Scrum.org

DECEMBER 10, 2023

TL; DR: How To Spot Successful Scrum Masters In this article, I unravel the secrets of what makes a Scrum Master not just good but amazingly outstanding. From regularly achieving Sprint Goals, delivering value to customers, and building stakeholder rapport easily, discover the traits that set apart successful Scrum Masters.

SCRUM 190

SCRUM Underperforming Technical Team Innovation Leadership 190

Scrum.org

JANUARY 13, 2024

Are Special Sprints in Agile Truly Beneficial? In my journey with Agile, I've often encountered teams embroiled in what I term 'special sprints' – Sprint zeros, refactoring sprints, and bugfix sprints. At first glance, these sprints appear as a savvy adaptation of Agile. The result?

Agile 158

Agile 2024 Sustainability Risk Management 158

Scrum.org

FEBRUARY 21, 2024

Being a Scrum Master is more than framework compliance. Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps teams and organisations to deliver value while managing complexity. A Scrum Master's accountability, therefore, goes well beyond just managing processes. The Scrum Master works with the team to focus on delivering value.

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SCRUM Process 2024 Influencer 149

Scrum.org

NOVEMBER 1, 2022

Too many OKRs are set without any respect/consideration of the ability to deliver them sustainably while dealing with other work in the organization. OKR Theater has the potential to become a member of a big family – Scrum Theater, Agile Theater, SAFe Theater, Lean Theater, Six Sigma Theater; you get the picture.

SCRUM 179

SCRUM Agile Sustainability Lean 179

Scrum.org

MAY 8, 2023

TL; DR: Life Is a Negotiation; Why Would Scrum Be Different? Life is a negotiation; why would Scrum be different, particularly given its egalitarian nature? As you may recall, no one on a Scrum team can tell anyone else what to do, how to do it, or when to do it. Rant: Scrum Masters are no Project Managers ! ? ? ??

SCRUM 176

SCRUM Agile Technical Review Software Review 176

Scrum.org

AUGUST 15, 2023

Adaptation of Kaner’s diamond model of participation (source Carrie Kappel 2019) Techniques and Training for Top Scrum Facilitation Skills Scrum is a framework that thrives on communication and collaboration. Agile team facilitation entails more than just conducting meetings or steering conversations.

Agile 156

Agile SCRUM 2019 Leadership 156

Scrum.org

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

TL; DR: Lost in Communication and Collaboration Lost in Communication and Collaboration addresses two categories from the Scrum anti-patterns taxonomy that are closely aligned: ineffective collaboration at the stakeholder level, often resulting in an unsuited reporting system based on misaligned metrics. Lack of research tasks.

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SCRUM Performance Measurement Estimate Sustainability 177

Scrum.org

JANUARY 8, 2024

They know that Scrum practices and values are key to that. Their insights often align Scrum with broader business goals, ensuring project success and overall organisational triumph. Their leadership style is characterised by focusing on outcomes and business impact rather than just processes.

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SCRUM 2024 Innovation Sustainability 180

Scrum.org

MARCH 16, 2024

These innovative agile practices are a departure from the Taylorist traditions of the defense industry, which is grappling with continuous inflation and delays, impacting national security and human lives. How can Scrum principles be applied in the defense industry? However, not all is lost.

Agile 157

Agile Technical Review Manufacturing Innovation 157

Scrum.org

JULY 26, 2021

TL; DR: Abandoning Scrum. Can a Scrum team simply decide to abandon Scrum? After all, the Scrum team is self-managing, according to the Scrum manual, also known as the Scrum Guide. You can sign up here for the ‘Food for Agile Thought’ newsletter and join 32,000-plus other subscribers. ??

SCRUM 218

SCRUM 2020 Agile Sustainability 218

Scrum.org

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023

But what if this managerial focus on velocity is a fata morgana obscuring the path to true agility and value? ? Get notified when the Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book is available ! ? You can sign up here for the ‘Food for Agile Thought’ newsletter and join 48,000-plus subscribers. ? By the way, it’s free.

Sustainability 245

Sustainability Technical Review Innovation SCRUM 245

Scrum.org

MARCH 10, 2023

Photo by Alora Griffiths on Unsplash The Ultimate Litmus Test: Go on Vacation If the outcome of an effective Scrum Master is to create a high-performing, self-managing team, the litmus test may be — what happens when you are not there? Read on for three Power-Ups to drive change, achieve results, and promote sustainable Agile practices.

