Scrum Methodology: 5 Tips to Guide You

Scrum methodology, a project management technique that’s ideal for software projects, divides a project into smaller working sections managed with a tightly knit team approach. For those who wonder whether or not they are practicing Scrum, certified scrum trainers, like Alan Cyment, have said: “If you are following all of the framework rules, you are. If not, you are not.”  Follow these guidelines to ensure that you stay on track and gain all the benefits that Scrum can provide.

1. There are many practices with Agile. But Scrum is a very tiny yet powerful machine that will not achieve its goal if you customize it.  You need to follow the rules for the machine to do its work.
2. Deliberate, consistent focus is key:  focus on your story; focus on standup meetings; focus on the Scrum board; focus on Sprint review meetings. Incorporate the use of the Pomodoro timer (a time-management tool that breaks down periods of work into 25-minute intervals) to sharpen focus; it can deter interruptions and improve performance.
3. Remember that the individual is bigger than team. This means that each person’s ability to achieve is critical to the effectiveness of the entire team.  Plan for success by using mentoring to encourage strengths and workload assessments to ensure that individuals are not stretched too thin.
4. Time-boxed events (tasks with a fixed time period) and well-defined priorities are powerful tools to keep the team and each sprint on task and on time.
5. Training is not an occasional event; it should be incorporated into daily work. The Scrum Master must coach the team to facilitate effective understanding and adherence to Scrum rules and practices.

Following these steps to adhere to Scrum practices can optimize productivity, teamwork and results.