mbarking on a new year often sparks resolutions for more efficient project management through Scrum implementation and good practices. You might have attended 2024 goals meeting or you might have organized the meet 😅

Before making this as our mission, let's look at some facts. Scrum Guide can be bible for you - if you can implement it right as a Project manager. But in reality, we often misinterpret what Scrum Guide says and what we really do while implementing it.

In today's newsletter, I will share some facts when it comes to implementation of Scrum. let's get started:

Scrum Guide Says: "Sprints are Time-Boxed."

What We Do Wrong: Some teams extend Sprints to complete unfinished work, undermining the time-boxed nature of Scrum. Real-world Scrum requires discipline in adhering to Sprint durations for consistent delivery.

Scrum Guide Says: "Daily Scrum is for Planning."

What We Do Wrong: Often, Daily Scrums transform into status updates. Real-world Scrum demands a focus on collaborative planning for the day ahead, fostering teamwork and addressing impediments.

Scrum Guide Says: "Scrum Teams are Self-Organizing."

What We Do Wrong: Micromanaging undermines the self-organizing nature of Scrum Teams. Real-world implementation requires trust in the team's ability to organize and make decisions collaboratively.

Scrum Guide Says: "Product Owner Maximizes Value."

What We Do Wrong: Overloading the Product Owner with too many responsibilities hampers effective decision-making. Real-world Scrum necessitates clear communication and collaboration with stakeholders to maximize value.

Scrum Guide Says: "Scrum is a Framework, Not a Methodology."

What We Do Wrong: Misinterpreting Scrum as a strict set of rules can lead to rigidity. Real-world Scrum requires flexibility, understanding that the framework is a guide and not a one-size-fits-all solution.

Scrum Guide Says: "Sprint Review Involves Stakeholders."

What We Do Wrong: Some teams conduct Sprint Reviews without engaging stakeholders. Real-world Scrum encourages collaboration, gathering valuable feedback to shape the product's direction.

Scrum Guide Says: "Sprint Retrospective Drives Continuous Improvement."

What We Do Wrong: Turning retrospectives into blame games stifles team morale. Real-world retrospectives are opportunities for constructive feedback and collaborative improvement planning.

Scrum Guide Says: "Focus on Value Incrementally."

What We Do Wrong: Overemphasizing features over value can lead to a misalignment with customer needs. Real-world Scrum prioritizes delivering incremental value that resonates with the end-users.

Scrum Guide Says: "Scrum Master Serves the Team."

What We Do Wrong: Some see the Scrum Master as a command-and-control figure. Real-world Scrum Masters serve by facilitating, coaching, and removing impediments, fostering a collaborative environment.

Scrum Guide Says: "Inspect and Adapt."

What We Do Wrong: Neglecting the core principle of continuous improvement can impede progress. Real-world Scrum encourages teams to regularly inspect processes and adapt to achieve better outcomes.

Which Scrum Guide fact should be included here - let me know!