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!
