Understanding the Dynamics of Scrum Development Teams
Hello everyone, and welcome to the QMB Agile Institute, where we delve into the principles of agile and lean project management to help you thrive in today’s fast-paced work environment. Today, we’re focusing on one of the most crucial elements of Scrum: the development team. Whether you’re new to Scrum or looking to enhance your team’s performance, this guide will help you understand what makes development teams truly effective.
What Does a Development Team Do?
At its core, a development team transforms items from the product backlog into valuable working features during each Sprint. Now, here’s something crucial to understand: when we say “done,” we mean really done. Not “done, but needs testing,” not “done, but requires deployment”—just done. In Scrum, there’s no room for “done, but” scenarios. Every feature should be complete, tested, and ready for deployment by the end of the Sprint.
The Ideal Team Size: The 7 Plus or Minus Two Rule
The magic number for team size is what we call the 7 plus or minus two rule, meaning anywhere between 5 to 9 members. Why this specific range? It’s large enough to have all the necessary skills but small enough to maintain effective communication. These teams are cross-functional, meaning they have all the skills needed to deliver value without depending on outside help. Think of it as a mini company within your organization; they have everything they need to go from idea to implementation.
The Self-Organizing Nature of Development Teams
What makes these teams unique is their self-organizing nature. While they work within the boundaries set by the organization, they decide how to turn product backlog items into working features. They plan their work, create their own tasks, and determine how to best achieve their goals. Every day, the team meets for a short standup meeting. This isn’t a status report to management; it’s a synchronization point for the team to coordinate their efforts and remove any obstacles in their path.
Quality is Non-Negotiable
Here’s something crucial about development teams: they’re obsessed with quality, and for good reason. They don’t postpone fixing bugs or take shortcuts that create technical debt. Why? Because they know that compromising on quality today means paying a much higher price tomorrow. Think of it like maintaining your car; regular small maintenance is much better than waiting for a major breakdown. The same principle applies to software development.
The Collaborative Spirit
One thing you need to understand about Scrum development teams is that they’re highly collaborative. If you prefer to work in isolation, you might find this challenging. The team commits together, works together, and succeeds or fails together. When it comes to commitment, it’s important to note that teams commit to Sprint goals, not to specific amounts of work. This commitment isn’t about working overtime to meet unrealistic deadlines; it’s about setting achievable goals and working sustainably toward them.
Focusing on Customer Delight
The team’s ultimate focus is on delighting the customer. This means being flexible when requirements change and always keeping the end user in mind. They’re not just following specifications; they’re actively working to deliver the best possible solution for the customer’s needs. Remember, great development teams aren’t built overnight. They require the right environment, support, and time to develop their capabilities. But when they click, when they truly become a high-performing unit, they can achieve amazing results.
If you found this content helpful, don’t forget to like and subscribe for more Scrum and agile content. Drop your questions in the comments below and let us know what other Scrum topics you’d like us to cover.
Related Hashtags:
#ScrumTeam #AgileDevelopment #ProjectManagement #SoftwareDevelopment #TeamManagement #Scrum #AgileMethodology #DevTeam #ScrumMaster #AgileTeams