How does Scrum work with remote teams? Frequently asked questions explained.

Q: What is Scrum?

Scrum is a framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people, teams and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems. Scrum co-creators Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland have written The Scrum Guide to explain Scrum clearly and succinctly. This Guide contains the definition of Scrum. This definition consists of Scrum’s accountabilities, events, artifacts, and the rules that bind them together.

Q: What is Planning Poker?

Planning poker, also known as “scrum poker” and “pointing poker”, is a gamified technique that development teams use to guess the effort of project management tasks. These estimations are based on the entire group’s input and consensus, making them more engaging and accurate than other methods. To help gauge the number of story points for the relevant tasks, teams use planning poker cards, which are similar to poker cards.

Q: What tools are essential for remote Scrum teams?

Key tools include video conferencing platforms like Zoom for meetings, collaborative boards such as Trello or Jira for task management, instant messaging with Slack for real-time communication, and document sharing platforms like Google Drive for accessible collaboration. These tools help replicate the in-person Scrum team dynamic, ensuring effective workflows and strong team cohesion.

Q: How do you maintain Agile values in a remote environment?

This involves prioritizing communication for strong team connections, focusing on working solutions through regular demos, engaging stakeholders for continuous feedback, and adapting to changes with a flexible mindset and effective digital tool usage. Embedding these Agile values in remote practices ensures the ethos of adaptability, collaboration, and customer focus.

Question 1

What is Scrum?

Answer

Scrum is a framework within which people can address complex adaptive problems, while productively and creatively delivering products of the highest possible value. Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people, teams and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems. Scrum co-creators Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland have written The Scrum Guide to explain Scrum clearly and succinctly. This Guide contains the definition of Scrum. This definition consists of Scrum`s accountabilities, events, artifacts, and the rules that bind them together.

A Product Owner orders the work for a complex problem into a Product Backlog.
The Scrum Team turns a selection of the work into an Increment of value during a Sprint.
The Scrum Team and its stakeholders inspect the results and adjust for the next Sprint.
Repeat

Source: scrum.org

Question 2

What is Planning Poker?

Answer

Planning poker, also known as “scrum poker” and “pointing poker”, is a gamified technique that development teams use to guess the effort of project management tasks. These estimations are based on the entire group’s input and consensus, making them more engaging and accurate than other methods. To help gauge the number of story points for the relevant tasks, teams use planning poker cards, which are similar to poker cards.

Source: atlassian.com

Question 3

What tools are essential for remote Scrum teams?

Answer

Essential Tools for Remote Scrum: Key tools include video conferencing platforms like Zoom, collaborative boards such as Trello or Jira, instant messaging with Slack, and document sharing platforms like Google Drive.

Source: Agile Alliance, Scrum.org

Question 4

How do remote teams conduct Scrum ceremonies?

Answer

Remote Scrum Ceremonies: Remote teams adapt Scrum ceremonies for virtual environments using video conferencing and digital collaboration platforms. Daily stand-ups are conducted via video calls, sprint planning utilizes shared digital boards, and sprint reviews and retrospectives are hosted online. These adaptations emphasize clear communication, effective technology use, and maintaining team engagement.Source: Scrum.org

Question 5

How does Agile adapt to fully remote or distributed teams?

Answer

Agile and Remote Teams: Agile methodologies adapt to remote settings by leveraging communication tools for real-time interaction, using project management software for visibility, and embracing flexible work hours to accommodate time zone differences. These practices ensure the core Agile principles of collaboration, customer feedback, and iterative development are maintained, despite the physical distance.Source: Agile Alliance

Question 6

How do you maintain Agile values in a remote environment?

Answer

Maintaining Agile Values Remotely: This involves prioritizing communication, focusing on working solutions, engaging stakeholders for feedback, and adapting to changes flexibly.

Source: VersionOne, Atlassian Blog