EFFECTIVE DAILY SCRUM PATTERNS Charles Bradley
Charles Bradley Professional Scrum Trainer, Scrum.org Courses I personally teach: Professional Scrum Foundations(2 days) Professional Scrum Master (2 days) Coming Soon! Professional Scrum Developer - Java (3 days) Started Scrum in 2008, Scrum Development Team Member(Java) & Scrum Master Scrum Coach Trained and Coached numerous teams on Scrum Short term and long term engagements B.S., Computer Science
Overview Setting the Stage: Daily Scrum Patterns Talk Order Patterns Q & A Obstacle Resolution Patterns Facilitation Patterns Q & A Who Participates? Patterns Who Attends? Patterns Sprint Backlog at The Daily Scrum Patterns Q & A
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT DAILY SCRUM PATTERNS?
Warning: The Scrum Patterns Prime Directive Patterns are not a concrete methodology, and using only documented patterns is a sure fire way to destroy creativity and innovation. So use the patterns with care, and don t forget to be creative. Mix and match, combine, tweak, create a new pattern, or don t ever hesitate to use your own technique that doesn t resemble an already existing pattern. The Patterns are simply meant to be ideas to consider
Scrum Guide Requirements of Daily Scrum Purpose: Inspect, forecast, and adapt the plan for the next 24 hrs Rules: 15 minute time-box Same time/place each day Each team member explains Yesterday/Today/Obstacles Only Dev Team members participate SM enforces this Not a status meeting No Scrum Guide Guidance On: Who can attend Whether obstacle resolution is handled inside or outside of the meeting Standup vs. Sit Down
Pattern Categories Daily Scrum Talk Order Patterns(3) Obstacle Resolution Patterns(5) Facilitation Patterns(5) Who Participates? Patterns(2) Who Attends? Patterns(4) Sprint Backlog at The Daily Scrum Patterns(2)
TALK ORDER PATTERNS
Round Robin One person starts, talk order proceeds in some spatial pattern (clockwise, counter-clockwise, left to right, etc) Teams often stand in a circle or semi-circle
Round Robin - Context Possibly Good For: New Scrum teams simple technique Possibly Bad For: Teams that have been doing this same technique for a long time, and are now bored with it. Change it up!
Talking Stick The person speaking in a Daily Scrum holds a talking stick or token of some sort. Helps keep interruptions and side conversations to a minimum. Helps to understand when previous speaker is finished talking -> passes the stick
Talking Stick - Context Possibly Good For: Teams with too many side discussions or interruptions Teams that need to break the monotony of a previous Daily Scrum format Possible Strategy: For Distributed Teams: Toss the microphone Forces people to pay attention Possible Strategy: For Co-located Teams: Random Order, Toss the Token Toss a physical token, mascot, ball, etc Forces people to pay attention Be safe! Possibly Bad For: Teams that find this technique annoying or kitchy Teams that have been doing this same technique for a long time, and are now bored with it. Change it up!
Controversial Pattern: Walk the Items Rather than going person by person, the meeting is facilitated to go PBI by PBI Someone indicates which PBI is being discussed Each person that worked on it yesterday or plans to work on it today talks about: What they did yesterday on this PBI What they plan to do today on this PBI What possible obstacles are getting in their way for this PBI
Controversial Pattern: Walk the Items - Context Possibly Good For: Teams that struggle with getting closure on PBI s. Teams that are highly co-located and highly communicative throughout the day, such that improvements or tips are shared immediately, rather than sharing them in the Daily Scrum Possibly Bad For: Teams that share a lot of information or tips in the Daily Scrum that may be unrelated to a particular PBI Teams where this approach might lead to the team following the <Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting> anti-pattern, due to the similarities of this approach, and the Waterfall status meeting approach. Teams where members might find it easier to recall their previous (and forecast their next) 24 hours chronologically, rather than having to sort that 48 hours worth into what information applies to each PBI
OBSTACLE RESOLUTION PATTERNS
Defer Obstacle Resolution Don t attempt to solve obstacles and impediments in the Daily Scrum. Identify obstacles and impediments, but don t solve Can allow some minimum discussion, but then need to defer at some point Possible Strategy: Hand sign or other signal to indicate someone s preference for deferring a particular obstacle s resolution
Defer Obstacle Resolution - Possibly Good For Context Teams that have trouble keeping the DS time-box Teams that want really short Daily Scrums, where they can opt out of discussing specific topics Possibly Bad For Teams that are smaller, or can quickly discuss their obstacles and impediments within the 15 minute timebox.
