Scrum Framework for Beginners: setting roles, components and methodology

As a project management methodology, Scrum framework helps boost the code quality while adapting to change quickly. Read on the components & roles of scrum framework.

As being used by software development teams, the scrum framework is the most common agile methodology. About 70% of software development teams use a scrum framework in the custom software development process. Scrum has widened other fields such as IT and marketing which are moving forward in complexity and ambiguity.

Leadership in the team is basing their agile management on scrum. Besides, it often combines scrum with lean and kanban methodologies which are subgroups of agile project management. The article will give an overview of the scrum framework regardless of benefits, components, and best practices.

Scrum framework: A brief overview

What is scrum framework?

People think scrum and agile are the same since scrum is centered on continuous improvement and a fundamental principle of agile. Nevertheless, scrum is a framework for having work done in which agile methodology is a mindset. You can use the scrum framework to deliver value to customers and build agile principles into daily communication and workflow.

The scrum framework helps solve possible problems based on the previous experience of software developers. It’s based on continuous improvement and adjustment to changing factors. Before a project, the team doesn’t know everything and needs to evolve through previous experience. Thus, the scrum framework is essential to help teams adapt quickly to changing conditions and customer requirements. Moreover, your software development team learns and improves much with a quick-and-short release life cycle.

The scrum framework is well-structured; however, it’s always rigid. Developers can implement the scrum framework which is tailored to any organizations’ needs. Clear communication, transparency, and devotion to continuous improvement are the fundamental center of whatever framework or methodology you choose.

Benefits of scrum framework over the agile methodology

Scalability
Scrum framework makes software development process iterative and handles the processes within specific periods. The scrum framework helps the software development team focus on different functionalities for a while. Therefore, the scrum framework in agile achieves better delivery with the specific needs of end-users and gives the ability to scale the modules. Those modules can be functionality, scope, design, and features transparently and simply.

Obedience of expectations
Customers set their expectations that each project has, so the team estimates them thanks to the information of the Product Owner. On a regular thing, the Product Owner defines the requirements and transmits them to the team.

Flexible to change
The scrum framework allows software development teams to react quickly to changes according to the customer needs or market development.

Ensuring software quality
Flexible workflows and a fulfilled functional version after interaction will produce a high level of the software product. Sometimes, customers use the features of the software product before developers complete the software.

Timely prediction
Using the scrum framework, developers estimate the average speed of the team through sprint. Therefore, it’s possible to write the features that are still in the backlog.

Reducing risks
Implementing the most valuable features in the first place and the speed of work help software development teams advance in the project. The scrum framework in agile helps eliminate risks effectively in advance.

Agile and Scrum methodology: What’s related to agile management?

Scrum framework is a subgroup of agile methodology. Agile features values and principles that depicts daily interactions and activities amongst different software development team members. Agile methodology is not a specific or prescriptive concept.

The scrum framework follows sets of values and principles of agile methodology in the custom software development process. However, it provides further definitions and specifications in a certain software development practice. Though the agile methodology and the scrum framework are not the same, agile scrum has become a preferred framework for custom software development projects.
What are the key components of scrum in agile methodology?

• Scrum Artifacts: People consider scrum artifacts as a tool to handle problems. There are three artifacts such as a product backlog, a sprint backlog, and an increment.
• A product backlog: The product backlog is a primary list of work that the product owner or product manager will maintain. It’s a list of characteristics, requirements, and enhancements which act as an input for a sprint backlog. The product backlog in the scrum framework in agile is the team’s “To Do” list. The product owner will constantly revisit, re-prioritize, and maintain the product backlog since we can learn more or even adapt to market changes.
• A sprint backlog: The sprint backlog is a list of items, customer stories, or bug fixes that the software development team selects to implement the current sprint cycle. Each sprint in the scrum framework, the team chooses which items work on for the sprint from the product backlog. The sprint backlog might be flexible and even evolve in the sprint cycle. Nevertheless, the basic goal of what teams want to achieve from the current sprint cannot be negotiated.
• An increment (or Sprint Goal): The increment is a usable end-product from the sprint product. Demonstrating the increment in the end-of-sprint demo allows the team to define what was done in the sprint. The word “increment” refers to the team’s definition of “Done” regarding a milestone, a sprint goal, or even a full version. It depends on how the teams define “done” and how they define the sprint goals.

For instance, the teams will release something to their customers at the end of each sprint product. The definition of “done” refers to “shipped”. Nevertheless, it might not be realistic for other types in the artifacts of scrum framework. Thus, the teams in the software outsourcing services company work on a server-based product. You might work in 2-week sprints; however, the definition of “done” can be a finishing part of a larger project. The longer it takes to release software products, the higher the risk that custom software might miss the mark.

Scrum ceremonies/events

Scrum ceremonies, sequential events, or meetings are some of the key components of scrum framework that scrum teams use. The ceremonies allow the teams to see the most variations in the scrum framework. For instance, software development teams find doing these ceremonies unmanageable and repetitive while others use it as a necessary check-in. It’s essential to use all of these events for two sprints and see how it works. Here is a list of all key ceremonies that a scrum team might need:

• Organize the backlog (known as backlog grooming): Backlog grooming takes the responsibility of the product owner. It helps drive the product towards its product vision and have a pulse on customers and the market. Thus, the product owner maintains this list using feedback from end-users and the software development teams. The teams help prioritize and keep the list ready to work at any time.
• Sprint planning: The entire development team plans the scope and context of the scrum framework. Scrum master leads the meeting and decides on the sprint goal. Besides, they can add specific stories to the sprint from the product backlog. The whole scrum team always aligns with sprint goals and evaluates the feasibility to implement these goals during the sprint. Every member will understand the scrum framework clearly on what and how can be delivered in the sprint.
• Sprint: is an actual time when the team using the scrum framework will work together to complete an increment. Two weeks is a typical length for a sprint. However, it’s easier to scope the sprint within a week and to deliver an increment in a month. When using the scrum framework, the teams can renegotiate scope with the product owner if necessary.

