PROJECT MANAGEMENT

What Does It Mean To Work In An Agile & Scrum Framework?

Lindsay Harrison, Project Manager and Certified ScrumMaster® examines how adopting a framework built on Scrum and Agile principles can translate into successful project outcomes and smoother workflows.

Coming from a Marketing and Communications background, specifically in the manufacturing B2B field in both original equipment manufacturing and, later, product manufacturing, I place a premium on fostering a team environment that encourages a healthy, sustainable pace in delivering high-quality results. This approach thrives on collaborative efforts among all team members and consistently yields top-tier results with a methodical, well-organized, and planned approach.

I am not shy to admit that since joining Acro, I find myself wishing that I had engaged our services as a robust web development agency during my previous role, as it would have significantly alleviated the challenges I faced with my then-supplier and our workflows. 

So, what does adopting an Agile and Scrum framework mean for your project, and how can it translate into successful project outcomes and a smoother workflow for you?

Working on a web development project within an Agile and Scrum framework means adopting a set of principles, practices, and processes designed to enhance collaboration, flexibility, and efficiency throughout the project's lifecycle. 

Here's a comprehensive breakdown of what this entails for your web development endeavour and how it contributes to consistent and timely deliverables and, ultimately, your project’s  success: 

• Iterative and Incremental Development: Agile and Scrum promote breaking down the project into smaller, manageable pieces called iterations or sprints. Each iteration typically lasts 2-4 weeks and results in a potentially shippable product increment. This allows for continuous feedback and improvement.
• Cross-Functional Teams: In Scrum, you have cross-functional teams that include members with various skill sets, such as developers, designers, testers, and product owners. This diversity ensures that the team can handle all aspects of the project.
• Product Backlog: The project requirements are captured in a product backlog, which is a prioritized list of features and tasks. The backlog is dynamic and can evolve as the project progresses.
• Sprint Planning: At the start of each sprint, the team conducts a sprint planning meeting to select items from the product backlog to work on during the sprint. The team commits to delivering these items by the end of the sprint, providing clear focus, goals, and a set of deliverables for that time period. 
• Daily Standup (Scrum): In Scrum, the team holds daily standup meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and plans for the day. These meetings are short and focused and provide a continuous opportunity for team synchronization, alignment, and transparency.
• Product Owner: The product owner is responsible for defining and prioritizing the requirements, ensuring the team works on the most valuable features first, and making decisions regarding the product.
• Scrum Master: The Scrum Master serves as a facilitator, coach, and protector of the team. They help remove obstacles and ensure that the team follows Scrum principles and practices.
• Continuous Feedback: Agile promotes regular feedback from stakeholders, end-users, and team members. This feedback is used to make adjustments and improvements throughout the project.
• Flexibility: Agile methodologies, including Scrum, embrace change. If new requirements or insights emerge, the project can adapt to accommodate them.
• Quality Assurance: Testing and quality assurance are integrated into the development process. This ensures that each increment of the product is of high quality.
• Working Software: The primary measure of progress in Agile is working software. At the end of each sprint, there should be a potentially shippable product increment, which adds tangible value.
• Retrospectives: At the end of each sprint, the team conducts a sprint retrospective to reflect on what went well and what didn't and how to improve the process continuously.
• Burndown Charts: Agile and Scrum use burndown charts to track progress and visualize the work remaining in a sprint or the entire project.
• Customer Collaboration: Agile encourages close collaboration with customers and stakeholders throughout the development process to ensure that the product meets their needs.
• Time-Boxed: Sprints are time-boxed, meaning they have fixed durations. This helps create a sense of predictability and allows the team the concentration and focus to achieve the set tasks at hand.

In summary, working in an Agile and Scrum framework for web development emphasizes collaboration, adaptability, and the delivery of incremental value. It provides a structured approach to managing projects in a way that allows for continuous delivery and alignment with customer needs.

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