Scrum Coaching For Better Productivity

By Kristen Baird


Scrum approach to software development involves a team of five to seven developers engaged in a sprint towards a particular goal as stipulated by a client. All their time, skills and effort are dedicated toward completing the project. Each goal has a strict deadline and standards that must be met. Scrum coaching ensures that this team produces the best results within the stipulated time.

Tutoring teams is aimed at achieving several fundamental goals. It ensures that every member identifies with the task at hand. When all members are working towards a single goal, it is easier to achieve. Scrumming team members understand time limits and the standards that must be met for the success of any project.

A coaching session for the team helps to set the rules and norms to be followed during the sprint session. All the work should be completed within a set sprint session. This means that strict rules and norms must be put in place to prevent laxity that might affect quality of work or delivery time.

There are hierarchies within every team. It takes time to understand the abilities, talents and temperaments of colleagues and begin to work together. The sessions help to create awareness on the need for respect among team players. Respect makes it easier to give instructions that are necessary for the successful completion of all projects.

Coaches must understand that peak performance takes time. Each team goes through several stages namely Tuckman-model, Foaming, Storming, Norming and finally performing. On average, most teams will take three sprint sessions to deliver satisfactory results. This knowledge makes it easier to handle the teams.

The defining characteristics of a scrum include norms and rules that apply equally to all members. This is a factor that is aimed at leveling the field so that none of the members is under pressure from a superior. The rules are best set as the team is being formed. They can be revised as time goes by depending on the demand of each project.

The client or his intermediary must provide all the support required for successful completion of the intended project. Part of empowerment involves assessment of skills required for each project and assigning the right personnel. Balancing the skills helps to avoid unhealthy competition and duplication of skills.

Scrum teams must be provided with all the autonomy they deserve. It comes during the planning stage. All demands are valuated and whatever resources the team requires provided. Each team should be allowed to organize itself in terms of schedules and roles to be played by each individual. External interference is likely to deflate their team spirit and interfere with workflow.

The members in a team are limited and are required to be full time participants. This explains why teams are small and have no sub-teams within them. The rules to be laid for each team include the location and time of daily meetings, how to define work as Done, guidelines to be used when coding and the tools for use on the project. Failure or success is never attributed to a single member. The entire team is accountable.




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