Lecture Notes: The Scrum Events

Introduction to Scrum Events

• Scrum includes five essential events akin to music orchestra, directed by the Scrum Master.
• These events are critical for the effective execution of Scrum.

Overview of Scrum Events

• The five events: Sprint, Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.
• Scrum workflow supports these events.

Sprint

• Sets the cadence for the Scrum team, supports sustainable pace.
• Duration: Up to one month, often two weeks.
• All Scrum events occur within the Sprint.
• Sprints have fixed durations, cannot be modified to fit work.

Sprint Planning

• Purpose: Define Sprint Goal (Why), list work items (What), and execution plan (How).

Activities in Sprint Planning

1. Setting the Why

   • Collaboratively decide on the Sprint Goal.
   • Align work with the Sprint Goal for focused efforts.

2. Setting the What

   • Product Owner proposes priority items.
   • Developers commit to what they can complete, considering capacity.
   • Commitment builds trust, yet is not punitive if unmet.

3. Setting the How

   • Developers plan work execution, dealing with dependencies and resources.
   • Product Owner present to clarify work expectations.

Daily Scrum

• Opportunity for Developers to inspect progress toward Sprint Goal.
• Held daily, timeboxed to 15 minutes.
• Focus on progress, impediments, and daily plans.
• Scrum Master facilitates if needed; Product Owner observes silently.

Sprint Review

• Held at Sprint end for presenting completed work to stakeholders.
• Informal meeting for feedback, collaboration, and adaptation.
• Stakeholder participation crucial for feedback on product progress.
• Adjust Product Backlog and release plans based on feedback.

Sprint Retrospective

• Occurs after Sprint Review for team improvement.
• Focus on team processes, behaviors, and collaboration.

Guidelines for Retrospective

• Discuss what went well and potential improvements.
• Scrum Master ensures it happens but not necessarily facilitates.
• Involve discussions on solutions, not just problems.
• Identify action items for Product Backlog or next Sprint.
• Vary exercises to maintain fresh perspectives.

Summary Table of Scrum Events

• Brief information on the purpose, participants, and outcomes of each event.
• Useful for team alignment and practical use during Scrum events.

Additional Resources

• PDF document available for download as a practical guide for Scrum events.