Scrum is an agile software development methodology, based on sprints – intensely focused periods of teamwork, each resulting in a product increment. Scrum is a proven effective, productive, and efficient approach to creating quality digital products – no wonder that we’re big Scrum users at Boldare! However, Scrum is not a magic bullet; it doesn’t guarantee great results. Like any tool, it’s all in how you use it, and there are many ways in which Scrum can be used… let’s say less than effectively. Welcome to Scrum ‘anti-patterns’, practices that can lead to poor results if left unchecked. Read ..read more

"Agile You Hate, Agile You Need" launches our "Around the Product Development" series, where Matt Hallmann talks with Radosław Orszewski, an exeprienced agility practitioner. Dive into Matt's exploration of Agile from a client's viewpoint, discussing its role in today's digital product scene. What criticisms are raised against Agile? Are there credible alternatives? And what's the key to successful Agile implementation? Read on to uncover Radosław's insights into these pivotal questions ..read more

Agile is versatile, and Scrum’s application isn’t one-size-fits-all. For smaller projects, prone to abrupt changes in priorities or direction, Scrum can be adapted to a more nimble, hummingbird-like approach, as advocated by consultant and Agile/Scrum specialist, Maarten Dalmijn. Continue reading to discover more ..read more

In Scrum, everything revolves around the sprint, a clearly-defined, intensely productive period of time in which the team tackles priorities from the product backlog. But how does the Scrum team (including the product owner) know when those priorities are ready to be addressed? How do you know when it’s time to sprint? This is where the process of backlog refinement, filtered through what’s known as the Definition of Ready (DoR), plays an essential role. Clearly, the Definition of Ready and the refinement process are interdependent. Refinement results in product backlog items that are ready fo ..read more

There is more than one type of goal that your product teams typically work on. In 2020, the Scrum Guide started mentioning product goals on top of the well-known sprint goals. Why is it so important to distinguish between the two? Read on to find out ..read more

You could say that the basic unit of the Scrum framework is the sprint – a defined period of time in which the Scrum team undertakes to achieve specific progress toward the overall product goal. But how can you ensure the necessary level of focus? That’s what the sprint goal is for. Read on to find out what sprint goals are, how they benefit the Scrum process, and some top tips for setting tightly-focused goals that will make your sprint a success ..read more

If you’ve ever come into contact with Agile ways of working or using the Scrum framework to develop a digital product, you’ve heard the term ‘burndown chart’. Although it is not an essential tool during your day to day Agile work, it very often helps team members keep track of the scope of the work (and project too!). If you’ve ever wondered, just what is a burndown chart, you’re in the right place. Read on for a definition together with the benefits a burndown chart can bring to your product development, plus some tips on use ..read more

We all intuitively know what team efficiency is about. When it comes to specifics, though, things get complicated. The bigger the team, the more difficult it is to make it efficient. Read on to discover nine proven ways to increase team efficiency. You will find these suggestions especially useful when working on a new digital product ..read more

The role of a product owner can be challenging. Especially if this is your first time being one, or even working in Scrum at all. At Boldare, we have a system in place for just this occasion. Read on to find out what we do to prepare our clients for the role of product owner ..read more

Some clients ask us if product owners can attend our daily Scrum meetings. And while their care for their digital products is commendable, the answer to that question is not a simple matter of a yes or no. In this article, I asked our scrum masters for their thoughts on this idea - read on to find out what they had to say ..read more