How Individuals Not Officially Trained In Scrum Can Still Implement Scrum Projects

Scrum methodology can be effective. It has been specially designed to incorporate the changes taking place in the project definition and product related requirements if and when they change due to the changes taking place in the consumer market, and the whims and fancies of the investors and stakeholders. Even though it eventually helps to reduce the overheads and increase the returns over investment, it can prove to be a trifle expensive when implemented for the first time in a company. Product owners and scrum masters do not come cheap, and so if the management desires to implement the methodology, it may have to make do with temporary substitutes who can act as scrum masters and scrum certified professionals, if the particular business organization lacks in financial resources. 

In a typical scenario, a business concern may plan to manufacture a product, but may be wary regarding its development and outcomes in terms of profitability when launched in the market. Scrum is ideally suited for such venture capital projects, where it may become necessary to curtail the development related expenses and halt the project midway if it is not found to be productive. In such a scenario, the organization may appoint a traditional manager to implement scrum. The person may not be officially trained in scrum, but may be forced to implement it owing to top management decisions. The person may feel at a loss how to go ahead with the project. A couple of pointers may help such a person, who is not officially trained in scrum, to carry out its implementation.

    

Using a good quality scrum management tool or software

A possible way to implement scrum without being officially trained and experienced in its implementation is to use a reputed scrum management software or tool. Of course, it is required to know the basics about scrum methodology and how scrum works, but a lot of time can be saved while catering to the practical details of the methodology and its implementation by using such a tool or software. The software includes a lot of functionality in it, and is often accompanied with a useful user manual or a reference guide which teaches how to use the software, define projects, create product backlogs, and plan sprints. The work of the person becomes a lot easier since he or she may be required to provide the required inputs and let the software do the rest. It may not make you a professional product owner or a scrum master, but it can help to streamline your project flow and get you started.

Get a crash course and implement scrum

Another way to carry out scrum implementation is to become clear about scrum, and how it can be implemented, by reading the official scrum guide and the reference material available. One can also find information pertaining to sample scrum projects and how they can be implemented by browsing the internet. It is the cheapest and the easiest way to get started with the implementation process. The person is not required to know about how Gantt charts and product stories look like. It is also not required to know how they should be correctly defined and presented on paper. 

The idea is to get an overall picture and become clear as to how a particular scrum technique functions, and what it does during the implementation process. Subsequently, the person can use the logic to create his or her particular process and try to implement scrum in a rudimentary fashion. It may not be perfect, but if scrum is properly understood, and it is tried to be implemented in a makeshift manner, it may still bring about some, if not all results desired out of the implementation process.

There is absolutely no substitute for a trained scrum professional. Scrum is a specialized process, and not so easy to learn in the first place. However, if a person is forced to deal with scrum and its implementation, there should be something to start with – an entry point which can pave the correct way for further activity and permanent solutions. The article tries to offer a temporary solution for such individuals.

Find out more, and download our free QuickScrum tool which can help you in implementing scrum in an effective and profitable way!