |
| stories, allowing the development team to tackle | | | | One of the best things about the Scrum |
| each story as an independent project. The team | | | | methodology is that it doesn't apply only to |
| works on these stories in set time increments, | | | | software development - it is flexible and nimble |
| called sprints. For example, a team may be given | | | | enough to be used for any kind of task or |
| a two-week sprint to work on a specific story, | | | | project. For example, if you have to clean your |
| and a one-month sprint to work on the next, | | | | house for a holiday party, your different rooms |
| more challenging story. One of the larger stories | | | | could be the project's stories. As the parental |
| could be something like developing a new module | | | | figure, you'd be the product owner, writing and |
| for users to quickly find out which policies tie into | | | | divvying up the different stories. The Scrum |
| which accreditation standard(s). A story with a | | | | master (perhaps the eldest child) would be there |
| smaller sprint could be something very simple, like | | | | helping with the current story (i.e. cleaning the |
| having to correct a typo in a field title. | | | | kitchen), while at the same time encouraging his |
| Every team needs a leader, and Scrum is no | | | | or her younger siblings to complete their sections |
| exception. With the Scrum methodology, a | | | | of the story sprint on time (i.e. by the end of the |
| Product Owner leads the pack, and is responsible | | | | afternoon). |
| for writing stories and setting priorities. The | | | | Proud Scrumbuckets |
| Product Owner creates storyboards with more | | | | The fact that there's an increasingly popular |
| detailed specs on a project. He or she also sets | | | | working methodology to make it simpler for |
| priorities on what order the team tackles stories | | | | companies to reach their customers makes it that |
| in, as well as assigns specific story tasks to each | | | | much easier to uphold a family atmosphere and |
| team member. | | | | ensure clients are receiving the best quality |
| Just like in sports, a development team thrives | | | | service possible. Companies grow and become |
| under encouragement and support. This is where | | | | better because of the Scrum methodology and |
| the Scrum Master comes in. The Scrum Master is | | | | passing on that knowledge with others will |
| the equivalent of a sports-team coach. He or she | | | | continue to encourage healthy team |
| is part of the team, but also cheers its members | | | | environments. |
| on, helping the team deliver sprints on time and | | | | Additional Reading |
| encouraging everyone to do their very best. The | | | | The following articles discuss the Scrum |
| Scrum Master is also responsible for holding | | | | methodology, as well as its benefits. |