Handling Scope Changes Mid-Sprint in Scrum

The first thing about handling scope changes mid-Sprint is to recognize what type of scope change it is. Bug or Production Support request? If it’s a bug, or a production support research request, then my preferred method is to use One way to handle Bugs and Production Support in Scrum . As it says in [...]

Scrum Strategy – The Dev Team Improvement Backlog

The strategy I describe below is one I’ve used successfully in coaching Scrum teams. Your mileage may vary, of course. Overview The Dev Team has a thing called the “Improvement Backlog”, where it keeps a list of things(Improvement Backlog Items — IBI’s) that are intended to improve the Dev team’s productivity. Purpose The purpose of [...]

One Way to Handle Bugs and Production Support in Scrum

Dear ScrumCrazy readers, I need your help. I’m working on a Scrum strategy for handling bugs and production support on a Scrum team. This is the first draft of the chart below. I already have a couple of changes I would like to make, so I’d appreciate it if anyone could provide feedback on the [...]

I Mostly Hate Software for Managing Scrum Teams

Update February, 2012: I’m currently seeking my next engagement as a Scrum Coach or ScrumMaster, so please contact me (You can use the “About” tab above) if you know of an opportunity. I often get asked to evaluate a particular Scrum tool or to compare the relatively value of one to another. To be honest, [...]

Sprint In Progress Tip – Resolve Obstacles and Update Task Completion Immediately! (Don’t wait until the Daily Scrum)

Intro I have long recommended that Scrum teams have a team working agreement that their Scrum board (aka Sprint Backlog) be updated immediately, but at least once daily about 30 minutes before the Daily Scrum. Someone once questioned me on this advice as follows: If the team updates task and story state immediately upon a [...]

Sprint Tasking Tips: Sticky Note Strategies

Tip: Defer task assignment Try not to ever assume who will be working on a task. Further, don’t assign tasks to people in the Sprint Planning meeting. Instead, let people sign up for tasks just in time during the sprint. This helps reduce bottlenecks and critical pathing issues. Tip: Strongly consider notating task signup on [...]

Sprint Tasking Tips: Team tasking strategies

Tip: Try to estimate tasks as a team. Don’t take this the wrong way. I’m *not* suggesting that you all sit around a table and estimate tasks like Planning Poker or anything. Besides, Planning Poker is for sizing Product Backlog Items, not Sprint tasks. What I am suggesting is that when your team does Sprint [...]

User Story Pattern: Micro Stories

Executive Summary In this article, I describe a User Story pattern that is useful for teams that are advanced in their User Story practices. In short, the pattern is to ensure that all User Stories can be completed in 2-3 days by one developer. This pattern requires fairly advanced story slicing skills, as well as [...]

Sprint Tasking Tip: Don’t Give Up!

Don’t give up! I’ve coached several teams into self organizing to create a Sprint Backlog and task out all of their Product Backlog Items. The first couple of times is always painful. Anecdote One team I coached took 16 hours(X 6 people) in their first Sprint Planning Meeting for a 2 week sprint! (The Scrum [...]

Best Practice: Look to the Scrum Guide *First*

Short Story: When teams struggle with Scrum, it is my strong opinion that they should look *first* to the Scrum Guide for guidance. (Or *look back* to the Scrum Guide, if they are an experienced team) Long story: A more complete way of saying this is: When teams struggle(whether they be beginner or experienced), it [...]