Allow Obstacle Resolution Allow some or all obstacles and impediments to be resolved in the Daily Scrum. Of course, some obstacles require information or people not available at the Daily Scrum Can included discussion Must be able to consistently conform to the 15 minute time-box
Allow Obstacle Resolution - Possibly Good For Context Teams that are smaller, or can quickly discuss their obstacles and impediments within the 15 minute timebox. Possibly Bad For Teams that have trouble keeping the DS time-box Teams that want really short Daily Scrums, where they can opt out of discussing specific topics
Anti-Pattern: Save All Obstacles For The Daily Scrum Team defers discussing and resolving all obstacles until the Daily Scrum Often happens with teams new to Scrum Increases obstacle delays by as much as 24 hours Instead, report and/or resolve all possible obstacles as soon as they are identified. Don t feel like you have to wait until the Daily Scrum to report and/or resolve.
Anti-Pattern: Save All Obstacles For The Daily Scrum - Context Possibly Good For Obstacles that appear shortly before the Daily Scrum. Discussing at or after the Daily Scrum is easier than calling a separate gathering just before the Daily Scrum. Possibly Bad For Just about any situation that does not meet the Possibly Good For context above. Attempt to report/resolve all possible obstacles as soon as they are identified.
The After Party The Dev Team meets just after the Daily Scrum to handle things that are inappropriate for the Daily Scrum. Non Dev Team members can also attend, though this risks the appearance of the <After Party Defeats the Daily Scrum> anti-pattern.
The After Party Part 2 Be sure to signal the official end of the Daily Scrum somehow, so it s clear you re now in <The After Party>. If your team follows the <Standup Meeting> pattern, this might be a time to sit down and discuss things that take longer to discuss. You might also change venues. If you end up with a long list of items to discuss at <The After Party>, see if it s because the team is following the <Save All Obstacles For The Daily Scrum> anti-pattern. Possible Strategy: If you have multiple items to discuss, consider ordering the items such that the ones needing the largest audience are first, followed by ones needing smaller audiences, and so on. Possible Strategy: Allow Development Team members to vote with their feet at <The After Party>.
The After Party - Context Possibly Good For: Discussions with those not on the Development team Obstacle resolution if you re following the <Defer Obstacle Resolution> pattern. Discussions where only a small subset of the Development team is needed and you don t want to waste the other members time. Possibly Bad For Any team that might succumb to the <After Party Defeats the Daily Scrum> pattern.
But be careful. This can turn into this!
Anti-Pattern: After Party Defeats the Daily Scrum One or more non Scrum Team members takes over <The After Party> and harms the self organization of the Scrum Team. Related: See <Authority Figure Attends> anti-pattern. Often times when this anti-pattern is present, it will feel like <The After Party> renders what just happened at the Daily Scrum completely moot.
Anti-Pattern: After Party Defeats Possibly Good For: the Daily Scrum No known context where this pattern is good for a Scrum implementation. Possibly Bad For Any team where there seems to be a risk of this antipattern.
FACILITATION PATTERNS
Standup Meeting Participants stand up during the Daily Scrum Vast majority of Scrum teams do a stand up and report that it is quite the successful practice
Standup Meeting - Context Possibly Good For Teams that have trouble keeping to the DS time-box Teams that will communicate more efficiently if they are standing. Teams that could use some standup time because they sit most of the day Teams that enjoy the standup tradition of the Daily Scrum Possibly Bad For Distributed teams that attend the DS via audio or video conferencing at their desks or at home.
Sit Down Meeting Participants in the Daily Scrum sit down for the meeting There is no Scrum Guide requirement that the Daily Scrum be a standup meeting Should be used with caution
Sit Down Meeting - Context Possibly Good For Distributed teams that attend the DS via audio or video conferencing at their desks or at home. Possibly Bad For Teams that have trouble keeping the DS time-box will communicate more efficiently if they are standing. could use some standup time because they sit most of the day enjoy the standup tradition of the Daily Scrum will lose energy and team spirit by having a sit down meeting, or maybe sitting down reminds them of old, painful, Waterfall status meetings.
