The (mis)adventures of an agile coach
This article is a review of “Scrum – The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time” by Jeff Sutherland. In an earlier article I referred to this book by its somewhat misleading title. Scrum emphasizes delivering value and improving the overall process over simply increasing output or doing more work in less … Read more
There are valid reasons why a company would want to implement Scrum. Scrum is widely used in many businesses, particularly in IT. However, why would a company want to implement Scrum? Are there any misunderstandings? And what is the reason that resonates with me the strongest? Adopting Scrum for invalid reasons (and its dangers) Scrum … Read more
How many Scrum Teams does it take to overwork a Scrum Master? It sounds like the beginning of a joke. What is the ideal number of Scrum Teams for a Scrum Master? The benefit of attending trainings is that you can discuss everyday problems with peers – in this case, other Scrum Masters. One topic … Read more
Product Backlog Items (PBIs) should be “bite-sized” in Scrum so that they can be completed in a single Sprint. This ensures that the team can savor the flavor of delivering value frequently, while also keeping the work manageable. Like a delicious meal that isn’t too filling! When PBIs are too large, the team may struggle … Read more
Velocity can be a useful metric for measuring a Scrum Team’s performance. The concept of velocity is based on tracking the amount of work completed by a team during each Sprint. Merits of velocity A team can gain a good understanding of their capacity and the amount of work they can handle in a given … Read more
The Sprint Review is an important Scrum Event in which the Scrum Team shows the stakeholders and other members of the organization the work completed during the Sprint. The Sprint Review’s purpose is to gather feedback on completed work and plan for the next Sprint. The Scrum Master and Product Owner play an important role … Read more
Embracing emergent architecture and resolving technical debt are two major challenges that Developers working with Scrum often face. These challenges can have a significant impact on a product’s overall success and necessitate collaboration and communication between the Scrum Team and management. Architecture without a predetermined plan Emergent architecture is a software development approach in which … Read more
Three weeks ago I attempted my first try at the Professional Scrum Master III (PSM III) assessment. Today I got the results back, and I sadly did not pass. I got a score of 68.8%, where 85% was required to pass. Although I am a bit disappointed, I am actually very happy that I undertook … Read more
This article is a review of “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick Lencioni. Patrick Lencioni’s leadership book “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” describes five main dysfunctions that prohibit teams from reaching their full potential. According to Lencioni, these dysfunctions are interrelated, with each one building on the one … Read more
The Daily Scrum is an important Scrum event. It is a daily meeting in which the Developers discuss their progress, identify any roadblocks and plan for the next 24 hours. The Scrum Master is critical in facilitating this meeting and ensuring that it runs smoothly and efficiently. Creating an environment conducive to open and honest … Read more
In November 2022, I started working for an international software company with offices and remote Scrum Teams across different timezones. We’re talking about two different timezones in Europe and one on the other side of the world – in Australia. Crikey! There was even a short situation that members within one of the Scrum Teams … Read more
This article is a review of “Fixing Your Scrum” by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller. The book “Fixing Your Scrum” by Ryan Ripley and Todd Miller aims to help Scrum practitioners improve their Scrum practices and overcome common challenges. It is a well-written and well-thought-out guidebook for solving’real-world’ Scrum problems and improving team performance. The … Read more
A Definition of Ready (DoR) is a useful tool for ensuring that PBIs are prepared for development. A DoR is a shared understanding of what it means for a PBI to be ready, and it is used during Product Backlog Refinements to ensure that PBIs in the Product Backlog are well-understood, refined, and ready for … Read more
I’ve been thinking lately about whether it’s a good idea to write about diversity. It is a subject near and dear to my heart, but when I see how it is discussed, I am always afraid to speak out on it. If there is a debate about this topic, it is mostly the tone that … Read more
The Product Backlog Refinement is an important (but unofficial) Scrum event that helps to ensure that the Product Backlog is well-maintained and organized, and that the most important PBIs are ready for development. The Scrum Master facilitates these refinements by providing guidance and support to the Scrum Team and assisting in the smooth operation of … Read more