What is Scrum Framework? An Overview

Scrum Framework is a standard methodology used in the Software Development process. It has recently gained popularity due to its ability to increase productivity and efficiency. This helps teams to work collectively on complex projects, ensuring the timely delivery of quality products. Developed by Jeff Sutherland and Ken Schwaber in the 1990s, Scrum has become an important framework for Development Teams and Project Managers across industries.  

KPMG Global Agile Survey reported that around 78% of respondents who participated in the survey use the Scrum Framework to manage their projects. The KPMG report further highlights that Scrum is the most effective Agile framework for improving team productivity, stakeholder satisfaction, and quality.  

The Scrum Framework has also been broadly accepted in software development and has proven to be an efficient way of delivering software products to the market faster. In this blog, we will explore the Scrum Framework in detail, understanding how it works and why it has become such a popular Project Management methodology.  

Table of Contents

1) Definition of Scrum 

2) What is Scrum Framework?   

3) Understanding Scrum team 

4) Importance of Scrum Artifacts 

5) Understanding Scrum Events 

6) Benefits of Scrum Framework 

7) Factors contributing to the success of the Scrum Framework 

8) Conclusion 

Definition of Scrum 

Scrum can be defined as a Project Management methodology that applies the principles of Agile development. It enables teams to structure and manage work through defined Scrum values and principles. The term 'Scrum' draws inspiration from rugby, symbolising teamwork, experiential learning, and reflective performance improvement. In a similar vein, Scrum fosters team self-organisation, encourages reflection on both successes and failures, and promotes continuous process enhancement.

Widely employed in Software Development teams often use Scrum, but its principles and values can be applied to any team. This adaptability is one of the reasons why Scrum is widely used. Scrum Framework defines a set of meetings, Scrum tools, and roles to help teams effectively structure and manage their work. Utilizing a Scrum Template within the Scrum Framework can further streamline and standardize the application of Scrum principles, providing teams with a structured and efficient approach to their work.

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What is Scrum Framework? 

Scrum Framework is trending in the Software development industry. It focuses on continuous improvement and flexibility and emphasises collaboration. It helps break down a mega project into a sprint called iterations.

Let's understand Scrum Framework with an example - assume you have a team of 7 people, including a Scrum Master, a Product Owner, and 5 Developers. All of them are working in the Software Development field and are creating a new e-commerce website for a stakeholder. 

Creating the Product Backlog: In this stage, the Product Owner has discussions with the client and creates a priority list of requirements and features for the website. This list is called the Product Backlog, and it includes items like “Creating a login page”, “the font of the website”, “adding a shopping cart”, and “implementation of the payment gateway”. 

Sprint Planning: At the planning stage, the team holds a Sprint Planning meeting to select items from the Product Backlog they will work on in the upcoming Sprint. They will start by selecting several items from the Product Backlog that they believe can be completed within a two-week Sprint. 

Sprint: The team will organize a daily Scrum meeting, particularly within the context of Scrum Sprints, to review progress, identify issues, and plan the work for the next day. The team will keep working for the next two weeks to complete their task.

Sprint Review: The team will organise a Sprint Review meeting at the end of the two-week Sprint to showcase the completed work to the client. They ask for valuable feedback from the client. The team shows the completed items from the Product Backlog and asks the Stakeholder for added inputs. 

Sprint Retrospective: The team holds a Sprint retrospective meeting after the Sprint review to retrospect what went well and what did not. In addition, they also discuss the changes they can make to improve their process for the next Sprint.

Starting a new Sprint: After selecting items from the Product Backlog for the next Sprint, the team repeats the above process. They again work on them for the next two weeks holding daily meetings and reviewing everything until all items in the Product Backlog are completed.  

A Scrum Master must ensure that the team follows the Framework throughout the process. It is the duty of the Scrum Master to remove any obstacles that may be preventing the team from completing their work. The Product Owner prioritises the Product Backlog based on the stakeholder’s demand and provides feedback to the team on their progress. 

This way, Scrum allows the team to work in short, focused iterations and deliver high-quality work that meets the client’s needs while continuously improving their process. 

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Understanding Scrum team 

The Scrum team incorporates three roles, particularly emphasizing the importance of Scrum roles: Developers, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. Let us briefly understand their roles:

a) Developers: A Developer is any individual who delivers work in a Scrum team, including team members not part of Software Development. 

b) Product Owner: A Product Owner is an individual who understands the product's vision and makes Product Backlog a priority. 

c) Scrum Master: A Scrum Master assists the team in utilising Scrum's potential to build the product. 

Scrum Product Owner 

The Scrum Methodology relies heavily on the Scrum Product Owner, who is usually a project's key stakeholder. Typically, the Product Owner is someone from marketing or Product Management or the lead user of a system who deeply understands users, the marketplace, competitors, and trends. As per the Scrum guide, the Product Owner is in charge of enhancing the value of the product developed by the development team. However, how this is done may vary widely across organisations, Scrum teams, and individuals. One of their key responsibilities is managing the Product Backlog—the prioritised features list for the product. 