Close Facilitator A facilitator (often the Scrum Master) facilitates the meeting very closely Might give hints to team members to mention something Might coach members closely on what to do, say, or that they need to let the next person talk Might simply just ask insightful questions to the team or its members to expose the system to itself Subtle difference between Close Facilitator and Anti-Pattern: Controlling Facilitator
Close Facilitator - Context Possibly Good For Brand New Scrum Teams who need close teaching on how to hold an effective Daily Scrum. Distributed Scrum Teams so that the Daily Scrum is organized, and moves along efficiently. Consider the <Talking Stick> pattern ( Toss the Microphone Strategy ) as an alternative to this pattern for achieving the same thing. Possibly Bad For Newer Scrum Teams that have the mechanics down and no longer need the close facilitation and teaching
Anti-Pattern: Controlling Facilitator A facilitator controls the meeting very tightly Might call out the name of each person before they talk Might quiz the person several levels deep to go further on what is holding them up Controlling Facilitator can be a Scrum Team member OR a Non Scrum Team member. Consider <Close Facilitator> pattern instead Often happens when <Authority Figure Attends>
Anti-Pattern: Controlling Facilitator - Context Possibly Good For No contexts are currently documented for when this anti-pattern might be possibly good for a Scrum implementation. Possibly Bad For This is an anti-pattern for any Scrum team because it harms selforganization. See Also: Anti-Pattern: <Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting> Anti-Pattern: <Authority Figure Attends>
Anti-Pattern: Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting Focus on time (% complete, actual hours, etc) instead of what the obstacle is, what help is needed, or what work is remaining Someone other than the Scrum Master or Development Team facilitates the meeting A <Controlling Facilitator> is present, Polling each person for their status, and/or Interrogating people about obstacles or things that take longer than expected Constantly reminding team members about deadlines Meeting goes completely off track often People dread going to the meeting People appear to be reporting to a particular person present, rather than reporting to their fellow development team members. See <Authority Figure Attends> antipattern.
Anti-Pattern: Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting - Context Possibly Good For No contexts are currently documented for when this anti-pattern might be possibly good for a Scrum implementation. Possibly Bad For This is an anti-pattern for any Scrum team because it harms selforganization, and the ability of the team to inspect and adapt. See Also: Anti-Pattern: <Controlling Facilitator> Anti-Pattern: <Authority Figure Attends>
Q&A
WHO PARTICIPATES? PATTERNS
Controversial Pattern: Product Owner Participates Product Owner Participates in the Daily Scrum Scrum Guide Only Dev Team members participate Participate == yesterday/today/possible obstacles? Agile Atlas (Scrum Alliance) Only Dev Team members give the yesterday/today/possible obstacles PO and SM allowed to talk Non Scrum Team Members not allowed to talk or participate
Controversial Pattern: Product Owner Participates - Context Possibly Good For Teams that have a good working relationship with their PO Possibly Bad For Teams where the PO might harm Dev Team self organization or exhibit one of the following antipatterns: Anti-Pattern: <Authority Figure Attends> Anti-Pattern: <Controlling Facilitator>
Anti-Pattern: Non Scrum Team Member Participates A person who is not on the Scrum Team participates by speaking, or doing the yesterday/today/possible obstacles talk This is a direct violation of the Scrum Guide which says that only the Dev Team participates.
Anti-Pattern: Non Scrum Team Member Participates - Context Possibly Good For No contexts are currently documented for when this anti-pattern might be possibly good for a Scrum implementation. Possibly Bad For Any Scrum Team. This violates a very specific Scrum rule, and harms self-organization, transparency, and the purpose of the Daily Scrum itself. It s better if the outsiders participate in the <The After Party> instead. See Also: Anti-Pattern: <Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting> Anti-Pattern: <Authority Figure Attends>
WHO ATTENDS? PATTERNS Note difference between attend and participate.
Only Dev Team Attends Only the Dev Team attends the Daily Scrum Caveat: Dev Team should make sure that they are still serving/communicating with the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and wider organization well, through any other needed communication mechanisms.
Only Dev Team Attends - Context Possibly Good For: Teams where the Development Team is highly self organizing, and knows how to hold a correct and highly productive Daily Scrum Possibly Bad For: Teams new to Scrum, who need some teaching and mentoring from the Scrum Master on how to hold a correct and effective Daily Scrum Teams who need a Scrum Master present to shield the Dev Team from outsiders See <Authority Figure Attends> anti-pattern Teams where a Scrum Master s extended absence has allowed slow degradation of the quality of the Daily Scrum
Scrum Master Attends The Scrum Master Attends the Daily Scrum
Scrum Master Attends - Context Possibly Good For: Teams new to Scrum, who need some teaching and mentoring from the Scrum Master on how to hold a correct and effective Daily Scrum. Teams who need the Scrum Master to help enforce the rules of the Daily Scrum, or make sure the Scrums are still effective. Teams who need a Scrum Master present to shield the Dev Team from outsiders See <Authority Figure Attends> antipattern Possibly Bad For: Teams where the Scrum Master is also an authority figure, and has trouble playing only their Scrum Master role at the Daily Scrum. Teams that get dependent on the Scrum Master attending the Daily Scrum. The Scrum Master should make every effort to teach the Dev Team to hold their own, effective, Daily Scrums.
