What is Scrum? What is the difference between Scrum and Agile?

What is Scrum? Why do technology organizations and software creators choose to use it? This is a powerful tool that enhances the flexibility and adaptability of workgroups. Learn about the concept of Scrum and how to apply it effectively in this article by Viindoo.

What is Scrum?

What is Scrum? This is one of the methods in the Agile model (for increasing flexibility, improving development speed and product quality) commonly used in the management and development of software-related projects. This tool aims to support workgroups to focus on short-term goals and work towards longer-term goals.

What is Scrum’s concept?

The main long-term goal is to focus on perfecting products as well as techniques, processes, and work environments. This process is repeated in a cycle, called a sprint. Only when the above values ​​meet the required standards, the team can bring customers the best results and products.

The application of the Scrum method will encourage the learning spirit of individuals in the group. This method mainly focuses on the process of self-experience of individuals. Meanwhile, individuals in the team will also work together to solve problems and come up with unique ideas, thereby improving work efficiency.

>>>> Read More: What is Agile project management? What is the Agile project management process?

The Three Pillars of Scrum

Scrum consists of three main pillars which are transparency, inspection, and adaptation. These pillars ensure that Scrum works properly and effectively.

• Transparency: Relevant information such as product vision, customer needs, work progress, existing difficulties, etc. requires transparency. When there is enough information, the departments will work together to come to a final decision.
• Inspection: Activities in Scrum require regular inspection. This ensures problems can be detected in time. Therefore, the team can offer appropriate solutions, bringing meaningful value.
• Adaptation: After the information is transparent and clear, Scrum will support defining appropriate orientation and modification. This activity enables a faster working process, bringing efficiency and the best results.
  

The pillars of Scrum ensure an efficient working process

>>>> Read More: The 12 Agile Principles of Agile project management

Events in Scrum

There are 5 main events in Scrum. What is Scrum’s event and how do these events work? Find the answer in the content provided by Viindoo below.

• The Sprint

The sprint, the main event of Scrum, is a fixed period of time that contains all the product development planned activities. This event usually lasts no longer than a month and more than a week. Sprints are like repetitive work cycles and take place continuously. This event stops when the set time expires whether the project is completed or not.

• Sprint Planning

What is Scrum’s Sprint Planning and why is it important? This event occurs before the Sprint to plan Product Backlog items for that Sprint. Sprint planning consists of 3 parts as follows:

• • Part 1: This section will be presented by the Product Owner to answer the question “Why should this be done?”. After that, the members will give opinions and come to final decisions with Sprint Goal.
  • Part 2: Once the goal is defined, the Product Owner will work with the developers to determine what needs to be done. These contents are selected from the Product Backlog and can answer the question “What are the tasks?”.
  • Part 3: This part identifies methods and tools to achieve the goal and answers the question "How to do it?".
• Daily Scrum

This is a small meeting of the whole Scrum team with a duration of about 15 minutes. The meeting should include work re-evaluation and new solutions. Usually, this meeting will take place over a certain period of time and at a certain location, forming a usual routine. 

• Sprint Review

After Scrum is over, the working team will summarize the activities and results achieved. All members need to participate and can invite additional guests if needed. This event can include product testing sessions and new plans. Ideas of Product Backlog items and product release intentions can be changed later.

• Sprint Retrospective

The purpose of this event is to offer solutions to improve work efficiency. Mandatory attendees are the Development Team, the Scrum Master, and the guest. The Product Owner may not participate.

Sprint cycles are the same cycles that repeat over and over again

Roles in Scrum

There are 3 different roles in Scrum with different responsibilities.

• Product Owner: A project manager who has a good understanding of the project, thereby creating tasks that balance the requirements of the customer with the capabilities of the team.
• Scrum Master: They can be understood as the project coordinator, ensuring that events go smoothly.
• Development Team: Depending on the size of the project, the product Development Team should have 5 to 10 people including programmers, testers, etc.

What is the difference between Agile and Scrum models?