SCRUM 160

SCRUM Technical Review Sustainability Software Review 160

Scrum.org

OCTOBER 7, 2023

Joanne Perold emphasises the importance of understanding the global challenges we face and how agile principles can be applied to address them. She highlights the significance of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they serve as a roadmap for global betterment. Watch the full video. Enjoy this video?

Agile 156

Agile Sustainability Consulting Lean 156

Scrum.org

JANUARY 30, 2023

TL; DR: Agile Transformation with ChatGPT or McBoston? I was interested in learning more about a typical daily challenge many agile practitioners face: How shall we successfully pursue an agile transformation? Or shall we embark on an agile transformation with ChatGPT providing some guidance?

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ChatGPT Agile Artificial Inteligence Consulting 194

Scrum.org

MAY 19, 2023

The Creating Agile Organizations approach is about designing your own organizational framework and coaching its adoption. It is important to note that it is different from frameworks like Scrum, LeSS or SAFe, which have specific structures, rules, events, and artefacts to build upon.

Agile 188

Agile Sustainability Risk Management Defining 188

Scrum.org

MARCH 16, 2023

Some time ago, I had an interesting conversation with an Agile Coach from a large car manufacturer in Germany. As an Agile Coach, he’s responsible for about 50 Scrum Masters. For about one hour we talked about how to be a servant leader for such a group of Scrum Masters. What are ways to lead, inspire, and guide them?

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SCRUM Leadership Consulting Defining 195

Scrum.org

JANUARY 18, 2022

. The portrayal of a Scrum Master on a Scrum Team is barely the same as the role of the traditional Project Manager. Scrum Masters have their own ways of not being an overlord in the traditional sense and are more focused on being the facilitator at the same level as others on their team. Difficulty in sustaining the Time-Box.

SCRUM 236

SCRUM Sustainability Agile Energy 236

Scrum.org

OCTOBER 7, 2023

Joanne Perold emphasises the importance of understanding the global challenges we face and how agile principles can be applied to address them. She highlights the significance of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how they serve as a roadmap for global betterment. Watch the full video. Enjoy this video?

Agile 149

Agile Sustainability Consulting Lean 149

Scrum.org

JULY 17, 2023

Agile has become more than just a buzzword in our complex world. Agility is a mindset, a skillset, a culture, and a driving force behind successful, flexible, and responsive organisations. The Agile Leader's commitment goes beyond mere lip service to the Agile Manifesto. In the Agile world, this couldn't be truer.

Agile 140

Agile Underperforming Technical Team Innovation Leadership 140

The IIL Blog

MAY 24, 2023

By Ashley Jorgensen Since its creation 8 years ago, IIL’s annual Agile & Scrum Online Conference has quickly become a gathering place for Agile enthusiasts from all around the world, and this year is no exception. Interested in learning more about AI and the role it can play in our Agile teams?

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Agile SCRUM Artificial Inteligence 2023 78

Scrum.org

AUGUST 3, 2023

The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as described in the Scrum Guide. The Scrum Master is a teacher, coach, impediment remover, change agent, mentor, and facilitator. They lead by example and they serve the Scrum team, the organization and the Product Owner.

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SCRUM Software Review Technical Review Innovation 151

Scrum.org

JANUARY 4, 2022

Many well-meaning Scrum practitioners have misconceptions about Scrum, which sometimes leads to creating “rules” that do not exist in the framework. Scrum is deliberately incomplete because the framework is used in complex environments where simple best practices won’t fit all situations.

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SCRUM 2020 Cadence Technical Review 197

Scrum.org

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

TL; DR: Adapt How You Lead for Agile Success w/ Johanna Rothman — ACB21. Too many people say, “With agile, we don’t need no stinkin’ managers.” However, because managers create and refine the culture, modern managers create and refine the agile culture. Without modern management, any agile initiative will die.

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2021 Agile 2022 Sustainability 163

Scrum.org

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

On June 30th Christopher Handscomb and I presented a webinar based on our joint research on the topic of the value of enterprise agility. Firstly, I see Enterprise agility - building an agile organizational system - as being all about creating resilience and sustainability over time. And I really mean active engagement.

Agile 254

Agile Technical Review Development Team Review SCRUM 254

Scrum.org

JUNE 1, 2023

Embracing self-management can be challenging for teams transitioning to Scrum. Scrum Masters play a critical role in helping their teams embrace greater autonomy. Getting everyone on the same page Every Scrum Team member needs to understand the framework and its benefits. That includes leadership. What is important to us?