Product Owner Attends The Product Owner Attends the Daily Scrum
Product Owner Attends - Context Possibly Good For: Dev Teams who often need to speak to the Product Owner at <The After Party> Product Owners who are team players, and attend to hear how they can help the Scrum Team succeed. Possibly Bad For: Scrum Teams that get into the habit of thinking that the only time they can communicate to the Product Owner is at the Daily Scrum or at <The After Party>. The Product Owner should be highly available throughout the Sprint. Product Owners who exhibit the <Authority Figure Attends> or <Controlling Facilitator> anti-pattern.
Anti-Pattern: Authority Figure Attends Someone of authority attends Team Lead Manager Executive Powerful Stakeholder
Anti-Pattern: Authority Figure Attends Possibly Good For: In extremely rare cases, it might be ok for the authority figure to attend occasionally, when the authority figure is not a Scrum Team member, AND well liked, AND not feared in any way that would harm Scrum or self-organization. (consider educating the authority figure on Scrum and encourage them to attend Sprint Reviews instead) Organizations new to Scrum, where the authority figure is just trying to observe occasionally to understand more about how Scrum works. Teams where there is no getting around the fact that an authority figure is a member of the Scrum Team. In these cases, the authority figure is encouraged to take their authority hat off during the Daily Scrum, and to only wear their Scrum role hat during the Daily Scrum. Possibly Bad For: Pretty much any situation not described in the Possibly Good For section, plus Authority figures who don t realize that effect they have on the team somewhat akin to the lab coat effect
SPRINT BACKLOG AT THE DAILY SCRUM PATTERNS
View Sprint Backlog at Daily Scrum The Sprint Backlog is viewed or displayed at the Daily Scrum. Typically done via a Physical Scrum Board for colocated teams. For distributed teams/members could be a Sprint Backlog depiction on a computer screen. Examples: Physical Scrum board Photograph of the Physical Scrum board Webcam pointed at the Physical Scrum board ALM tool screen
View Sprint Backlog at Daily Possibly Good For Scrum - Context Pretty much any Scrum Team, so long as they are not exhibiting some other anti-pattern (<Authority Figure Attends>, <Controlling Facilitator>, <Turns into a Waterfall Status Meeting>, etc) Possibly Bad For No contexts are currently documented for when this pattern might be possibly bad for a Scrum implementation.
Controversial Pattern: Update Sprint Backlog During Daily Scrum The Scrum team updates the Sprint Backlog and/or Burndown during the Daily Scrum
Controversial Pattern: Update Sprint Backlog During Daily Scrum - Context Possibly Good For Very advanced/experienced Scrum Teams who will not let the updating get in the way of the purpose of the Daily Scrum. Possibly Bad For Less experienced Scrum Teams who are not yet excellent at having highly effective Daily Scrums. Teams where the updating might distract from the inspect and adapt nature of the Daily Scrum since people are so focused on interacting with the Scrum Board or an ALM tool. Teams where the updating might hinder transparency since such a large crowd is watching the person do the update. The updater might feel compelled to make the audience happy instead of well informed. This is especially true if the <Authority Figure Attends> anti-pattern is present. Teams where the members might feel like the Daily Scrum is the only time to update the Sprint Backlog, and this will definitely hinder transparency. Harder to update, inspect, and adapt based on the amount of work remaining(burndown), when the current work remaining won t be known until the very end of the Daily Scrum. A future Scrum Technique Pattern will document a different (and generally better) pattern, along the lines of <Update the Sprint Backlog Immediately>.
Create Your Own Pattern! <Your Pattern Description Here>
Create Your Own Pattern! - Context Possibly Good For: <Possibly Good For these situations > Possibly Bad For: <Possibly Bad For these situations >
Warning: The Scrum Patterns Prime Directive Patterns are not a concrete methodology, and using only documented patterns is a sure fire way to destroy creativity and innovation. So use the patterns with care, and don t forget to be creative. Mix and match, combine, tweak, create a new pattern, or don t ever hesitate to use your own technique that doesn t resemble an already existing pattern. The Patterns are simply meant to be ideas to consider
Q&A
Wrapup Consider the Patterns as Ideas Not an official part of Scrum in any way Pay Attention to the Applicable Context You can find a pdf summarizing the patterns here: http://www.scrumcrazy.com/dspatterns Be published! Contribute your own patterns! See the link above for details on how to submit your own Scrum Patterns.