The Three Pillars of Scrum

Transparency

Open communication is key in Scrum. Everyone—team members and stakeholders—needs to have the same understanding of the work and its current status.

The goal is to avoid surprises and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Inspection

Scrum encourages regular check-ins to make sure the work is progressing as expected.

By identifying any issues early, the team can address problems before they grow and potentially derail the project.

Adaptation

If something’s not working—whether it’s the product, the process, or the progress—it’s time to adapt.

Changes should happen quickly to ensure the project stays aligned with its goals.

Key Elements of Scrum

Artifacts
These are the tools that guide the team and define the scope of the work:

  • Product Backlog: A list of everything that needs to be done to achieve the project goals. Think of it as the project’s to-do list.
  • Sprint Backlog: A smaller, more focused list of tasks the team plans to tackle during a specific sprint.
  • Increment: The finished, usable product that’s delivered at the end of a sprint.

The Scrum Team
The Scrum team works as one cohesive unit, with three main roles:

  • Product Owner: Manages the backlog and ensures the team is working on what brings the most value to the customer.
  • Development Team: A cross-functional group of professionals who build and deliver the product.
  • Scrum Master: A facilitator who helps the team follow Scrum principles and remove any obstacles they might face.
There’s no hierarchy here—just collaboration. Teams are usually kept small (up to 10 people) to maintain efficiency and flexibility.

Scrum Events
These events keep the team organized and moving forward:

  • The Sprint: The core of Scrum, a time-boxed period (usually 1-4 weeks) during which the team works on delivering a usable increment.
  • Inside the Sprint:
    • Sprint Planning: A meeting where the team decides what they’ll accomplish during the sprint.
    • Daily Scrum: A quick, daily check-in (often called a stand-up) to ensure everyone is aligned.
    • Sprint Review: A meeting to showcase the completed work to stakeholders and gather feedback.
    • Sprint Retrospective: A session to reflect on what went well, what didn’t, and how the team can improve in the next sprint.

    Scrum is all about being lean, transparent, and adaptable. It’s designed to help teams handle complex challenges by breaking work into manageable chunks, focusing on delivering value, and constantly improving.