Scrum Values in Action

Scrum is built on a foundation of five core values - commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect. These values guide teams in how to approach their work and collaborate effectively. In this article, we'll explore how Scrum teams can implement these values.

Commitment

A Scrum team commits to achieving its goals and doing quality work. Team members individually commit to supporting each other and the team. The Scrum Master reinforces commitment by establishing trust and psychological safety within the team.

Some examples of commitment in action:

• The team commits to sprint goals during sprint planning and sticks to this plan. If new tasks come up mid-sprint, the team discusses whether they can do more work without compromising the sprint goal.

• Team members commit to the quality of their work by adhering to the "definition of done." This means writing clean, tested code and completing all required documentation.

• Team members commit to finding solutions together rather than blaming individuals when facing challenges. The Scrum Master role models this by taking collective responsibility for team successes and failures.

Courage

Scrum requires courage to do the right thing, even when difficult. This means having candid conversations, challenging assumptions, and taking intelligent risks.

Some examples of courage in action:

• A developer voices concerns that the team must take on more technical debt. Though it's easier to ignore, he dares to raise this issue.

• When sprint goals are missed, the team must discuss why rather than cover it up. The Scrum Master creates a safe space for this discussion.

• The product owner dares to cut feature ideas that don't align with the product vision, even if stakeholders request them.

Focus

Scrum teams maintain focus by prioritizing the work that delivers the most value. They stick to sprint goals and avoid getting distracted.

Some examples of focus in action:

• The product owner grooms the product backlog so that the most high-value items are at the top and lower-value items are at the bottom.

• The team focuses on sprint execution rather than worrying about what may come after. They tune out distractions.

• The Scrum Master protects the team's focus. He/she fends off interference and channels requests through the product owner.

Openness

Scrum teams embrace openness about their work and any issues. This creates transparency and prompts valuable discussions.

Some examples of openness in action:

• Team members are open about their work and any roadblocks in standup meetings.

• When reviewing work together, team members are open to other perspectives.

• The Scrum Master encourages openness by making information visible and having candid discussions with the team and stakeholders.

Respect

In Scrum, respect means team members appreciate each other's skills, backgrounds, and viewpoints. Though perspectives may differ, the team respects each voice.

Some examples of respect in action:

• Team members respect each other's time by starting and ending meetings promptly.

• The product owner respects the dev team's opinions when they explain why specific requests may be infeasible.

• The Scrum Master respects the product owner's vision for the product and works to align team efforts accordingly.

By implementing Scrum values daily, teams build quality products, foster innovation, and develop high-performance agile cultures. Scrum values keep teams focused on doing their best and delivering the greatest value.

How have you seen Scrum values exemplified in your teams?