What is Scrum

Scrum is a framework used by teams to manage workloads and solve problems collaboratively in short cycles. It implements the principles of Agile through a concrete set of artifacts, practices, and roles.

The Scrum lifecycle

The entire lifecycle is completed in fixed time periods called sprints, which are typically one to four weeks long.

Scrum Team Roles

There are three key roles in a Scrum team:

• The Product Owner: Responsible for defining what the team builds and keeping the product backlog up to date.
• The Scrum Master: Ensures the team follows the Scrum process while resolving impediments and other "blocking" issues that arise during the sprint.
• The Development Team: Responsible for building the product and ensuring the quality of the work delivered.

Product Backlog

The product backlog is a prioritised list of work for the team to deliver. The Product Owner is responsible for adding, changing, and reprioritising items in the backlog based on evolving needs.

Planning the Sprint

During sprint planning, the team selects items from the product backlog to address in the upcoming sprint. These items are chosen based on priority and the team's capacity. Often, each item in the sprint backlog is broken down into specific tasks.

Once the sprint begins, the team executes the work defined in the sprint backlog. Scrum defines a practice called the Daily Scrum (often referred to as the "daily stand-up"). This meeting is typically limited to fifteen minutes, during which each team member briefly reports on their progress, plans for the day, and any obstacles impeding their work.

Sprint Review

At the end of the sprint, the team demonstrates what they have accomplished to the stakeholders.

Sprint Retrospective

The team takes time to reflect on what went well and which areas need improvement. The primary outcomes of the retrospective are actionable items for the next sprint.