Concepts
1. Quality Assurance
Developers are expected to produce high-quality work that meets the definition of “Done,” as outlined by the Scrum Team. This often means that the final product should be potentially releasable and be of marketable quality. Developers are also responsible for tracking their work to ensure that quality is maintained throughout the development process.
| Quality Assurance | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Setting up automated QA | Developers help build automated testing processes, so every production run is tested for bugs and issues. |
| Functional and non-functional testing | Depending on the product, it may involve evaluating aspects like security, performance, and accessibility, among other things. |
2. Collaboration
Developers are expected to work as a team, not in silos. This means participating in all Scrum Events – Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective. They continually collaborate with the Product Owner to understand and refine the Product Backlog items and with the ScrumMaster to improve their practices.
| Collaboration | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sharing knowledge and cross-functionality | Developers should share their skills with the team, enabling the team to be less dependent on a single person for a particular task. |
| Self-organizing | The team should be able to manage its work without external assignment or management. |
3. Delivery
The primary responsibility of Developers is to deliver a potentially releasable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint. They must understand the scope and nature of the work, estimate the amount of effort that will be required, and effectively manage their time.
| Delivery | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Managing the Sprint Backlog | This involves assigning tasks to themselves, tracking the progress of the Sprint, adapting the plan as necessary, and making the remaining work transparent. |
| Time management & estimation | Developers must be efficient in estimation of time for completing the product backlog items. |
4. Problem-Solving and Innovation
Developers should take the initiative to solve the problems that arise. They also have to continually innovate and look for ways to improve the product, their processes, tools, and their skills.
| Problem-Solving & Innovation | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Solving technical issues | They should be proactive and innovative in solving the technology-related or product-related issues that come up during development. |
| Process innovation | Developers should always look for methods which can help improve their processes and practices in forthcoming Sprints. |
5. Responsibility and Accountability
Every Developer is responsible for the successful delivery of the product and must be willing to take accountability for their work and actions. They must adhere to the Scrum values and commit to achieving the team’s goals.
| Responsibility & Accountability | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Accountability for work | Developers are accountable for the Product Backlog items they take up. |
| Commitment | The Developers need to be committed to achieving not only their individual goals but also the Sprint Goal and the broader objectives of the team. |
In conclusion, Developers’ responsibilities and accountabilities are expansive in a Scrum environment, and they extend beyond just coding. Understanding these duties is a crucial part of the preparation for the Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) exam.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True/False: As a Developer in a Scrum Team, one of your responsibilities is to manage the Product Backlog.
- True
- False
Which of the following are responsibilities of Developers? (Multiple select)
- Designing the product
- Building the product increment
- Creating the product vision
- Maximizing business value
True/False: Developers are accountable for delivering a potentially releasable increment each Sprint.
- True
- False
Who holds the Developers responsible for creating a plan for the Sprint?
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master
- Developers themselves
- Stakeholders
True/False: It is the Developers’ responsibility to inspect the progress towards the Sprint Goal and adapt the Sprint Backlog as necessary.
- True
- False
Which of the following are not responsibilities of Developers? (Multiple select)
- Defining Business requirements
- Assigning tasks to other Developers
- Inspecting one’s own work regularly
- Self-organizing to fulfill the Sprint Goal
True/False: The Developers should work in isolation and not collaborate with other Scrum team members.
- True
- False
Who is accountable for creating a Definition of “Done” that is meaningful for the product?
- Product Owner
- Scrum Master
- Developers
- Stakeholders
True/False: Developers have the responsibility to participate in all Scrum events.
- True
- False
What is the main accountability of Developers in a Scrum Team?
- Managing the Scrum project
- Building a high-quality, valuable increment every Sprint
- Prioritizing the Product Backlog
- All of the above
True/False: Developers are responsible for creating effective, clear and transparent communication with Stakeholders.
- True
- False
Which one is not a meeting Developers are required to participate in?
- Daily Scrum
- Sprint Review
- Sprint Retrospective
- Product Backlog Grooming
The responsibilities of Developers in Scrum extend beyond just coding. They are accountable for ensuring that the work selected during Sprint Planning is completed and meets the Definition of Done.
Thanks for the detailed insights on the responsibilities of Developers! This is very helpful.
Great post! But I feel like the role of Developers in backlog grooming sessions is often understated.
Developers are also responsible for creating and updating technical documentation as part of their deliverables. This helps in maintaining transparency and quality.
Thanks for this comprehensive list of responsibilities. Very enlightening!
From an expert perspective, Developers should also focus on improving their skills continuously and contributing to the improvement of team processes.
It’s interesting to note that Developers are self-organizing and can decide how to best accomplish their work within the Sprint. This autonomy is vital for fostering creativity and ownership.
Appreciate the detailed explanation of the Scrum Developer role. Thank you!