Concepts
Leading a project using Scrum methodology requires detailed planning, but when you have to manage multiple Scrum Teams, the complexity of orchestration increases. In anticipation of the Certified Scrum Professional – ScrumMaster (CSP-SM) exam, we are going to discuss about planning the launch of multiple Scrum Teams.
1. Identifying Team Members and Their Roles
Firstly, review the human resources available and select the best fit for each role. The core Scrum roles are Scrum Master, Product Owner and Development Team, as mentioned in the Scrum Guide. Each team should ideally be composed of five to nine members with a balance of skills necessary for the project. Keep the teams cross-functional to instigate self-organization and collaboration.
2. Recognizing and Documenting Responsibilities
Each individual in a Scrum Team has their own set of responsibilities. Unlike traditional project management, the Scrum framework distributes responsibility among all team members, leading to increased ownership and faster problem-solving. Draft an explicit document outlining everyone’s duties. Clear designation of responsibilities minimizes micromanagement and helps in achieving sprint objectives smoothly.
3. Formulating the Product Backlog
The Product Owner is responsible for the creation and management of the Product Backlog. This living document should contain all the requirements for the product in the form of user stories or use cases, ordered according to their priority and value to the product. All the teams should have access to this backlog and conduct refinement activities regularly.
4. Establishing Communication Channels
Coordinate meetings such as Scrum of Scrums (SoS). These meetings act as a communication axis for multiple Scrum teams. They allow Scrum teams to synchronize their work and report progress to other teams. The Scrum Masters should ideally get together for SoS to discuss their team’s work and circumvent any impediments.
5. Planning and Conducting Sprints
Now when everything is established, the multiple teams can start with their first sprints. Each Development Team will hold its own Sprint Planning meeting to decide what they can commit to during the upcoming sprint using the prioritized product backlog.
Throughout your examination preparation, remember this: Scrum is flexible and adaptive. It is crucial to regularly inspect and adapt the process as per the teams’ performance and the project’s requirements.
Simplified checklist for planning the launch of multiple Scrum Teams:
| Steps to Launch | Description |
|---|---|
| Identify Team Members and Roles | Allocate the Scrum Team roles to suitable members |
| Define Responsibilities | Document every individual’s roles and responsibilities |
| Develop the Product Backlog | Ensure the Product Backlog is in place and transparent to all the teams |
| Set-up Communication Channels | Establish communication channels and meetings such as Scrum of Scrums |
| Plan and Execute Sprints | Start the first sprint cycle, conduct daily Scrum, Review and Retrospective meetings |
Remember, leading multiple Scrum Teams isn’t just about getting the work done; it’s about coaching these teams to become self-organizing and foster a healthy and productive Agile environment. Use your CSP-SM knowledge strategically to during the management of multiple teams. Good luck with your exam preparation!
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
T/F: When planning the launch of multiple Scrum Teams, it is recommended to form smaller teams of 3-9 people.
- Answer: True
Explanation: According to Scrum Guide, optimal team size is between 3 to 9 people excluding Product Owner and Scrum Master. Having this number of team members ensures effective communication and collaboration.
In multiple Scrum Teams, should each team be working on different products?
- Answer: False
Explanation: Multiple Scrum Teams often work on the same product, each tackling different aspects or features of the product. This ensures coordinated efforts for product development.
T/F: Scrum-of-Scrums is a technique used to coordinate the work of multiple Scrum Teams.
- Answer: True
Explanation: The Scrum-of-Scrums technique allows representatives from different Scrum Teams to exchange information and coordinate effort, ensuring a coherent product increment.
Multiple Choice: When scaling Scrum, which of the following is not advisable?
- a. Have clear Definition of Done for each team
- b. Use the Scrum-of-Scrums technique
- c. Have each team work in isolation
- d. Regularly synchronize across teams
Answer: c. Have each team work in isolation
Explanation: Having each team work in isolation contradicts the principles of coordination, collaboration, and transparency inherent to Scrum.
When launching multiple Scrum Teams, it is recommended that each team:
- a. Uses the same process and practices
- b. Uses completely different processes and practices
- c. Consistently changes their process and practices
- d. Does not use any process or practices
Answer: a. Uses the same process and practices
Explanation: To ensure effective delivery, it is important that all Scrum Teams are aligned and use the same basic Scrum process and practices.
T/F: Each Scrum Team should have its own Product Owner when launching multiple Scrum Teams.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Multiple Scrum Teams can work with a single Product Owner to ensure alignment and clarity in the vision and roadmap of the product.
Multiple Choice: What role does Integration Team play when launching multiple Scrum Teams?
- a. They perform the work of combining and testing work from all teams
- b. They distribute tasks among the Scrum Teams
- c. They act as a middle management between Scrum teams and stakeholders
- d. All of the above
Answer: a. They perform the work of combining and testing work from all teams
Explanation: The primary responsibility of Integration Teams is to ensure that the increments delivered by different Scrum Teams are combined into a potentially shippable increment.
T/F: When launching multiple Scrum Teams, centralized decision making is recommended.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Scrum encourages decentralized decision-making where teams have autonomy on their work and immediate decision-making power, as they are closest to the work.
The ScrumMaster role in a launch of multiple Scrum Teams is to:
- a. Coordinate work across teams
- b. Make important decisions on behalf of the team
- c. Ensure that the teams understand and adhere to Scrum principles
- d. Define the Product Backlog
Answer: c. Ensure that the teams understand and adhere to Scrum principles
Explanation: The ScrumMaster’s role is to coach and help the team understand Scrum, not to coordinate work or make decisions on behalf of the team.
T/F: When launching multiple Scrum Teams, it is crucial to establish an empirical process where decisions are made based on observations and experiments.
- Answer: True
Explanation: This is in line with the core principles of Scrum that emphasize on empiricism and incremental development where decisions are not made ahead of time but learned through the process.
Great article on planning the launch of multiple Scrum Teams for the CSP-SM exam!
I found it helpful when you mentioned the importance of a Scrum of Scrums meeting. Can someone explain the best practices for facilitating these meetings?
A practical guide for anyone preparing for CSP-SM!
Can someone share their experience with coordinating multiple Scrum Teams during a product release?
Nice read, but I think more emphasis on conflict resolution techniques would be beneficial.
Thanks for the insights! This will definitely help in my CSP-SM exam prep.
I appreciate the focus on team dynamics. What are some effective ways to handle inter-team dependencies?
Really good read! Already feeling more confident about handling multiple teams.