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FIGURE 1.2 How Scrum Works

      Source: “How Scrum Works: Scrum Framework,” Scrum Inc., https://www.scruminc.com/scrum-framework/.

RECIPE: EXPLAINING THE CONCEPT

      We are both cooks, or home chefs if you prefer. Sometimes we are bakers, when we attempt to re‐create some of our favorite desserts from shows like Nailed It, Sugar Rush, or Cake Boss. As chefs and bakers, we start with a recipe. Usually, the first time we make a dish, it is “by the book” and we strictly follow the recipe … unless we lack an ingredient in our pantry. If this is the case, we are Agile and substitute another ingredient or simply make do without it. After the first or second time cooking the dish, we start to look for variations to improve the dish. Sometimes the variations are suggestions from others. Sometimes they are based on personal experience. Sometimes they are driven by food allergies, availability of pantry items, or other necessities.

      This approach to using a recipe is analogous to your approach for your Agile audit recipe. Sometimes the recipe is perfectly designed, sometimes the variations make the product better, and sometimes the variations are a complete and utter disaster. Your experiments and learning experiences will drive continuous improvement and each successive dish you prepare will get better and better. Experiment and learn with Agile. This will make you a better Agile auditor and enable you to create better dishes to serve your customers. This is comparable to Scrum; rather than providing detailed instructions, the rules of Scrum guide people's relationships and interactions.

NUGGETS

Agile is a project management approach to breaking down projects into smaller deliverables. It is a mindset of being able to move quickly in response to your environment. There are many frameworks and approaches to Agile project management, including Scrum, which is the most popular. The Agile Manifesto and Agile principles establish a foundation to build an Agile approach for your organization, regardless of which framework you select. Scrum includes a set of values and attempts to create value by collaborating with the customer, streamlining projects, and building efficiency using three roles, three Artifacts, and five activities in every Scrum project. Scrum projects include Sprints. Each Sprint lasts from one week to four weeks. Self‐managing teams complete each Sprint. The team creates a Sprint Backlog to clarify the Sprint tasks the team intends to complete during the Sprint. The Sprint Backlog includes a series of iterations to design, plan, test, inspect, and improve the next iteration and Sprint. Once the Sprint Backlog tasks are complete, the Sprint is over, and a new Sprint begins. The Sprint iterations repeat until the team completes the Scrum project and provides an increment, or product, to the customer. An important aspect to remember is that while implementing only parts of Scrum is possible, the result is not Scrum. Scrum exists only in its entirety and functions well as a container for other techniques, methodologies, and practices. As you begin your transformation, take a look at the recipes to help you determine your methodology. Don't be afraid to adjust the recipes!