The daily scrum meeting, or the daily stand up, as it is commonly referred to by scrum professionals, is an integral part of the daily scrum process. The meeting is held before the sprint begins for the particular day. As per scrum methodology, the daily stand up should be ideally time boxed to 15 minutes – it should not exceed this duration whatever the circumstances may be. The three basic questions to be asked covered during the meeting are:
- How much work has been completed in the sprint carried out the day before?
- What work is to be taken up for development today?
- Are any difficulties or issues faced by the team members?
The stand up should not be used to discuss any other topic, or problem, other than answering these three fundamental questions. It is important to follow this format in a strict manner to get optimum benefits.
In practice, many times the stand ups are not conducted in a proper manner, and the meeting fails to fulfill its objectives. The sprint may not be completed successfully, and fail to deliver shippable product at the end of its iteration. Certain reasons are responsible for this, and it is worth knowing how they can be avoided. It is possible to hold effective stand ups if the following rules are observed:
Everyone arrives on time
The time factor is important. The meeting should commence exactly on time, and everyone should arrive promptly so undue time is not wasted. The team members should follow proper etiquette and ensure the decorum of the meeting is maintained at all times.
The time factor is important. The meeting should commence exactly on time, and everyone should arrive promptly so undue time is not wasted. The team members should follow proper etiquette and ensure the decorum of the meeting is maintained at all times.
Everyone attends the meeting
The scrum master and the development team should attend the meeting mandatorily. The entire team involved in the daily scrum should remain present in the meeting. If a team member fails to show up, or has taken a leave for the day, the scrum master should ensure that someone represents that member – at least for providing the feedback of what work was carried out the day before. Moreover, each member should remain present during the entire meeting – no member should leave it unfinished or “half way”.
The scrum master and the development team should attend the meeting mandatorily. The entire team involved in the daily scrum should remain present in the meeting. If a team member fails to show up, or has taken a leave for the day, the scrum master should ensure that someone represents that member – at least for providing the feedback of what work was carried out the day before. Moreover, each member should remain present during the entire meeting – no member should leave it unfinished or “half way”.
Collaborate during the meeting
Scrum is all about sharing information and helping each other out. The team should concentrate upon contributing as a “whole” rather than concentrate upon individual contribution. The members should be ready to solve each other’s problems if they possibly can.
Scrum is all about sharing information and helping each other out. The team should concentrate upon contributing as a “whole” rather than concentrate upon individual contribution. The members should be ready to solve each other’s problems if they possibly can.
Each member addresses the entire team and not just the scrum master
A highly common mistake made by many organizations implementing scrum is to conduct the meeting in a manner such that a team member focuses only upon the scrum master, and discusses his or her work while ignoring other team members. This is wrong. A stand up is not to be used for reporting purpose. The objective is to discuss, and include everyone present in the meeting. The person addressing the meeting should include everyone.
A highly common mistake made by many organizations implementing scrum is to conduct the meeting in a manner such that a team member focuses only upon the scrum master, and discusses his or her work while ignoring other team members. This is wrong. A stand up is not to be used for reporting purpose. The objective is to discuss, and include everyone present in the meeting. The person addressing the meeting should include everyone.
Discuss the 3 important questions only
As stated above, the meeting should only be used to discuss the three basic questions – What was done yesterday, what is planned for today, and are there any problems? No other topic should be discussed in the meeting.
As stated above, the meeting should only be used to discuss the three basic questions – What was done yesterday, what is planned for today, and are there any problems? No other topic should be discussed in the meeting.
Is the Product Owner present?
The product owner should have an idea regarding how the development is proceeding during the sprint. To get first hand updates, it is important to remain present in the daily meetings. The product owner should make a point to attend the daily scrum.
Find out more, and subscribe to the permanently free "limited users" QuickScrum tool which can help you in implementing scrum framework in your projects!
The product owner should have an idea regarding how the development is proceeding during the sprint. To get first hand updates, it is important to remain present in the daily meetings. The product owner should make a point to attend the daily scrum.
Find out more, and subscribe to the permanently free "limited users" QuickScrum tool which can help you in implementing scrum framework in your projects!
