Credit: yashant gyawali Products succeed or fail when they get two things right — “what to build” and “how to build”. Many falsely believe that Scrum is a delivery framework which helps in the “how to build” domain, but doesn’t talk enough about “what to build”. This is because Scrum is widely misunderstood. I once worked in a large organization where discovery was exclusively separated from the delivery process. Discovery was mostly conducted by individuals outside the Scrum team, and the Scrum team was solely responsible for delivery. I couldn’t last long there as I failed to break ..read more

If you have landed here after reading my previous article “Navigating Uncertainty: Crafting Effective Spikes in Scrum”, you should now have a solid foundation of what a great Spike looks like, their application and examples to go along. Now you will learn about common anti-patterns with Spikes that several Scrum Teams may fall into. In this article I cover: Understanding Spikes The Product/Sprint Goals and relation to Spikes anti-patterns The two categories of Spikes anti-patterns Spike Anti-Patterns, Consequences and How to Overcome them Understanding Spikes In Agile Softwar ..read more

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or new to the concept of Spikes, there’s something valuable here for you. In this article, I delve into the depths of Spikes, exploring their definition, applications, and practical implementation strategies. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to leverage Spikes effectively within your development process. In this article I cover: Understanding Spikes: What exactly is a Spike, and why are they essential in Agile Software development? Use Cases: Explore various scenarios where Spikes can be invaluable, from tackling technical uncert ..read more

Daily Scrum Stories :-) — Part 2 The Daily Scrum is a 15-minute event for the Developers of the Scrum Team. To reduce complexity, it is held at the same time and place every working day of the Sprint. If the Product Owner or Scrum Master are actively working on items in the Sprint Backlog, they participate as Developers.The Developers can select whatever structure and techniques they want, as long as their Daily Scrum focuses on progress toward the Sprint Goal and produces an actionable plan for the next day of work. This creates focus and improves self-management. Scrum Guide 2 ..read more

5 reasons why employees struggle to get things “done” Everyone is so busy, yet it takes ages to truly get something done. Do you need your co-worker’s help, but are they busy with other things? Scrum offers some simple solutions for common organizational problems. 1. Many concurrent initiatives. I did a scan within an organization that needed help with tackling very long delivery times and late deliveries. In a survey I performed, it turned out that 85% of the surveyed employees were working on over 10 unfinished projects. One department had a whopping 54 unfinished concurrent proje ..read more

Joining a real Scrum team can be a fundamentally different experience from joining a “regular” team. The expectations from you as a team member are going to be more than what your job title might imply. Do you know what it means to be in a Scrum Team? If you’re in a Scrum Team or joining one in any role, this article will help you understand what will be expected of you. It will also help you find out if you’re having the real Scrum experience, or if you’re experiencing yet another Zombie Scrum. For the Scrum Masters, I will pepper some advice concerning what you ought to do (and mor ..read more

Unlocking Continuous Improvement and Team Empowerment Photo by kylie De Guia on Unsplash In the realm of Agile methodologies, retrospectives hold a special and pivotal role. They serve as the crucible in which teams convene to examine their past performances, unearth underlying issues, and set a course for improvement. However, for certain teams, the act of opening up and engaging in these retrospectives can be an intimidating endeavor. What if there were a means to dismantle barriers, foster candid communication, and boost team morale? Prepare for an exhilarating journey as we explore ou ..read more

Personal Impressions from the Global Scrum Gathering Amsterdam 2023 Three days surrounded by smart, positive, and friendly people The global Scrum community is vivid, open to newcomers, and focused on the right challenges. This is how I summarize my experience at the Global Scrum Gathering Amsterdam 2023 in one phrase. As my employer Worldline sponsored my participation, I want to give a detailed report of the event. Overall impressions The Global Scrum Gathering Amsterdam 2023 took place from October 9th-11th, Monday to Wednesday, in the conference center RAI. 484 people attended, o ..read more

By refining the implementation of Team, Events and Artifacts One of my favourite quotes about the Scrum framework comes from Craig Larman and Bas Vodde when they discuss why Scrum has been so popular. The conclusion they land on is that: Scrum hits an ideal balance between abstract principles and concrete practices. Scrum is beautiful in its simplicity. It is a purposefully incomplete¹ framework, providing teams with the freedom to implement it in a fit-for-purpose and meaningful way. Yet it is also concrete and simple enough for teams to get started on it quickly². Specifically, Scrum’s ..read more

The Matrix — An Agile Epic The movie The Matrix, seen through Agile eyes 1992 was the year The Matrix came out. I had the fortune to see it on the second evening of the Lowlands festival in The Netherlands. After the last band played, they rolled down a huge screen at the main stage and we all lay around on the grass and watched it. It was one hell of a trip. The movie has stayed with me since then and I’ve watched it multiple times. It has always intrigued me, with its layers of meaning and philosophical subjects. I watched it again recently, and this time my Agile eye snapped ..read more