Scrum

A lightweight framework for delivering complex products through iterative, incremental work. Scrum is founded on empiricism (knowledge from experience) and lean thinking (reduce waste, focus on essentials). Teams work in fixed-length iterations called Sprints, inspecting and adapting continuously.

Three Pillars

Pillar Meaning

Transparency The process and work must be visible to those performing and receiving the work

Inspection Scrum artifacts and progress must be inspected frequently to detect problems

Adaptation When inspection reveals deviation, adjust immediately

Five Values

Commitment, Focus, Openness, Respect, Courage. The Scrum Team commits to achieving goals, focuses on Sprint work, is open about challenges, respects each other as capable people, and has courage to do the right thing.

Sprint Goal

The Sprint Goal is the single objective for the Sprint. It is the commitment of the Sprint Backlog. The Sprint Goal provides focus and coherence, encouraging the Scrum Team to work together rather than on separate initiatives.

Quick Template (Focus / Impact / Confirmation)

Our focus is on [outcome]. We believe it delivers [impact] to [stakeholder/customer]. This will be confirmed when [measurable event happens].

Example: "Our focus is on sending a basic notification email containing a report link. We believe it delivers confidence to our finance team. This will be confirmed when we have an email in an inbox with a working link."

SMART Criteria

Criterion Applied to Sprint Goals

Specific Define exactly what the team will achieve, not a vague direction

Measurable Include a way to confirm completion objectively

Achievable The team can realistically deliver within the Sprint timebox

Relevant Connects to the Product Goal and delivers stakeholder value

Time-bound Bounded by the Sprint duration

Anti-Patterns

Anti-Pattern Problem Fix

Task list disguised as goal "Complete stories #101, #102, #103" provides no strategic focus State the outcome those stories achieve

Vague aspiration "Improve the system" gives no direction or measurable outcome Be specific: what improves, for whom, how will you know

Multiple unrelated objectives "Build auth AND redesign dashboard" splits focus Pick one objective; if truly independent, they belong in separate sprints

Dictated by PO alone Team has no ownership or buy-in Craft the goal collaboratively during Sprint Planning

Never referenced after planning Goal becomes forgotten wallpaper Reference the goal daily in the Daily Scrum

Too ambitious Team cannot deliver, loses motivation Base on actual velocity and capacity

See Sprint Goals Reference for 5 complete templates with examples and the FOCUS evaluation checklist.

Scrum Events

All events are timeboxed. Shorter Sprints use proportionally shorter event timeboxes. Every event is an opportunity to inspect and adapt.

Event Timebox (1-month Sprint) Purpose Key Output

Sprint Max 1 month Container for all work and events Usable Increment

Sprint Planning Max 8 hours Define the Sprint Goal and Sprint Backlog Sprint Goal + selected backlog items + delivery plan

Daily Scrum 15 minutes Inspect progress toward Sprint Goal Actionable plan for next 24 hours

Sprint Review Max 4 hours Inspect the Increment and adapt the Product Backlog Feedback, updated Product Backlog

Sprint Retrospective Max 3 hours Inspect the team's process and plan improvements Improvement actions for next Sprint

Sprint Planning: Three Topics

• Why is this Sprint valuable? -- Product Owner proposes how to increase value; team defines Sprint Goal

• What can be done this Sprint? -- Developers select Product Backlog items based on capacity and velocity

• How will the chosen work get done? -- Developers decompose items into tasks (typically one day or less)

See Scrum Events Reference for detailed facilitation guidance, formats, and tips.

Scrum Roles

Role Accountability Key Responsibilities

Scrum Master Scrum framework effectiveness Facilitates events, removes impediments, coaches team and organization on Scrum

Product Owner Product value maximization Manages Product Backlog, communicates Product Goal, ensures backlog transparency

Developers Creating a usable Increment each Sprint Self-managing, cross-functional, accountable for quality and Definition of Done

The Scrum Team is a small, cohesive unit (typically 10 or fewer people) with no sub-teams or hierarchies. Everyone is accountable for creating a valuable, useful Increment every Sprint.

See Scrum Roles Reference for detailed responsibilities and facilitation techniques.

Scrum Artifacts

Each artifact contains a commitment that provides transparency and focus:

Artifact Commitment Purpose

Product Backlog Product Goal Ordered list of everything needed to improve the product

Sprint Backlog Sprint Goal Selected items + Sprint Goal + delivery plan

Increment Definition of Done Concrete stepping stone toward the Product Goal

Definition of Done

A formal description of the state of the Increment when it meets quality standards. If a Product Backlog item does not meet the Definition of Done, it cannot be released or presented at the Sprint Review. It returns to the Product Backlog for future consideration.

The Definition of Done creates transparency by giving everyone a shared understanding of what "complete" means. It is a minimum quality bar -- individual items may have additional acceptance criteria.

Sprint Goal Quality Checklist

Before committing to a Sprint Goal, verify:

• Single objective: one clear outcome, not a list of tasks

• Outcome-oriented: describes what the team achieves, not what they do

• Measurable: includes a way to confirm completion

• Achievable: realistic given team capacity and velocity

• Valuable: connects to the Product Goal and matters to stakeholders

• Collaboratively crafted: team contributed, not just the PO

• Visible: will be referenced daily and displayed prominently

• Flexible execution: the goal is fixed but the work to achieve it can adapt

Integration with Team Roles

Situation Recommended Skill

Writing user stories with acceptance criteria Install knowledge-virtuoso from krzysztofsurdy/code-virtuoso for testing patterns

Planning API work in a sprint Install knowledge-virtuoso from krzysztofsurdy/code-virtuoso for API design principles

Sprint involves architecture decisions Install knowledge-virtuoso from krzysztofsurdy/code-virtuoso for clean architecture guidance

Sprint retrospective reveals code quality issues Install knowledge-virtuoso from krzysztofsurdy/code-virtuoso for refactoring techniques