Scrum Master 

 Scrum Master's role is to utilise Agile Project Management to lead a project and the team members involved. Specific tasks and responsibilities may differ depending on the setting of work. You could be a Facilitator, Coach, or Project Manager, and your duties may vary daily. Some of your responsibilities could involve: 

a) Conducting daily meetings, reviews, and other project-related meetings 

b) Helping team members in their tasks 

c) Guiding the team on Scrum principles 

d) Encouraging open discussion and conflict resolution 

e) Proactively identifying and resolving issues 

f) Keeping track of activities in a Project Management tracking tool 

Scrum development team 

The team is responsible for building the actual product increment and meeting the Sprint goal. The success of Scrum largely depends on how successful the development team is. Some of the responsibilities that fall under the Scrum development team are performing Sprint execution, inspecting and adapting to meet Sprint goals on a daily basis, grooming the product backlog, planning the Sprint, and inspecting and adapting products and processes. Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Scrum is essential for the development team to navigate their responsibilities effectively. This will ensure a balance between productivity and adapting to changes within the Scrum framework.

Importance of Scrum Artifacts 

Scrum Artifacts provide essential information for the Scrum team and stakeholders to understand the development progress, planned activities and completed tasks in the project. Let us go over the following Artifacts that are defined in Scrum process framework: 

Product Backlog 

In this stage, the Product Owner has discussions with the client and creates a priority list of requirements and features for the website. This list is called the Product Backlog, and it includes items like “Creating a login page”, “the font of the website”, “adding a shopping cart”, and “implementation of the payment gateway”. 

Sprint Backlog 

Sprint Backlog is a plan designed by Developers to accomplish the Sprint goal. It comprises the Sprint goal (why), the set of Product Backlog items chosen for the Sprint (what), and an executable plan for fulfilling the increment (how). The Sprint Backlog provides a real-time, highly visible picture of the work that the Developers plan to complete in the Sprint to achieve the Sprint goal. Hence, it is updated throughout the Sprint as more is learned. The Sprint Backlog should contain enough details for the Developers to assess their progress in the daily Scrum. 

Increment 

An Increment is a concrete step towards achieving the product goal. It is an additive process where each Increment builds upon the previous one, and is thoroughly verified to ensure that all Increments work seamlessly together. To have actual value, each Increment must be usable. Various Increments can be created during a Sprint, and the sum of all Increments is presented at the Sprint review, thus supporting empiricism. However, an Increment can also be delivered to stakeholders before the end of the Sprint. It is important to note that the Sprint review should never be considered as a path to releasing value. 

Understanding Scrum Events 

Scrum teams function in Sprints, each of which includes multiple events (or activities). Events within each Sprint are valuable opportunities to inspect and adapt the product or the process. Let us go over these events briefly: 

Sprint planning 

At the planning stage, the team holds a Sprint planning meeting to select items from the Product Backlog they will work on in the upcoming Sprint. They will begin by selecting a few items from the Product Backlog that they can be finished during a two-week Sprint, based on their assumption. 

Sprint 

The team will organise a Daily Scrum Meeting to review progress, identify issues, and plan the work for the next day. The team will keep working for the next two weeks to complete their task. 

Daily Scrum 

The development team inspects progress towards the Sprint goal and adjusts Backlog if necessary in daily 15-minute timeboxed Scrum meetings. 

Sprint review 

The team will organise a Sprint review meeting at the end of the two-week Sprint to showcase the completed work to the client. They ask for valuable feedback from the client. The team shows the completed items from the Product Backlog and asks the stakeholder for added inputs. 

Sprint retrospective 

The team holds a Sprint retrospective meeting after the Sprint review to retrospect what went well and what did not. In addition, they also discuss the changes they can make to improve their process for the next Sprint.
 

Benefits of Scrum Framework 

There are various reasons why development companies choose to follow the Scrum Framework while building software products. Some of them are described below in detail: 

Increased efficiency and productivity

Scrum Methodology helps to increase efficiency and productivity by breaking down larger projects into smaller chunks. It helps set short-term goals and provides frequent feedback from the team and the Stakeholder. This allows them to focus on completing smaller goals and achieving them faster, leading to better efficiency and productivity. 

Greater visibility and transparency

Scrum Framework promote visibility and transparency by requiring daily meetings, constant communication between team members, and regular demonstration of completed work. This allows the Business Owner to clearly understand the project's progress and any potential issues that may arise. 

Enhanced project reflection 

The Framework includes regular reflection points for team members to review their progress. Project Managers use the insights from these Scrum meetings to estimate future work and plan accordingly. This leads to more efficient Project Management, within-budget, and on-schedule completion. 

Improved team morale and motivation

Collaboration and communication foster a sense of companionship and shared responsibility among team members. This helps to improve team morale and motivation, which finally leads to a more successful project outcome. 

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Factors contributing to the success of the Scrum Framework 

The five main factors that contribute to the success of the popular Agile Methodology for Software Development are: 

1) Collaboration between team members, including Developers, Stakeholders, and the Product Owner, encourages open communication, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving. 

2) Regular and repetitive development allows for review and adaptation. This approach enables teams to respond quickly to changing requirements and to deliver a high-quality product. 

3) Scrum Framework empowers teams to decide and self-organise their collective knowledge and expertise. This approach brings up a sense of ownership and responsibility to continuously improve their processes. 

4) The Scrum team continuously improve themselves through regular retrospection. They identify the areas of improvement and work on them. This encourages a culture of refinement and improvement. 

5) Scrum Framework provides clear roles and responsibilities for team members, including Team Members, Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and Development Teams. It reduces the confusion and ensures that they all understand their roles and responsibilities properly.

Conclusion 

Scrum is a popular Agile Framework that helps to deliver high-quality products collaboratively with increase in various Scrum Master Career Path that are available. Organisations can create a culture of continuous improvement, customer focus, and transparency. Understanding the basics of Scrum framework will empower you and your team to respond to the changing markets and their demands and finally lead to achieving your business goals. 

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