Scrum Values: Building Better Teams Through Shared Principles
Scrum is not just a framework for delivering products; it's a way of working that revolves around core values that help guide teams toward success. These values—Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage—are fundamental principles that provide the foundation for Scrum teams. They shape how teams interact, make decisions, and collaborate. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that these values are crucial to creating a productive, high-performing team. In this blog, we will explore each value and its real-world application, in line with the Scrum Guide.
Commitment: Going All In
Commitment is one of the fundamental values in Scrum. It represents the team’s dedication to achieving the goals of the Sprint and delivering the best possible outcomes. It’s about taking ownership of the tasks, responsibilities, and the Sprint Goal.
In the Scrum Guide, commitment is described as a shared commitment by the Scrum Team to accomplish the goals of the Sprint. A real-world example of this is a Scrum team at an e-commerce startup working on a Black Friday campaign. With a tight deadline ahead, every team member committed to the Sprint Goal, supporting one another in getting things done. A developer even took on QA testing to help meet the sprint goal. This collaborative commitment ensured the team not only met deadlines but delivered a quality product.
When commitment is in place, teams function at their best, working together toward a common objective and achieving great results.
Focus: Prioritizing What Truly Matters
The Scrum Guide highlights that the Scrum Team must focus on the work of the Sprint and the goals of the Scrum Team. Focus helps teams avoid distractions and ensure that their energy is directed toward delivering valuable outcomes.
Take a scenario at a fintech company: During a Sprint, the Product Owner prioritized work that would meet a critical regulatory compliance deadline. The team practiced focus by cutting out unnecessary meetings and staying committed to their tasks. They frequently revisited the Sprint Goal during the Daily Scrum to keep on track. This unwavering focus helped them meet their goals on time, delivering high-value features without getting distracted by non-essential tasks.
Focus enables teams to deliver results that matter, allowing them to stay aligned and make the most significant impact possible.
Openness: Transparent Communication
Openness in Scrum is about being transparent—sharing progress, challenges, and feedback in a collaborative way. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that Scrum Teams must actively promote transparency so everyone involved has a clear understanding of the work, progress, and challenges.
In one case, a healthcare app development team faced a blocker due to a third-party API failure. Rather than keeping the issue to themselves, the team openly discussed the problem during the Daily Scrum. This transparency enabled the Scrum Master to address the issue early, allowing the team to resolve it quickly and keep the sprint on track.
Openness fosters trust within the team, enabling quicker resolutions and fostering an environment where continuous improvement can thrive.
Respect: Valuing Each Team Member
Respect is an essential value in Scrum. The Scrum Guide states that Scrum Team members must respect each other’s knowledge, experience, and contributions. A culture of respect enables teams to collaborate more effectively, fostering a positive and inclusive environment.
In a cross-functional team working on an EdTech project, a junior designer proposed an alternative solution during a Sprint Review. Instead of dismissing the idea, the team respectfully evaluated it. This not only improved the design but boosted the designer’s confidence, encouraging more contributions in the future.
Respect is vital because it creates an inclusive atmosphere where all voices are heard, and innovation can flourish. When team members feel respected, they are more likely to contribute openly and work collaboratively.
Courage: Facing Challenges Head-On
Courage allows Scrum teams to take risks, challenge the status quo, and admit mistakes. The Scrum Guide emphasizes that Scrum Teams should have the courage to make decisions even in the face of uncertainty.
For example, a Scrum team working on a SaaS product realized midway through a Sprint that a feature was not resonating with users in beta testing. Rather than continuing down the same path, they made the courageous decision to pivot their approach and focus on a different feature. This quick adaptation not only saved the product but also strengthened trust with stakeholders.
Courage empowers teams to embrace change, take calculated risks, and make adjustments as needed. Without courage, teams may shy away from necessary changes, limiting their potential for innovation and growth.
Final Thoughts
The Scrum values—Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, and Courage—are not just ideals; they are the foundation of a high-performing Scrum Team. As outlined in the Scrum Guide, these values shape the way teams work together, make decisions, and approach challenges. When Scrum Teams embrace these values, they create an environment where continuous improvement is possible, and everyone is empowered to contribute their best.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into how these values can transform your Scrum journey, the Scrum Guide is a valuable resource. It’s full of insights into how these values support the principles of Scrum and help create a high-performing, resilient team.
What’s your favorite Scrum value, and how has it shaped the way your team works? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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