Introduction to Agile and Scrum
Agile is a set of guiding values and principles that promote an iterative and incremental approach to software development.
Scrum is a specific framework with defined roles, events, and artifacts used to implement Agile principles.
Key Distinction:
Agile ≠ Scrum
Common Clarifications
Deadlines: Agile works well with deadlines by prioritizing the most valuable work first.
Company Size: Agile is suitable for organizations of all sizes.
Nature: Agile is not a methodology; it is a mindset based on values and principles.
Scrum Roles (The Scrum Team)
A Scrum Team typically consists of 5–9 people working together to deliver product increments.
Product Owner
Responsible for maximizing the value of the product.
Key responsibilities:
Managing and ordering the Product Backlog
Defining product vision and market strategy
Engaging stakeholders
Creating release plans
Ensuring return on investment (ROI)
Scrum Master
Acts as a coach and mentor
Ensures Scrum is understood and properly followed
Helps remove impediments and supports the team
Development Team
Responsible for delivering a “Done,” potentially releasable increment each Sprint
Cross-functional and self-organizing
Includes roles such as Developers, QA/Testers, and UX/UI Designers
Work Hierarchy: Epics, User Stories, and Tasks
Work is broken down into smaller pieces for better planning and execution.
Initiative: High-level business objective
Epic: A large body of work with a shared goal
Example: Create User ProfileUser Story: A short description of functionality from the user’s perspective
Format:
As a [user], I want [feature] so that [benefit].Task: The smallest unit of work derived from a user story
Example: Validate email and password
Estimation
Used to understand effort and complexity
Commonly done using time-based estimates or story points
Scrum Artifacts
Scrum artifacts are information radiators that provide transparency and shared understanding.
Product Backlog
A prioritized list of everything needed in the product
Continuously updated
High-priority items are detailed and refined
Low-priority items are larger and less detailed (often Epics)
Sprint Backlog
Items selected from the Product Backlog for the current Sprint
Includes a plan for delivering those items
Increment
The sum of all completed Product Backlog items in a Sprint
Includes value from all previous increments
Must meet the Definition of Done
The Sprint and Mandatory Events
A Sprint is a fixed time-box (usually 2–4 weeks) during which a usable product increment is created.
Mandatory Scrum Events
Sprint Planning
Entire team defines the Sprint Goal
Selects Product Backlog items to work on
Daily Scrum
15-minute daily meeting for the Development Team
Inspects progress toward the Sprint Goal
Sprint Review
Demonstration of the potentially shippable increment
Stakeholders provide feedback
Sprint Retrospective
Focuses on process improvement
Team identifies actions to improve the next Sprint
Sprint Rules
No changes that endanger the Sprint Goal
Quality standards do not decrease
Scope may be clarified and renegotiated with the Product Owner
Product Backlog Refinement
An ongoing activity to keep the Product Backlog relevant and clear.
Includes:
Adding new backlog items
Deleting items no longer needed
Breaking large items into smaller ones
Reordering or replacing items based on new priorities
Adding estimates and details
