What is Scrum and why is it so useful

The speed at which markets change forces entrepreneurs to make agile decisions, manage uncertainty, and respond quickly. In this context, Scrum has become one of the most widely used methodologies.

Although it originated in the world of software development, thanks to the multiple benefits it offers, it's currently used in all types of sectors. If you are not using it yet, you could be letting a key tool for your company slip away. In today's article, we explore what Scrum is and how to apply it in your business.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is an agile framework designed for teams to address complex problems that require an efficient and quick solution in changing and uncertain environments.

The key to Scrum is dividing the work into short, iterative cycles called sprints, in which the team collaborates in a coordinated way to deliver a concrete and functional increment of the product or project. Scrum promotes collaboration, flexibility, and fast delivery of high-quality products. Ultimately, applying this methodology to your project helps you to:

• Improve communication and collaboration. Constant communication within the team is one of Scrum’s key principles. Daily meetings keep everyone informed about progress and obstacles, improving transparency and collaboration.
• Increase flexibility. Scrum allows teams to adapt quickly to changes thanks to its short sprints.
• Deliver results faster. By dividing work into short cycles, Scrum facilitates the delivery of functional product increments, providing value to the customer quickly and allowing for early feedback.
• Encourage continuous improvement. Teams constantly learn from each sprint and optimize their processes.

Key roles in Scrum

This methodology defines clear roles and responsibilities to support the team throughout the process:

• Product Owner. Responsible for managing the product backlog and communicating with the team, the client, and other stakeholders. They must have a strong business vision and decision-making skills.
  
• Scrum Master. The Scrum expert who facilitates Scrum events, promotes effective meetings, and organizes planning and review sessions.
  
• Scrum Team. The rest of the team members involved in the sprint. They work collaboratively to achieve the sprint goal. Teams usually consist of between five and seven people with different skills.

On the other hand Scrum uses several artifacts to visualize, organize, and measure work:

• Product Backlog. A dynamic list of tasks and requirements that must be completed. It is managed by the Product Owner, who continuously reviews, prioritizes, and updates it.
• Sprint Backlog. A list of items selected by the team to work on during the sprint.
• Increment (Sprint Goal). The final usable product delivered at the end of a sprint.

Finally, Scrum includes several recurring events:

• Backlog Refinement. The Product Owner maintains and updates the backlog using feedback from users, customers, and the development team.
• Sprint Planning. The team plans the work for the sprint, defines the sprint goal, and decides how the work will be done. The Scrum Master facilitates the meeting.
• Sprint Execution. The period in which the team works collaboratively to complete the sprint increment, usually lasting between one and four weeks.
• Daily Scrum. A short daily meeting (around 15 minutes) to review progress toward the sprint goal and coordinate activities.
• Sprint Review. Held at the end of the sprint to demonstrate and inspect the increment. The Product Owner decides whether to release it.
• Sprint Retrospective. A meeting where the team reflects on what worked well and what can be improved.

Using the Scrum methodology boosts agility and efficiency within teams, making it an essential approach for modern entrepreneurial projects.