Why Scrum is so important for start-ups

The essence of Scrum is coming up with an MVP (minimum viable product). The smallest possible version of something that you can put into somebody’s hands to get feedback as soon as possible. In shortening this “feedback loop”, we are able to find out super-quickly what works and what does not. The above article shows that even experts, seasoned, experienced, entrepreneurs have no idea what will work and what will not. The “secret” is not to try and guess, but to run a simple experiment; put something in the physical universe and see if it works.

This post was taken directly from the Scrum Alliance Website to see the original, click here

Scrum Values

In 2001, a group of 17 independent software development thinkers gathered in the mountains of Utah to talk about Agile methodologies. They worked to create a set of compatible values based on trust and respect for each other, and to promote organizational models centered on people, collaboration, and building communities in which they – and others – would want to work.

After much skiing, talking, relaxing, and eating, they arrived at four common values that led to the development of the Agile Manifesto, with the core values being:

Individuals and interactions

over processes and tools

Working software

over comprehensive documentation

Customer collaboration

over contract negotiation

Responding to change

over following a plan
Using these as a guidepost, additional Scrum values have been created, and continue to be developed and modified (in true Agile fashion). These five values are the foundation for a Scrum team’s processes and interactions:

Focus

Everyone focuses on the work of the Sprint and the goals of the Scrum Team.

Courage

Scrum Team members have courage to do the right thing and work on tough problems.

Openness

The Scrum Team and its stakeholders agree to be open about all the work and the challenges with performing the work.

Commitment

People personally commit to achieving the goals of the Scrum Team.

Respect

Scrum Team members respect each other to be capable, independent people.

Notes taken from “Nokia Test: Where did it come from?”[1] (ScrumInc – Jeff Sutherland )

Full Transcript – Jeff Sutherland speaking for 6 minutes (watch video)

Everyone wants to know “How well are we doing and how do we get better?”

The teams want to know that, the leadership wants to know that, the management wants to know that. So, over the years we’ve developed a short test of a few simple questions that can give us a fix on “how well is this team doing?” It started at Nokia in Finland and so has come to be known as the “Nokia Test”.

There are 9 questions now in the Nokia test.

Continue reading “Nokia Test By Jeff Sutherland (Full Transcript)”