Agile Scrum: Project Management

• Agile Scrum methodology is used by companies for collaboration and efficiency in project-based work.
• Agile means "incremental," allowing teams to develop projects in small increments.
• Scrum is a type of Agile methodology known for breaking down projects into "sprints".
• Agile Scrum methodology is useful for businesses that must finish projects quickly.
• Agile Scrum methodology is a project management system based on incremental development.
• Iterations consist of two- to four-week sprints, where the goal is to build the most important features first.
• Agile Scrum focuses on delivering several product iterations to provide stakeholders with the highest business value in the least amount of time. (due to strict timelines and continuous iterations with each sprint. Each sprint ensures more value by adding more features and fixing problems based on Stakeholder's feedback.)
• It encourages faster product development and requires frequent planning, increasing team productivity.

Agile

• Agile allows a team to manage a project more efficiently by breaking it down into stages.
• Each stage allows for consistent stakeholder collaboration.
• Agile was described in the Agile Manifesto in 2000 by a group of developers.

Agile Manifesto Values

• Individuals and interactions over processes and tools
• Working software over comprehensive documentation
• Customer collaboration over contract negotiation
• Responding to change over following a plan

Agile Principles

• Customer satisfaction is the highest priority.
• Early and continuous delivery of valuable software is essential.
• Embrace changing requirements, even late in development.
• Deliver working software frequently.
• Business people and developers must work together daily.
• Build projects around motivated individuals.
• Face-to-face conversation is the most efficient method.
• Working software is the primary measure of progress.
• Agile processes promote sustainable development.
• Continuous attention to technical excellence enhances agility.
• Simplicity is essential.
• Self-organized teams are best.
• Regularly reflect on how to become more effective, then adjust.

Scrum

• Scrum is a framework for workplace collaboration in teams working on complex products.
• Scrum consists of meetings, roles, and tools to help teams collaborate better.
• Scrum can benefit any team working toward a common goal.
• Scrum methodology is ideal for projects that require teams to complete a backlog.
• Scrum breaks down each process into manageable chunks that can make a complex project easier.
• Scrum benefits companies that value results over a process’s documented progress.
• Scrum can help companies develop products according to customer preferences.

Benefits of Agile Scrum Methodology

• Flexibility and adaptability
• Creativity and innovation
• Lower costs
• Quality improvement
• Organizational synergy
• Employee satisfaction
• Customer satisfaction
• The Scrum team receives stakeholder feedback after each sprint.
• The Scrum team can adjust product goals easily and quickly during future sprints.

Disadvantages of Agile Scrum Methodology

• Unpredictability in planning
• Increased time demands
• Heightened stakeholder commitment
• Documentation challenges
• Risk of project deviation
• Agile Scrum’s emphasis on flexibility can make it challenging to accurately estimate and manage project resources and timelines.
• Constant interaction and iteration can unexpectedly extend project timelines.
• Any discord or lack of involvement can disrupt a project’s progress.

Roles in Agile Scrum Methodology

• Core roles are known as “pigs,” and ancillary roles are known as “chickens.”
• Core roles are the Scrum master, product owner, and Scrum team.
• Ancillary roles include stakeholders, management, and C-suite executives.

Scrum Master

• The Scrum master is the facilitator of the Scrum development process.
• The Scrum master ensures Scrum rules are being enforced and applied as intended.
• Responsibilities include coaching and motivating the team, removing impediments and ensuring the team has the best possible conditions to produce deliverable products.

Product Owner

• The product owner represents stakeholders (typically customers).
• The product owner determines product expectations, records changes to the product, and administers a Scrum backlog.
• The product owner is responsible for prioritizing goals for each sprint based on their value to stakeholders.

Scrum Team

• The Scrum team is a self-organized group of three to nine individuals with the skills to carry out the actual work, solve problems, and produce deliverable products.
• Scrum team members self-administer tasks and are jointly responsible for meeting each sprint’s goals.

Scrum and Agile Training

• Training is available through various online and in-person courses, often resulting in certification.
• To become a certified Scrum master (CSM) or certified Scrum product owner (CSPO), you must first pass an exam to become certified.

Differences Between Scrum and Agile

• Scrum values rigidity while Agile is more flexible.
• Agile leaders play a vital role while Scrum promotes a cross-functional team that is self-functioning.
• Agile involves face-to-face interactions while Scrum involves daily stand-up meetings.
• Agile is meant to be kept simple while Scrum can be innovative and experimental.
• Scrum delivers shorter, separate projects while Agile delivers everything at the end of the process.

Alternatives to Agile Scrum Methodology

Waterfall

• The Waterfall methodology is a traditional sequential approach to project management.
• Each project phase follows a linear progression.

Lean

• The Lean methodology emphasizes the elimination of waste and supports continuous improvement.
• Lean streamlines processes to deliver value efficiently and effectively.

Rapid Application Development (RAD)

• RAD is an incremental software development approach that prioritizes quick prototyping and iteration.
• RAD emphasizes user feedback and involvement throughout the development process, allowing for timely iterations and adjustments based on stakeholder input.
• RAD aims to accelerate the time to market by eliminating lengthy development cycles.

Agile Scrum methodology is used for collaboration and efficiency in completing project-based work. Agile means incremental, allowing teams to develop projects in stages as a project management system based on incremental development. It encourages faster product development and requires frequent planning, increasing team productivity.