After knowing What is Scrum, people may wonder what are the differences between Scrum and Agile. Agile is a philosophy of flexibility and adaptability. Meanwhile, Scrum is a methodology of Agile project management to create flexible thinking and good teamwork.

What is Scrum and how is it different from Agile?

In general, Agile is the mindset and Scrum is the framework. Agile mindsets include 4 values ​​and 12 principles that drive more flexible product development. In fact, Agile is only at the abstract, general level. To get into the practical, the project team will implement the Scrum methodology.

Embracing all of the values ​​and principles in Agile takes a lot of time. However, if you work according to the Scrum framework, this time can be shortened and the efficiency can be higher.

What are Scrum values?

Scrum brings diverse meaningful values to workgroups, and helps members work more effectively. What is Scrum’s value that we need to know?

• Courage: Scrum team members need a certain courage and confidence to give their personal opinions. For the whole team, courage is shown in daring to make new and bold decisions.
• Focus: The working group should focus on a certain goal without setting too many tasks.
• Commitment: The team needs to ensure their commitment to work. When receiving tasks, individuals should arrange work and ensure the good completion of assigned tasks.
• Respect: No individual is perfect and respect should be appreciated. Work efficiency is maximized only when there is respect, cooperation, and solidarity among team members.
• Openness: If you have a problem, speaking out is the best way and the whole team can help you find solutions. The team members should not stay silent and struggle to manage difficulties alone.
  

Meaningful values in Scrum

How does Scrum work?

Different methodologies in Agile work differently. What is Scrum’s process for the best work efficiency?

• Backlog Planning

This activity is undertaken by the Product Owner to give new directions about the product. This position requires an adequate understanding of the market and customers for accurate direction.

In addition, the Product Owner should connect customers and the Development Team together. Accordingly, he/she should gather feedback from both parties, then create a list of necessary tasks for the next phase.

• Sprint Planning 

The meeting is about planning work and setting new goals for the Development Team. This is when user stories from the Product Backlog are added to the Sprint Backlog once get consensus. Every transferred work also needs to be clarified.

• The Sprint

The duration of a Sprint should not exceed 4 weeks and not less than 1 week to complete the product categories. The content of work is always subject to change depending on the actual situation and the consensus between the Product Owner and the Development Team.

Normally, a Sprint includes events from planning to implementing improvement activities. The workgroup should keep the same working time to evaluate the efficiency of different projects. This also allows timely troubleshooting. 

• Daily Sprint

The meeting includes a re-evaluation of yesterday's performance, today's plan, and encountered problems. The meeting time should be around 15 - 30 minutes. The purpose of this meeting is to check the work progress and make adjustments if necessary.

• Sprint Review

At the end of the Sprint, the team will meet to evaluate the completion of the project and get feedback from the Product Owner. Ultimately, the Product Owner will decide whether to bring the product to market or not and come up with further plans.

• Sprint Retrospective

What is Scrum’s Sprint Retrospective? This event is to review the entire work process in the Sprint, including achievements, shortcomings, and difficulties. This is also a time for members to give their own opinions and seek solutions.

Notes when applying the Scrum process

When implementing Scrum, teams need to keep a few things in mind:

• Scrum should be divided into small Sprints with durations of 1 - 4 weeks.
• Planning should be done before every Sprint, then coding and testing to satisfy requirements, and finally, demo sessions and test runs.
• At the end of a Sprint, the team needs to do the next Sprints to complete the project.
• In each Sprint, there will be a daily meeting with a duration of 15-20 minutes. If working remotely, it can take up to 30 minutes.
• During each Sprint, team members have to create tasks for code and testing. These tasks should be linked together to optimize time. This results in shorter working times and higher efficiency and productivity.
• Scrum needs to flexibly respond to changes in requirements and phased studies as well as identify immediate problems for timely resolution.
• The person who runs the project is the Scrum Master (instructor) while the Product Owner is the person who evaluates the product.