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Underperforming Technical Team SCRUM 2023 Sustainability 171

Scrum.org

AUGUST 13, 2023

TL; DR: Adherence to Legacy Systems, Processes, and Practices Administrative overreach and micromanagement in Scrum mainly arise from clinging to legacy systems and traditional (management) practices, leading to rigidity and misapplication of Agile principles. Get notified when the Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book is available !

Process 163

Process Sustainability Technical Review SCRUM 163

Scrum.org

MARCH 21, 2024

This subtle change signals a seismic shift in mindset: from temporary initiatives to sustainable, evolving solutions. It requires not just a change in vocabulary but a cultural shift, a realignment of values towards long-term impact, customer satisfaction, and sustainable growth. Now, imagine a shift – a simple yet profound one.

Sustainability 188

Sustainability Innovation Leadership Initiating 188

Scrum.org

MAY 10, 2020

In a post some time ago, I elaborated on the qualities of the Emotional Scrum Master. During a 20/20 vision on my writings, I discovered clusters of knowledge that are essential to Scrum Masters and Agile Coaches: Genuine coaching techniques, knowledge of psychological principles and above all, understanding and developing “Self” awareness.

Leadership 159

Leadership SCRUM Sustainability Agile 159

Scrum.org

MARCH 22, 2020

Completing an Agile Coaching certification doesn’t make you an Agile Coach. Just to be clear, this bare-bones guide isn’t the only way of becoming an effective Agile coach but does contain enough to give you a solid foundation so you can be useful, effective and deliver a ton of value to your clients and the organisations you serve.

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Agile SCRUM Certification Sustainability 203

Scrum.org

MAY 17, 2021

One of my customers is hiring for the Scrum Master Role and asked if I had a handy-dandy Scrum Master Job Spec that they could use. Here is my best effort to use the existing job postings, and combine them with the latest version of the Scrum Guide. Professional Scrum Master. . Hiring a Professional Scrum Master.

Technical Review 132

Technical Review SCRUM Development Team Review Certification 132

Scrum.org

NOVEMBER 20, 2023

In many large organizations, Scrum teams fall into the ‘feature factory’ trap, focusing more on churning out features than creating real value. It’s too bad that this shift undermines Agile principles and hampers long-term success and innovation. Preorder the Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book now for delivery in January 2024!

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Technical Review Software Review Underperforming Technical Team Sustainability 189

Scrum.org

AUGUST 11, 2021

Of late, I've been noticing an interpretation of the Scrum Master role - the Scrum Master as An FFFCDO for Developers - a Fierce, Ferocious, Fearsome Chief Defense Officer! What is the Scrum Master protecting the Developers from? Who are the persecutors the Scrum Master protecting the Developers from? SCRUM VALUES.

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Underperforming Technical Team SCRUM Leadership Energy 221

ProjectManager.com

JULY 31, 2019

More along the lines of project management, though, is the Agile Manifesto. Agile is a bit of a controversial topic in the field. Either way, agile offers a fast and nimble way to work that first benefited software development before expanding its reach to almost every industry. What Is Agile? You’re not alone.

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Agile 2001 Software Developers Software Development 279

International Institute for Learning

MARCH 29, 2022

IIL’s 6th annual Agile and Scrum Online Conference: Co-Create for Greater Value opens on June 3, 2021. Agile has become one of the hottest topics in the project management world, mainly due to its proven success in software projects and its ability to deliver quick and real value to customers. Agile Transformation.

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2021 Fractional CTO Agile SCRUM 98

Scrum.org

NOVEMBER 5, 2023

TL; DR: The Illusion of Velocity In this article, I explore the pitfalls of ‘The Illusion of Velocity’ in agile contexts, peeling back the layers of traditional metrics as leadership tools. Moreover, I point to the advantages gained from leadership engaging directly with teams.

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Leadership Underperforming Technical Team 2007 Agile 175

Scrum.org

AUGUST 25, 2022

How sustainable is your pace as a developer? What is a sustainable pace? The notion of “sustainable pace” is closely tied to Extreme Programming practices. But that recommendation was updated to “sustainable pace” by Ron Jeffries later. Pace should be sustainable over a long time. . Source: Wikipedia. .

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Sustainability 2015 2014 2013 187

Wrike

SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape, organizations are increasingly turning to agile methodologies to drive innovation and achieve their goals. At the heart of agile teams is the Scrum Master, a role that plays a crucial part in ensuring the team’s success.

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SCRUM Agile Technical Review Software Review 36