Scrum team

What is the need for it? & how the values are provided by scrum
team?

Scrum Team is a fundamental component of the Scrum framework, which is a popular

Agile methodology used in software development and other project management
domains. The Scrum Team is a self-organizing and cross-functional group of
individuals who work collaboratively to deliver a product incrementally. Let's delve
into what a Scrum Team is, its need, and how it provides values in the context of Scrum:

1. Scrum Team Composition:

A Scrum Team typically consists of the following key roles:

• Product Owner: Represents the stakeholders and is responsible for defining and
prioritizing the product backlog, ensuring the team is working on the most valuable
features.
• Scrum Master: Facilitates the Scrum process, helps the team remove impediments,
and ensures that Scrum principles and practices are followed.
• Development Team: Comprises cross-functional individuals who possess all the
skills needed to deliver a potentially shippable product increment. This includes
programmers, designers, testers, and others necessary for the project.

2. Need for a Scrum Team:

The need for a Scrum Team arises from several factors:

• Complexity: Software development projects are often complex, requiring diverse

skills and expertise. A cross-functional team is better equipped to handle these
complexities.
• Changing Requirements: In Agile environments, requirements can change
frequently. Having a dedicated team allows for quicker adaptation to evolving customer
needs.
• Focus on Value: Scrum Teams are designed to deliver value incrementally and
continuously. This ensures that the most valuable features are prioritized and delivered
early.
• Self-Organization: Scrum Teams are self-organizing, which empowers them to make
decisions and solve problems independently, promoting creativity and ownership.
 3. Values Provided by the Scrum Team:

Scrum Teams provide value in various ways within the Scrum framework:

• Transparency: Scrum Teams maintain transparency by making the work visible

through artifacts like the product backlog, sprint backlog, and burndown charts. This
transparency helps stakeholders understand the progress and make informed decisions.
• Inspection: Scrum Teams inspect their work regularly during sprint review meetings.
They showcase the increment they've built and gather feedback from stakeholders. This
inspection process allows for early identification of issues and opportunities for
improvement.
• Adaptation: Scrum Teams adapt to changing requirements and feedback. They make
adjustments based on the results of inspection, ensuring that the product remains aligned
with customer needs.
• Collaboration: Collaboration is a core value provided by Scrum Teams. They work
closely with the Product Owner to understand and prioritize requirements and with the
Scrum Master to improve their processes. Collaboration within the Development Team
ensures a holistic approach to problem-solving.
• Continuous Improvement: Scrum Teams embody the principle of continuous
improvement, also known as "Kaizen." They regularly reflect on their work during
sprint retrospectives, identifying areas for enhancement and implementing changes to
become more efficient and effective.

In summary, a Scrum Team is a dedicated, cross-functional group of individuals that

plays a vital role in the Scrum framework by delivering value, maintaining
transparency, enabling inspection and adaptation, fostering collaboration, and
continuously striving for improvement. The Scrum Team is a key element in achieving
Agile principles and delivering customer-centric, high-quality products.
 XP TEAM GENERAL AGILE TEAM

XP (Extreme Programming) Team:

Extreme Programming (XP) is an Agile software development methodology that

emphasizes customer collaboration, continuous feedback, and delivering high-quality
software. An XP team is a critical component of the XP methodology, and it typically
consists of the following roles:

1. Developers: These are the programmers responsible for writing code, implementing
features, and ensuring the software works correctly. They work in pairs, practicing pair
programming, where two developers work together on the same code.
2. Customer (or Customer Proxy): The customer represents the end-users and
stakeholders, providing guidance and feedback on project requirements. They work
closely with the development team to prioritize user stories and features.
3. Tester: Testers are responsible for ensuring the quality of the software through
various testing techniques, including automated unit testing, integration testing, and
user acceptance testing.
4. Coach (optional): An XP coach or mentor can be part of the team to guide and
support the adoption of XP practices. This role is especially valuable when a team is
new to XP.

