vendredi 16 janvier 2015

Scrum Coaching For Faster Delivery

By Kristen Baird


Software development through the scrum method requires that five to seven members dedicate their time and effort towards delivery of a common goal. This goal is set by the product owner with strict standards and timeline. For a team to produce the best results, scrum coaching is necessary.

Coaching helps the sprinting team to capture the demands of the work at hand and develop a delivery strategy. The sessions help to create teamwork which is essential for the work at hand. Members can easily identify with engagement limits, rules and requirements of their project. They also understand the standards that must be met.

Coaches help team members to identify operation tools and skills that will be required in delivering on any project. The team can therefore maximize their time and resources to the point of delivering before the stipulated time. Failure to recognize time and rules will lead to laxity that delays delivery or lowers the standards of work.

Gelling within the team takes time which delays the actualization of team spirit. This must be allowed so that individuals can understand temperaments, abilities and talents of other members. Hierarchies will form for easy flow of instructions and directions. This is necessary so that order can be maintained within the group.

Coaches must understand that peak performance takes time. Each team goes through several stages namely Tuckman-model, Foaming, Storming, Norming and finally performing. On average, most teams will take three sprint sessions to deliver satisfactory results. This knowledge makes it easier to handle the teams.

Scrum teams have unique characteristics that differentiate them from department or units in a firm. All the norms and rules apply to team members equally. This is important in creating a level playing field where everyone can deliver without pressure. The rules are set at the beginning of the assignment and may be revised in the course of the sprint.

The scrumming team must be empowered and provided with all the resources it requires to deliver. Empowering also means assessing their skills before giving any assignment to ensure that they are capable. These skills must be balanced and complementary to avoid unnecessary duplication and competition.

Autonomy is crucial for any scrumming team to deliver on their stipulated project. The tenets of autonomy need to be outlined at the planning stage. It is at this stage that all resources required are evaluated and allocated. As the team organizes itself for the task ahead, it must assign roles to each member and determine their meeting schedule. Interference before completion kills the group morale and may derail the project.

Membership to scrumming teams is limited and requires full participation by each individual. This explains why the teams are usually small without sub-teams. These teams determine their daily meeting schedule as well as location. Other decisions to be made include coding rules, tools required for the project and what it will take for work to be labeled as Complete. It is the responsibility of every member to ensure that each project is delivered successfully.




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