Concepts
Launching a new Scrum Team requires careful planning, collaboration, and well-defined procedures. As individuals studying for the Certified Scrum Professional-Product Owner (CSP-PO) exam are aware, thorough preparation can mitigate potential challenges that may arise during implementation and ongoing operations.
Step 1: Define the Team’s Purpose
Every Scrum Team needs a well-articulated purpose, which should align with the organization’s overarching goals. This should include specific project outcomes, strategic objectives, and expected benefits.
As a Product Owner, you are responsible for crafting a compelling vision and communicating it to your team. This includes defining key metrics for success, such as timeline, budget, and specific outputs or deliverables.
Step 2: Assemble the Team
Structured roles are at the core of Scrum. Each team generally comprises a Product Owner (PO), a Scrum Master (SM), and the Development Team. The PO is responsible for maximizing product value, while the SM facilitates Scrum practices and removes impediments. The Development Team self-organizes to create high-value increments of the product.
At this stage, you’ll want to identify individuals with the right combination of expertise, problem-solving abilities, and team synergy.
Step 3: Establish the Scrum Artifacts
Scrum artifacts include the Product Backlog, the Sprint Backlog, and the Product Increment. As the PO, you maintain the Product Backlog, defining and prioritizing the features, improvements, and bug fixes necessary to maximize the product’s value.
Step 4: Define the Scrum Events
Specification of Scrum events like the Sprint, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective is crucial. These events provide structure, create consistency, and provide opportunities for inspection and adaptation.
| Scrum Events | Description |
|---|---|
| Sprint | Time-boxed event that initiates the Scrum Cycle, lasting 1-4 weeks |
| Daily Scrum | 15-minute, daily event for the Development Team to synch their work and plan the next 24 hours |
| Sprint Review | Held at the end of a Sprint to inspect the work done and adapt the Product Backlog if necessary |
| Sprint Retrospective | Held after the Sprint Review to reflect upon the past Sprint and plan improvements for the next |
Step 5: Ensure Organizational Alignment
Ensure that stakeholders and other units within the organization understand the purpose, methodology, and potential benefits of your Scrum Team. They must also appreciate the necessity to let the team self-organize and make decisions. This often requires a shift from traditional command-and-control dynamics to a more collaborative approach.
Step 6: Kick-off the Team
Never underestimate the power of a well-orchestrated launch. This is the time to clearly communicate your team’s purpose, expectations, working agreements, and definitions of success.
Step 7: Continuously Learn and Improve
Launching the Scrum team is only the beginning. Continuous learning and improvement are at the heart of Scrum. Regularly inspecting and adapting your team’s work, processes, and interactions are integral to optimizing value and productivity.
To conclude, thorough planning will pave the way for a well-functioning, successful Scrum Team. However, remember that Scrum is fundamentally empirical. As so authentically captured in the Scrum Guide: “Scrum is not a process, technique, or definitive method. Rather, it is a framework within which you can employ various processes and techniques.”
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: When launching a new Scrum team, the Scrum Master should decide on the product owner.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Product Owner is selected based on their subject knowledge and strategic thinking rather than being assigned by a Scrum Master.
Which one of the following is NOT part of planning for the launch of a Scrum team?
- A. Identifying appropriate roles
- B. Preparing the backlog
- C. Establishing Scrum of Scrums
- D. Assigning team spaces
Answer: C. Establishing Scrum of Scrums
Explanation: Scrum of Scrums is related to the meeting of multiple Scrum Teams, not the launching of a single new team.
True or False: It’s not important to align the team with organizational strategy when launching a new Scrum team.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Aligning the Scrum team with the organizational strategy is important as that lets them understand the company’s goals and how their projects contribute to achieving those goals.
Multiple select: What are some of the tasks expected from a product owner?
- A. Determining the product vision
- B. Writing user stories
- C. Testing the application
- D. Performing daily stand ups
Answer: A. Determining the product vision, B. Writing user stories
Explanation: The Product Owner’s responsibilities include determining the product vision and managing the Product Backlog, which includes writing user stories. Testing the application and performing daily stand ups are typically tasks for the Scrum Team.
True or False: Sprint Reviews and Retrospective should be planned before launching a new Scrum team.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: These are important Scrum ceremonies that need to be planned beforehand to ensure that there is continuous learning, feedback, and improvement on the team’s processes.
What is the role of a Scrum Master when launching a new Scrum Team?
- A. Deciding the vision for the product
- B. Preparing the product backlog
- C. Facilitating Scrum ceremonies
- D. None of the above
Answer: C. Facilitating Scrum ceremonies
Explanation: The Scrum Master is mainly responsible for facilitating Scrum ceremonies and creating an environment which promotes agility.
True or False: When launching a new Scrum Team, no formal rules or guidelines need to be established.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: It’s important to define formal guidelines to govern the team’s interaction and cooperation.
Multiple select: What factors should be considered in the team composition?
- A. Skills and capabilities
- B. Availability and commitment
- C. Geographical location
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: All these factors are important to consider to ensure that the team works well together and can meet the project’s needs.
True or False: When launching a new Scrum Team, the Scrum Master and the Product Owner roles can be performed by the same person.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Even though it’s possible, it’s not recommended because it may create a conflict of interest since the roles have different responsibilities.
The team’s work agreement typically includes which of the following:
- A. An agreed-upon Definition of Done
- B. A list of the team’s favorite foods
- C. The hobbies of the Scrum Master
- D. The corporate mission statement
Answer: A. An agreed-upon Definition of Done
Explanation: As part of launching a new Scrum team, it is necessary to establish basic agreements such as the Definition of Done, the team’s values, norms, decision-making protocols etc. This promotes transparency and reduces confusion.
Great insights on launching a new Scrum team!
Very helpful post, I’m about to take my CSP-PO exam and found this quite useful.
Thanks for the great tips on setting up the Scrum roles, especially the role of the Product Owner.
Can someone elaborate on the importance of Sprint Zero in setting up a new Scrum team?
I have a question regarding team composition. What mix of skills should we look for in our initial Scrum team?
For a successful Scrum launch, how important is it to have an experienced Scrum Master?
This blog post is invaluable. Thank you!
How critical is stakeholder involvement during the early stages of forming a Scrum team?