Sprint 4: SCRUM
Table of Contents
1 About this Sprint
This Sprint focuses on the agile development methodology SCRUM.
2 Sprint Goals
The student will gain a deep understanding of SCRUM, and how to apply it to their context.
3 Readings
3.1 Book Chapters
- M. Cohn “Succeeding with Agile”, chapters 14-16
- J. Rasmusson “The Agile Samurai”, chapters 6-8
3.2 Screencasts
3.3 Articles
SCRUM, Experiences from [Moe et al. 2010] Nils Brede Moe, Torgeir Dingsøyr, Tore Dybå: A teamwork model for understanding an agile team: A case study of a Scrum project. Information \& Software Technology 52(5): 480-491 (2010).
Agile Transitioning, developers’ opinions [Laanti et al. 2011] Maarit Laanti, Outi Salo, Pekka Abrahamsson: Agile methods rapidly replacing traditional methods at Nokia: A survey of opinions on agile transformation. Information \& Software Technology 53(3): 276-290 (2011).
Agile Transitioning, success and failure factors [Chow & Cao 2008] T. Chow, DB Cao, A survey study of critical success factors in agile software projects, Journal of Systems and Software 81 (2008) 961–971.
3.4 Further Reading Optional
Scaled Agile Framework [Leffingwell 2011] D. Leffinwell “Agile Software Requirements”, Addison-Wesley Professional, 2011. ISBN: 0321635841.
Scaled Agile Framework http://www.scaledagileframework.com/
4 Experiential Learning
4.1 Introduction
There are three principal ways of imposing changes; you can pick a complete existing framework and impose that over the existing process, you can cherry-pick from a smorgasbord of agile/lean methodologies and stitch together to form your own framework, or you may use a free-form analysis of the current map and suggest changes as you see them. There is an increasing level of difficulty between these steps; in order to stitch together your own framework you need to know the consequences of each of your decisions, something which is implicitly already done in an existing framework. Obviously, free-forming your analysis and improvement suggestions requires even further knowledge about process improvement.
The intention of this assignment is to use your existing process as a playground to see what would be required to implement a (potentially) different developent practice, i.e. Scrum. This gives you insight into how Scrum is constructed, and the typical elements and mindsets that are embedded in agile/lean frameworks.
4.2 TODO Apply SCRUM
4.2.1 Tasks
Apply Scrum as a development framework for your entire development process, and pay special attention to the following:
- Transform your VSM process so that it fits into the Scrum workflow.
- Describe the steps by which Scrum would produce the input to the process in your VSM.
- Describe how your VSM process fits into the context of a sprint.
- Describe the steps by which Scrum will take the output from your VSM process and deliver value to the customer.
- Reason about the values that Scrum, as a development framework, focus on.
4.2.2 Delivery
Deliver your assignment via e-mail as a written report or a well-annotated set of presentation slides to the course managers.
4.3 TODO Update Backlog
Based on what you have learnt in this sprint, update your Agile/Lean backlog accordingly. Specifically;
- Revisit the order of the course sprints. Are there any sprints you would like to do sooner or later?
- What can you take with you from this sprint into your own organisation?
- What do you need to learn more about?
Add and move items in your Agile/Lean backlog according to your needs and priorities.
5 Sprint Acceptance Tests
5.1 Assignment: Apply Scrum Checkpoint
The assignment is marked as Pass or Fail. The criteria for passing the assignment is that it is at least possible to use it for answering questions such as:
- Is it possible to see how the studied process fits into a development methodology based on Scrum?
- Is it possible to understand how requirements enter the described process and how they are handled throughout the development process?
- Is it possible to understand which values are affected by the development process, where thet are affected, and how?
- Is it possible to understand how value is delivered to the customer?
- Is there a discussion about the values that Scrum focus on?