Concepts
Scrum, for those of you new to the concept, is an agile development framework that specifically addresses complex adaptive challenges. It is designed to deliver value incrementally throughout the life of a project by encouraging teams to collaborate, self-organize, and focus on prioritized work. As teams using Scrum mature and projects grow more complex, the need to scale these teams becomes inevitable. For exam preparation (A-CSM), this post will explore two popular approaches to scaling Scrum – Nexus and Scrum at Scale.
I. Approach 1: Nexus
Born out of the principles and empirical process control theory of Scrum, Nexus extends Scrum to guide multiple Scrum Teams on how they need to work together to deliver working software in every Sprint. It shows the journey these teams take as they come together, how they share work between teams, and how they manage and minimize dependencies.
Nexus is mainly composed of roles, events, and artifacts that bind and weave together the work of approximately three to nine Scrum Teams working on a single product backlog to build an integrated increment that meets a goal.
Key aspects of Nexus include:
- Nexus Integration Team: A team consisting of the Product Owner, a Scrum Master, and Nexus Integration Team Members who are responsible for coaching and consulting with other teams to ensure consistency and synchronization of a single product backlog.
- Refinement: All teams work together to ensure a well-understood and well-refined product backlog.
- Nexus Sprint Planning: All teams review and agree on a single, final Sprint backlog, after individual team sprint planning events.
II. Approach 2: Scrum at Scale
Invented by the co-creator of Scrum, Jeff Sutherland, Scrum at Scale (S@S) naturally extends the core principles of Scrum to deliver hyper-productive results across industries and disciplines. This model is modular, meaning each component can be implemented on its own, enabling it to suit the unique needs of every organization.
Key aspects of Scrum at Scale include:
- Scrum Master Cycle and Product Owner Cycle: The Scrum Master cycle focuses on continuous improvement, promoting innovation and dealing with impediments, while the Product Owner cycle concentrates on strategic vision, product backlog, and reviewing and releasing.
- Scaling: Teams organize into ‘Circles’ which are further grouped into ‘MetaScrum’ and ‘Executive MetaScrum’ to deal with coordination and strategy.
- Values and Transparency: Scrum values are emphasized and transparency is increased for the purpose of successful decision making at scale.
Comparison: Nexus vs. Scrum at Scale
| Features | Nexus | Scrum at Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Scrum.org | Scrum Inc |
| Team Size | 3 to 9 Scrum Teams | No limit |
| Roles | Nexus Integration Team | Can have multiple Scrum Masters |
| Process | More prescribed | Highly flexible, modular |
| Values | Scrum Values | Scrum Values |
In conclusion…
In conclusion, both Nexus and Scrum at Scale are effective strategies for scaling Scrum and comes down to the specific needs of your organization. Nexus might be suitable for organizations that require a bit more structure and can manage with a smaller number of Scrum Teams. On the other hand, Scrum at Scale offers enormous flexibility, can handle larger teams, and could be particularly beneficial for organizations that are big-sized or distributed geographically.
Remember, Scrum is all about iterative and incremental improvements – this applies to scaling your Scrum as well. Don’t fear making small adjustments, experimenting, and continuously adapting your process to fit your team’s needs.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True/False: In the Scrum framework, scaling refers to applying Scrum principles to larger, more complex teams and projects.
- True
- False
True
Which of the following are recognized approaches to scaling Scrum? (select two)
- a) Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS)
- b) Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- c) Agile Scrum Framework (ASF)
- d) Simplified Scrum Framework (SSF)
a) Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS), b) Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
True/False: The Nexus Framework is a method for scaling Scrum for multiple teams working on the same product.
- True
- False
True
Which approach to scaling Scrum focuses on integrated code contributions from multiple teams to promote faster delivery?
- a) Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS)
- b) Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- c) Nexus
- d) Scrum at Scale
c) Nexus
Multiple Select: Which of the following practices does the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) emphasize?
- a) Cross-functional teams
- b) Centralized decision-making
- c) Lean-Agile leadership
- d) Alignment, collaboration and delivery across multiple Agile teams
a) Cross-functional teams, c) Lean-Agile leadership, d) Alignment, collaboration and delivery across multiple Agile teams
True/False: When scaling Scrum, it is important to maintain the core principles of Scrum such as transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
- True
- False
True
Which scaling framework encourages organizations to descale their complexity by simplifying and streamlining their team structures, processes, and products wherever possible?
- a) Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS)
- b) Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)
- c) Nexus
- d) Scrum at Scale
a) Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS)
Multiple Select: What are the main focuses of the Scrum at Scale framework?
- a) Keeping customers engaged
- b) Scaling Scrum across multiple teams and departments
- c) Clear communication
- d) Efficient team coordination
b) Scaling Scrum across multiple teams and departments, d) Efficient team coordination
True/False: A cornerstone of each Scrum scaling framework is that each Scrum team operates within its own unique Scrum framework.
- True
- False
True
According to Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS), what is the maximum recommended team size in a scaled agile environment?
- a) 3-5
- b) 5-9
- c) 7-11
- d) 10-15
b) 5-9
Single select: Which scale of the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) is best suited for 50 to 125 people?
- a) Essential SAFe
- b) Portfolio SAFe
- c) Large Solution SAFe
- d) Full SAFe
c) Large Solution SAFe
True/False: In Scrum, scaling always involves implementing more complicated processes.
- True
- False
False
One approach to scaling Scrum is Large-Scale Scrum (LeSS). It provides a simple, rules-based guide to apply Scrum in large-scale environments.
Another method is the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe). It provides a structured approach involving multiple layers to manage complex projects.
Thanks for the information!
Has anyone here used Disciplined Agile (DA)? How does it compare to LeSS and SAFe?
Great blog post!
In my experience, SAFe tends to add too much overhead. Thoughts?
How about Nexus? I’ve heard it’s quite effective for scaling Scrum across multiple teams.
Informative post!