Page 27 - DCAP304_DCAP515_SOFTWARE_PROJECT_MANAGEMENT

Unit 1: Introduction to Software Project Management

Notes
Figure 1.3: The Scrum Work Flow

Scrum is an iterative, incremental process for developing a product. The dissimilar iterations
are shown in Figure 1.3.

Scrum works by first important a backlog of things that need to be done; this list is usually
maintained by one person. Other interested parties can request things to be put on a backlog.
For each sprint a subset of the backlog is chosen to be done. All through the sprint the team will
only work on the things that are in the sprint’s backlog to keep people focused and creative. Each
day of a sprint there is a Scrum in which the team members respond to the following questions:
 What did you do since the last Scrum meeting?

 Do you have any obstacles?
 What will you do before the next meeting?
The sprint is lead by the so called Scrum Master. It’s his job to eliminate all the obstacles that
the team has encountered as soon as possible. This ensures that the team itself can stay focused
on the task itself. A Scrum ensures that the team as a entire stays in touch with all parts of the
sprint. During a Scrum, management and the customer may be present but only the Scrum
Master and the team members are allowed to talk. This is to be sure that the Scrum is short and
focus on the task at hand. After each sprint there is usually a demonstration of what has been
done. Before the start of a new sprint a discussion with the team and management is held to
establish a new sprint backlog based on the result of the last sprint and changes to the
environment/requirements.

Scrum’s main focus points are on team empowerment and flexibility. During sprint a team itself
is responsible for doing the given work. The only interaction with management is to tell them
what’s getting in their way and what needs to be removed to get better productivity. Because
after each sprint, the next increment can be changed according to the accomplishments and the
changes in the environment, the project is very flexible and adaptable.
Application Area

Tentatively Scrum can always be applied when a group of people should work together to
archive a common goal. It has even been used as a project management approach, in a so called
“Scrum of Scrums”. Of course to work correctly the teams should be small, but this can be solved
by dividing projects into sub-teams. In the ideal situation all team members should be at the
same location for optimal communications among the members. But when this is not the case
the Scrum meetings and is held as a teleconference.

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