Boost your performance with the Scrum method

Project management methods are numerous. In particular, we can cite the V-cycle or the cascade model. All have advantages and disadvantages. However, if you want guide your business towards a more agile and responsive approach, it is strongly recommended to learn the principles and benefits of the Scrum method. The latter allows you to gain flexibility and speed up production while significantly improving customer satisfaction.

What is Scrum?

First of all, the Scrum method is used in the software development industry as a framework or framework. However, its numerous advantages have made it essential for any product or service development based on an agile approach.

The name Scrum comes from an English term that originated in rugby and means “melee” in French. It was initially found in a publication called “The New New Product Development Game” by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka.

The authors then drew a parallel between this new approach based on collaborative work and rugby union where the team “tries to go the distance to the goal, as a unit, by passing and ironing the ball.”

What are the fundamental principles of Scrum?

The agile scrum process is therefore based on collective intelligence. The principles of transparency, adaptability and continuous improvement are the foundations.

Concretely, Scrum agile management Divide the work into steps that are easier to understand. The elements resulting from this division are called sprints. Their duration is short and usually does not exceed two to four weeks.

Before and after each sprint, the agile team, the Product Owner, and the Scrum Master meet. They then define goals to be achieved during the next sprint. Throughout the iterative development cycle, communication between members makes it possible to identify obstacles and discuss what has been achieved.

The succession of short cycles within this agile methodology allows promote a corporate culture based on continuous improvement.

The benefits of the Scrum approach

Setting up an agile environment using the Scrum method is ideal for benefiting from numerous and varied advantages.

We can cite:

• Greater adaptability: Agile development promotes great flexibility. The project manager as well as team members can quickly adapt to change and uncertainty in a fast and effective manner.
• Better communication: Regular exchanges during the daily meeting or during a sprint planning meeting promote clear, transparent and active communication between all members of the agile team.
• Increased customer satisfaction: By regularly delivering new functionalities, the Scrum method is in a position to better meet customer needs and significantly increase product quality and customer satisfaction.
• Enhanced risk management: Regular information gathering is very relevant to quickly identify problems and obstacles in order to better manage risks and meet delivery deadlines.

Thus, managing projects with Scrum methodology makes it possible to transform into a more agile company, respect deadlines and improve the quality of communication as well as that of deliverables. Agile and collaborative approaches are therefore essential for improve the performance of your business and optimize project management.

The essential roles of this method

The implementation of agile methods such as the Kanban method or the Scrum method requires a rigorous application of the fundamental principles of these methods. As part of the Scrum approach, certain key roles within the project are essential to achieving your goals.

The Scrum Master

Let's start with the Scrum Master. You should think of it as some kind of coach or guardian of this method. Throughout the project, this expert will ensure that the principles and values of the Scrum approach are respected. Her role is also to solve problems and facilitate communication between team members.

The Product Owner

Then we have the Product Owner. True Link between the project team and the end customer, it maximizes product value. He ensures that all team members have a good understanding of the objectives to be achieved and the functionalities to be developed during each sprint. In fact, he is the one who manages the Product Backlog that defines and prioritizes the goals for the team.

The agile team

Of course, the project could not be completed without the agile team. This development team is made up of different profiles that will: working together to create the product or service. Generally, within Scrum teams, teams are versatile and multidisciplinary. It is the exchange of best practices, the fluidity of communication and the collaborative work of these experts with varied skills that make the Scrum approach so effective.

What tools should you use for Scrum?

To benefit from great agility and improve the quality of your products thanks to the Scrum method, you must use the appropriate tools.

Let's summarize the needs: Manage the backlog, plan sprints throughout the project, visualize the progress of tasks, and promote collaboration between group members. It is obvious that it is necessary toopt for a collaborative work management tool.

Indeed, this type of tool will integrate all the elements necessary for your Scrum project. These include task management tools, instant messaging to communicate, an office suite to create reports, and a videoconferencing tool to organize meetings on the fly. All of these points should be taken into consideration when looking for the most appropriate software to implement the agile Scrum method.

Developing collective intelligence with the Scrum method and federating energies towards a common goal is ideal for strengthening relationships between employees. They will gain in efficiency, adaptability, commitment and you will reach your development goals more quickly. So you will be able to Take care of your profitability while significantly improving customer satisfaction. For all these reasons, we advise you to test the Scrum method with the appropriate collaborative tools in order to digitize your business and increase its agility.

Harvard Business Review, The New New Product Development Game, 1986