Management in our country and around the world is developing at a rapid pace. There are hundreds of techniques that allow you to manage people, processes and companies with good returns. But some of these technologies are currently considered the most effective and efficient. The relatively recent Scrum methodology also applies to them.
Scrum is by far the most popular agile technology of all. One of its main features is that it relies on teamwork.
Scrum - what is it
In the world of entrepreneurship, the emphasis in the implementation of a project in most cases is on the individual. That is, each employee of the company is responsible for the assigned work and is accountable for it.
However, any production exists primarily due to group efforts. The best people in a firm can, of course, get the job done faster than others. But it is the brilliant teams that increase the productivity of the company.
When implementing projects according to the Scrum method (pronounced not "scrum", but "scrum"), it is primarily a group in which each person performs a particular function. That is, the participants in the project in this case, in contrast to the usual methods, are people not of one specialty, but of different ones.
The process of working according to the Scrum methodology itself is divided into several parts with the setting of specific goals. After reaching the minimum tasks, the team reports to the customer. Very often this technique is used, for example, by software development teams.
A simple example of organizing work using Scrum technology
In ordinary companies, accountants work together with other accountants, programmers - with programmers, etc. When using Scrum technology, the situation is completely different.
For example, when applying this technique, team members at a pastry shop or bakery will:
- Chef;
- technologist;
- confectioner;
- seller.
All these people should work as closely together as possible. For example, a salesperson informs the team that customers are not in demand for pies with potato filling, and at the same time they very often buy baked goods of an interesting shape.
The team takes these recommendations into account and begins to bake triangular pies with currants. The product is quickly sold out by customers, which leads to an increase in the profitability of the confectionery.
History of creation
Actually, the very concept of "scrum" saw the light back in the 80s of the last century. It was introduced into use by scientists from Japan H. Takeuchi and I. Nonaki, who noted the success of projects implemented by mini-groups without general specialization.
In 1993, this original approach was used in the development of a management methodology for Easel by programmer Joseph Sutherland. This American specialist called it officially Scrum.
A couple of years later, programmer Ken Schwaber adapted Scrum technology to the entire industry. Since then, Scrum began to gain popularity, and today many companies around the world work using this methodology.
Why you should learn about Scrum: the benefits of technology
The Scrum methodology has gained immense popularity in the world, first of all, for the fact that its use allows you to implement projects twice as fast. In addition, this technology, in contrast to the previously used ones, allows in the end to get exactly the product that the client needs.
The advantages of the Scrum methodology, among other things, include the ability to:
- minimization of the project budget;
- daily monitoring of the progress of work;
- making adjustments directly in the course of implementation.
Are there any disadvantages
There are many advantages to Scrum agile management technology. But this technique, like any other, of course, has its drawbacks. The disadvantages of Scrum include, for example:
- A large number of exceptions. It will be simply impossible for an incompetent manager to complete a project using this methodology, unlike traditional ones, with a low budget, insufficient qualifications of workers.
- Difficulties in concluding contracts. When applying this technique, there is no fixed terms of reference or budget. And this complicates the legal registration of the project.
- Not a very broad specialization of the method. In some cases, not all stages of project development can be implemented using Scrum.
Technology features
In addition to teamwork and the presence of mini-goals, the features of the Scrum methodology include:
- Lack of a hierarchy of power. In ordinary companies, downline employees do what their superiors tell them to do. When using the Scrum method, all team members work together.
- Coherence of actions. There is no hierarchy in the team in this case, but the activities of the project participants are directed by the owner of the final product. It is this person who sets the main vector of the group's work.
- Collective responsibility for the result. If the project fails, instead of looking for the culprit, the team identifies the root cause of the problem and fixes it.
Scrum framework
Scrum project management consists of 3 main parts:
- roles;
- practitioner;
- artifacts.
Each of these parts, in turn, also includes several elements.
Roles
There are three roles in Scrum:
- product owner - customer representative;
- Scrum Master - one of the team members who guides its development;
- developers - a team of specialists of 5-9 people responsible for achieving the selected tasks.
The Product Owner, when implementing a Scrum project, interacts with the team, coordinates its actions, submits requirements and ultimately accepts and evaluates the results.
Scrum Master, among other things, solves problems that interfere with work. He is also responsible for creating team spirit in the group.
The primary task of the developers is to set realistic goals at each stage and achieve them within the scheduled time frame.
Practices
Mini-stages with specific goals in Scrum are called sprints. Each such phase usually lasts 2-4 weeks. The task of the team is at the final stage of each sprint to get a finished product that can be demonstrated to the client.
Practitioners in Scrum, like roles, have three:
- daily meetings - held in the morning before starting work;
- sprint review meetings - held at the end of the phase;
- emergency stop of the sprint - termination of work before the deadline in case of impossibility to complete the task or at the initiative of the customer.
Artifacts
The main artifacts of any Scrum project are:
- product log - a list of customer requirements, sorted by importance;
- sprint log broken down into micro-tasks;
- Sprint Schedule - Shows changes in workload.
The Scrum group usually has no more than 2 days to complete each goal from the sprint log.