General Agile Team:

In contrast to a team specific to a particular Agile methodology like XP, a "General

Agile Team" is a term that encompasses Agile teams that follow any of the Agile
frameworks or methodologies, such as Scrum, Kanban, Lean, or a customized Agile
approach. Here are some common characteristics of a general Agile team:

1. Cross-Functional: Agile teams are typically cross-functional, meaning they have all
the skills necessary to complete the work within the team. This includes developers,
testers, designers, and any other roles required for the project.
2. Self-Organizing: Agile teams are self-organizing, which means they have the
autonomy to make decisions about how to accomplish their work. They determine how
to best meet their goals and respond to changes.
3. Iterative and Incremental: Agile teams work in iterations or increments, delivering
a portion of the product in each cycle. This allows for frequent inspection, adaptation,
and the delivery of valuable features.
4. Customer-Centric: Agile teams focus on delivering value to the customer. They
maintain close collaboration with customers or stakeholders to understand their needs
and prioritize work accordingly.
5. Continuous Improvement: Agile teams value continuous improvement and regularly
reflect on their processes and practices to identify areas for enhancement. They use
feedback to make adjustments.
6. Visual Management: Many Agile teams use visual tools like boards (e.g., Kanban
boards or Scrum boards) to track and manage work, making it visible to the team and
stakeholders.
7. Adaptability: Agile teams are adaptable and responsive to change. They embrace
change as a natural part of the development process and adjust their plans and priorities
accordingly.

While the specific practices and roles within an Agile team may vary depending on the
chosen Agile methodology, these general characteristics hold true for most Agile teams.
The goal of any Agile team is to deliver high-quality, customer-centric results through
collaboration, flexibility, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Typical AGILE Project life cycle with necessary examples? Classify
the difference stages of it:

The agile methodology remains a top priority for many businesses, with approximately 95% of
companies adopting it in some form or another. Noteworthy, Agile teams have shown a 37% faster profit
increase and 30% higher revenue generation than non-Agile companies, primarily due to the improved
speed, flexibility, and productivity that Agile approaches offer.

These benefits encourage more organizations to embrace Agile approaches, which allow them to create
innovative products while staying aligned with market trends and user needs. Moreover, the increased
visibility highlights the importance of focusing on Agile tools and methodologies, particularly within the
software development life cycle (SDLC).

This article delves into the core aspects of Agile SDLC, highlighting how this iterative process fosters
collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. By gaining an in-depth understanding of
methodology, Agile SDLC phases, tools, and roadmap, you can harness the power of this transformative
approach, enhancing your ability to respond to market shifts and deliver exceptional value to your
customers.

Table of Contents

• Why Agile?
o What is meant by Agile SDLC?
o What advantages does Agile offer for your businesses?
• The Basic Concepts of Agile Software Development
• Top Agile Methodologies in Software Development
• Key 6 Stages of the Agile Development Life Cycle
o Phase 1: Concept
o Phase 2: Inception
o Phase 3: Iteration
o Phase 4: Testing
o Phase 5: Release
o Phase 6: Review
• Agile Techniques and Tools
o V-shape SDLC
o Iterative SDLS
o Spiral SDLC
o Waterfall SDLC
o Can Agile be combined with other methodologies?
• Agile Roadmap
o Define goals
o Get management support
o Develop a transformation roadmap
o Make a plan for three months
 o Adapt and learn
o Link actions to results
o Provide transparency for everyone involved
• How do Agile Methodologies Fit in the Remote Work Era?
o Pros of a remote Agile team
o Challenges of Agile SDLC application while collaborating with distributed teams
• Bottom Line
• FAQ

Why Agile?
Before diving into Agile’s particularities, it’s crucial to grasp what Agile is and how it differs from the
Waterfall methodology that previously dominated software development.

The Agile methodology emphasizes functional software over extensive documentation, personal
communication over procedural tools, partnering with clients over formal agreements, and adapting to
alterations over sticking to a blueprint. It focuses on providing incremental, usable software components
that facilitate ongoing feedback and adjustments.

On the other hand, the Waterfall model follows a linear and progressive software development strategy.
Each stage, including requirements analysis, design, coding, testing, and deployment, must be finalized
before moving on to the next step. Changes are typically difficult to implement once a phase is completed,
and there is little room for flexibility or iterative improvements.

A mere 9% of Agile projects experience failure, compared to a substantial 29% of projects that adhere to
the Waterfall model.

What is meant by Agile SDLC?

The Agile SDLC, or the Agile Software Development Life Cycle, is a project management methodology
that prioritizes iterative and adaptable software development, customer involvement, and team
collaboration. It aims to deliver functional software products in small increments while incorporating
feedback and making adjustments as necessary.