All the meetings and ceremonies from planning to retrospectives occur during the sprint. Once the team establishes a time interval for the sprint in the scrum framework, it remains consistent throughout scrum software development. It helps learn from previous experiences and apply that insight to future sprints.
Daily scrum or stand up

This is a daily short meeting happening at the same time (often mornings) and a place to keep it simple. Many scrum software development teams finish the meeting within 15 minutes with a detailed guideline. People also call a daily stand-up meeting that needs to be completed quickly. The daily scrum meeting aims to align with the sprint goal and get plans for the next activities.
Sprint review

At the end of the sprint, the team works together to view a demo of the increment. The custom software development team represents finished backlog products to stakeholders and other teammates for collecting feedback. Using the scrum framework in agile, the product owner decides whether to release the increment or not.
The product owner also implements the sprint review meeting when he/she reworks the backlog product based on the current sprint. It can feed into the next sprint planning phase.

Sprint retrospective

When using sprint retrospectives, the team comes together to document and discuss what works and doesn’t work in a sprint. Besides, software development teams can define other activities in a project, people or relationships, tools, or even for essential ceremonies. Scrum framework, especially in the sprint retrospective creates a place for the team to focus on what works well and what needs to improve.

Three scrum framework roles in agile methodology

In the scrum framework, there are three roles such as product owner, scrum master, and software development team. Since the scrum teams are cross-functional amongst different positions such as testers, designers, UX specialists, software developers, and ops engineers.

Product owner

Product owners will be the champions of their custom software development products. They are trying to understand business sectors, customers’ needs, and market requirements. Moreover, they prioritize which work needs to be done by the software engineers accordingly. So what makes an effective product owner when applying the scrum framework:
Build, manage and maintain the product backlog in the scrum framework.

Work closely with the business analysts and the custom software development teams to understand different phases in the product backlog.

Provide the team with clear guidelines on which parts of the software product to deliver next.
Ensure the software product is shipped with a predisposition towards more frequent.

The product owner isn’t always the product manager. They play an essential role in ensuring the custom software development team delivers the most value of software products to the business. Furthermore, the product owner needs to be individual. Since the custom software development teams don’t want mixed guidelines from different product owners.

Scrum master

Scrum masters are considered champions for scrum framework within their software development teams. They will coach teams, product owners, and business analysts on the scrum framework process, and evaluate for ways to fine-tune its practice.

An effective scrum master understands which parts need to be done by the team and helps optimize the transparency and delivery flow. The scrum master in the scrum framework is a facilitator-in-chief who schedules resources in the custom software development process. These resources can be humans and logistics for sprint planning, stand-up, sprint review, and the sprint retrospective.

Scrum development team

A scrum development team is a champion for sustainable development practices when using the scrum framework. An effective scrum development team is tight-knit, co-located, and has five to seven members.

The scrum development teams will have various skills and cross-training so no one can become a bottleneck during the delivery process. They can self-organize and implement each custom software development project with a clear attitude. All members have responsibilities to help other members to complete a successful sprint product.

The team when using the scrum framework drives the plan for each sprint. They predict how much work they can finish in the iteration through their historical velocity as a guideline. Following the iteration, the length gives the custom software development team essential feedback on their delivery process. It helps make their forecasts increase over time.

Top scrum framework examples for online use

Hygger

Hygger suits high-skilled scrum software development teams that need to work together dynamically and focus on specific problems. This scrum framework example combines the power of Jira and the convenient use of Trello. Thanks to functionality, teams can easily organize scrum frameworks regarding planning processes, schedule sprints and user stories, and task boards. The scrum board helps visualize a big picture in the custom software development project and personalize it with scrum boards and features.

Scrumwise

Scrumwise is a scrum framework example for managing tasks while using the scrum framework. Thus, it helps create custom task boards to manage the custom software development team and projects. Users consider scrumwise as an ideal management tool without additional frills and other management features.
Amongst the key features of the scrum framework board, you can get task management, backlog management, task filters, activity history, integration with GitHub, etc.

Zoho sprints

Zoho sprints is an ideal scrum framework example for online managing the custom software development project. It features an intuitive design and useful characteristics that allow taking full advantage of scrum software development without being overwhelmed. Thanks to Zoho Sprints, people can add user stories to a backlog, set priorities to work items, and stay on track with specific task boards.

Orangescrum

Another approach for an online scrum framework example is Orangescrum. It helps realize all advantages of scrum methodology for different business sizes and industries. People recommend the scrum software development tool for remote team management since accurate information and transparency help users to be more efficient.

Furthermore, Orangescrum provides all scrum framework features in a place such as creating epics, stories, backlogs, sprints, task boards, and velocity charts.

Targetprocess

Targetprocess is one of the most popular scrum framework examples that benefit the custom software development teams. It provides an ideal customized project management solution with reliable functionalities for software outsourcing services using the scrum framework. Moreover, all features of user-friendly project management platforms provide flexible chances to oversee project development. Targetprocess provides simple features adaptable to any company’s structure, size, and management style.

The bottom line

What do you think about the scrum framework? The methodologies, roles, artifacts, events, and components are easy to understand. The semi-prescriptive method helps remove the ambiguities in the custom software development project while providing sufficient space for firms to boost their productivity. Nevertheless, the scrum framework takes time to understand, especially when software development teams are customized to a typical waterfall framework. To learn scrum framework and other agile methodologies with Adamo Software, check out the blogs.