A quick guide to the Scrum Framework in project management – Read this quick guide to the Scrum Framework to learn how Scrum can help with the management of your projects. The Scrum methodology is a very easy to understand framework that makes collaboration within a team easier when working on projects that are complex in nature.
In a Scrum project, the team will complete small amounts of work then request and incorporate feedback from stakeholders to learn and improve as the project progresses. Scrum ensures that projects deliver value by working in a more collaborative way than with traditional project methodologies. Scrum is an agile project management framework with enough structure, flexibility and best practices so that each project can be optimised for its specific needs and deliver more successful outcomes.
When it comes to project management, Scrum can help improve team work by focusing on accountability in an iterative process with a well-defined goal as its end target. The term, as you might expect, comes from the game of rugby, where a scrum is a formation in which all the members of the team have their own defined, specific roles, yet they are all working towards one goal.
For anyone working with the Scrum methodology in a project management environment this means starting with those tasks and activities that are known, tracking progress and then adapting the actions of the team as required.
Scrum is a great way for a project team to put their project management skills to the test. Skills such as:
- Effective Communication
- Organisation Skills
- Time Management
- Interpersonal Skills
- Problem-Solving Abilities
- Leadership Qualities
What exactly is Scrum?
Scrum is a framework for managing projects for a more successful final outcome. Within this framework people can address complex tasks during the lifecycle of the project and then adapt to overcome any problems and complete the tasks. The project team is able to be productive and creative whilst still delivering the highest quality products.
Scrum has been in use since the early 1990’s so it is not a new process but is still not widely adopted for project management in many industries. Its main aim is to make very clear the efficacy of both work techniques and project management whilst allowing for the improvement of everything involved; the product, the work environment and the team.
The framework that Scrum relies on for its success is made up of Scrum teams and their roles, any events that are required and the rules that have been established for a particular project. Within the framework each component plays a vital role that is absolutely essential to overall success.
The roles, events and all aspects of the Scrum framework are linked by the rules.
Scrum usage
Initially Scrum was developed with the management and development of products in mind and it has been used widely in the development of software.
The key point about Scrum is that project teams should have a small number of people, the members need to be very flexible and have the desire and ability to adapt as changes become apparent throughout the project. The real strength of these types of project teams is in their ability to work collaboratively with other similar teams in order to produce the results they require from any project they undertake.
The Scrum Master
The person overseeing the project, the Scrum Master or project leader, is responsible for overseeing every aspect of the project, from planning the project, the tasks that need doing and the order in which they need doing – then reviewing progress. It is the Scrum Master’s role to understand and implement Scrum rules and help the project run as smoothly as possible.
Poppy Watt