Agile software development revolves around iterative and time-boxed cycles called sprints. Typically
lasting two weeks, each sprint focuses on a set of “user stories” or features the team can deliver within the
time frame. This approach allows for a more manageable product development and release cycle than the
more extensive features in a waterfall project.
The Agile team maintains a modest size, consisting of no more than 12 participants, such as developers,
analysts, QA specialists, the product proprietor, and the Scrum Master, who assumes the role of the project
overseer.

What advantages does Agile offer for your businesses?

Agile project management follows the Pareto principle, where 20% of the effort produces 80% of the
results. With the Agile SDLC process, teams deliver 80% of the product in just 20% of the time, focusing
on the crucial software functionalities that bring real value to clients. The advantages of Agile are evident
and straightforward. It provides:

• Agile delivery and functional demonstration

• Minimal resource requirements
• A pragmatic strategy for developing software
• Efficient teamwork and skill-sharing
• Flexibility to adjust to evolving conditions and needs
• Early delivery of partially functioning solutions
• Minimal rules and simple documentation
• The potential for parallel development and delivery within a familiar context
• Simple management and outstanding adaptability

The Basic Concepts of Agile Software Development

Agile development has its roots dating back to 1957 when Bernie Dimsdale, John von Neumann, Herb
Jacobs, and Gerald Weinberg utilized incremental development techniques (now known as Agile) for IBM
and Motorola. While they recognized its differences from the Waterfall model, they did not have a
classification for it.

The contemporary Agile approach was formally established in 2001 when 17 software development experts
gathered to discuss alternative project management methodologies. The authors described an adaptable,
streamlined, and collaborative methodology in the Manifesto for Agile Software Development. The
Manifesto focuses on “discovering better ways of developing software” and outlines the fundamental
principles of this innovative approach.
 • Agile development’s utmost priority is ensuring customer satisfaction by promptly delivering
valuable software.
• The adaptable nature of Agile processes provides a competitive edge for customers.
• Changing requirements are accommodated even at later agile software development stages.
• Working software is delivered in short intervals, typically within weeks or months, to show
progress.
• Developers and employers engage in daily communication throughout the project.
• Motivated people work best in the right environment with proper support.
• Self-organizing teams are better equipped to create optimal requirements, architectures, and
designs.
• In-person interaction continues to be the most efficient method for sharing information among
development team members.
• Teams regularly review performance metrics and adjust performance accordingly.
• Agile software development is a sustainable process that emphasizes continuous improvement.
• Technical excellence and good design are crucial to ensure flexibility and adaptability.
• Keeping things simple and minimizing work in progress can help increase efficiency and
productivity.

Top Agile Methodologies in Software Development

Agile software development does not constitute a single framework of methodologies but encompasses
several project management frameworks. The following table overview some commonly used and well-
documented frameworks for agile software development. Many organizations adopt and modify them to fit
the needs of their agile processes.

Agile Framework Main Features

Scrum Time-boxed sprints (1-4 weeks)

Roles: Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development TeamArtifacts: Product and
Sprint Backlog, Increment
Events: Sprint Planning, Sprint Review, Sprint Retrospective, Daily Scrum

Kanban Visual workflow (Kanban boards)

Work-in-progress (WIP) limits
A continuous flow of work
Focus on minimizing cycle time

Scrumban A hybrid of Scrum and Kanban

Combines time-boxed sprints with WIP limits and continuous flow
Flexible planning and process improvement

Lean Software Development Elimination of waste

Focus on delivering value to customers
Continuous improvement and optimization
Just-in-time (JIT) production
Dynamic Systems Development Time-boxed and iterativeEight guiding tenets for the process
Method (DSDM) Swift provision of a minimal viable product
Ranking of necessities according to their business significance

XP (eXtreme Programming) Emphasis on continuous feedback and improvement

Frequent releases
Pair programming
Test-driven development (TDD)

Crystal Agile methodologies based on project size and criticality

Focus on communication, collaboration, and team interaction
Lightweight and adaptable

Feature-Driven Development (FDD) Model-driven, short iterations

Features are small, client-valued functions
Five-step process to develop and track features
Emphasizes quality and timely delivery