How a Daily Scrum Operates.

The scrum moves the team forward.

We are focusing on the basics of agile and scrum.  As a coach or scrum master, it is essential to cultivate habits that make them successful.  The most consistent thing a team can do is the daily scrum meeting.  It is one of those little things which can lead to massive success.  

A daily scrum satisfies three critical features of agile: inspection, adaptation, and empiricism.  The team uses the daily scrum to examine what they are doing and how close they are to meeting the sprint goal.  Based on the conversation, the team can then adapt to changing conditions.  The discussions are part of empirical thinking so everyone doing the work knows what is happening and why.  

Team members gather together in a shared space to have the daily scrum.  Since most teams are not co-located and rely on virtual meetings, it is vital to set up a consistent daily scrum environment.  Keep the forum time the same.  Use a regular background for your screen.  Turn on cameras, and everyone should be paying attention.  

Before the 2020 scrum guide, the daily scrum required everyone to answer three questions; what they did the day before, what they are working on today, and what impediments they are facing. The new scrum guide eliminates this requirement because the scrum alliance was concerned that daily scrums were turning into status meetings.  It is an adjustment, but I think it is a positive change.  The daily scrum should concentrate on one thing – the sprint goal.  Each team member should talk about how they are helping to achieve the sprint goal.  If the team accomplishes the sprint goal, they are delivering working software to the customer or client.  The daily scrum helps the team achieve the value outlined in the agile manifesto of working software over comprehensive documentation.  

Technical work is complicated, which might sidetrack the discussion.  These conversations can move to a "parking lot," which looks like the following.

Team Member #1: "I do not know how to use the contract for the restful web service for shipping addresses."

Team Member #2: "I wrote that the contract is easy to understand…"

Scrum Master: "Thanks gang, let us make that a parking lot discussion after the daily scrum."

It is then up to the two team members to meet and exchange information.  The scrum master or product owner can then follow up with them later in the day to make sure everything is moving forward.  

A daily scrum should be quick to respect the team members' time and focused on the sprint goal.  Finally, the team owns the daily scrum.  If a product owner or other member is late, it should start without them.  Starting on time and staying focused will build discipline on the team. 

Of all the rituals of agile, the daily scrum should be the most routine.  The team inspects its work.  Next, the team adapts to changing conditions.  Finally, empiricism guides all decisions.  A positive and productive daily scrum will go a long way in making the team successful.  

Until next time.