Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time

Written by Jeff Sutherland

Narrated by JJ Sutherland

The definitive account of the Scrum methodology from its co-creator and the CEO of Scrum, Inc., Jeff Sutherland.

Scrum is the revolutionary approach to project management and team building that has helped to transform everything from software companies to the US military to healthcare in major American hospitals. In this major new book its originator, Jeff Sutherland, explains precisely and step by step how it operates - and how it can be made to work for anyone, anywhere. Take the FBI attempt to digitize its records, for example. As with so many software projects the first attempt failed, having taken four years and cost over $400 million.Then the FBI turned to Scrum, and just over a year later unveiled a functioning system that cost less than a tenth of the first project and employed a tenth of the staff. And it's not just grand projects that Scrum can help with.

Every organisation, whatever its size, constantly has to come to grips with delivering a product or service on time and on budget. Scrum shows you how. It explains how to define precisely what it is that you are seeking to achieve, how to set up the team to achieve it, and how to monitor progress until the project is successfully completed. Filled with practical examples drawn from all types and organisation it will make you rethink the fundamentals of successful management - and show you how to get things done however everyday or ambitious, however small or large your organisation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House UK Audio
• Release date: Jan 28, 2016
• ISBN: 9781473537453

Reviews for Scrum

[tytania-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There are surely better SCRUM books to buy. The author, CEO of Scrum, Inc. (it's his story, co-authored with his son), is a bit self-congratulatory, and his cheerleading for SCRUM often comes across like he's plugging a miracle weight loss regimen. That said, it did get me excited about some scrummy ideas, and inspire me to try to put some into practice.

[neale_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great book that's filled with lots of real word examples to get its many practical point across. An eye opener for project managers. The practices have been around for over 20 years, but haven't been widely known outside software development.Highly recommended.

[glennbell_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The concepts in this book are potentially powerful. I hope to try and implement Scrum into my work and life. The book describes the method but I must admit that I am still a little unclear about its application. It sounded like many efforts with some diversity were considered Scrum.

[hjvanderklis_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scrum pioneer Jeff Sutherland responded to the suggestion his son, J.J. Sutherland did to collaborate on a book on the truly remarkable journey Scrum has taken them on since 1993. The shippable product, Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time is challenging critics and cynics alike. More can be done faster and cheaper. Other than presenting just another text book on Scrum, Sutherland's narrative emphasizes the backgrounds and reasons for assembling what we now know as Scrum.From Toyota Production System, Lean Manufacturing, professors Takeuchi and Nonaka, the first endeavors of Sutherland and co-creator Ken Schwaber to Deming's Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and the problems with Gannt charts. It's good to know the origins and the initial stages of implementation. Scrum nowadays not only is used for software development. The book highlights great examples of eduScrum at Dutch schools (makes me proud as Dutch reviewer), micro credit enterprises in Uganda, as well as churches (thanks to Jeff's wife Arline) and journalism in the Middle-East (J.J. Sutherland). Scrum is not wishing for a better world, or surrendering to the existing. It's a actionable way to implement change. Change or die. Since humans want to be great, not only pursuit happiness, but be successful, Scrum is provided as efficient way to get things done faster and cheaper than using waterfall, gate-phased approaches, or having specialists working in silos. You'll learn why Japanese cars are built more efficiently than German cars. Sutherland draws from his own 30+ years experience as a West Point-educated fighter pilot, robotics, engineering, and martial arts to contemporary companies like Valve and his own Scrum Inc. From Toyota Prius to wedding planners. And of course, all elements of Scrum are woven into the story line. Too good to be true? Still not convinced? Read first this book, reflect on your current production process and figure out what you're missing.

[gshuk_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great overview of Scrum with examples

[katsmiao · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had high expectations for this book, but it left me feeling kinda blah about it.

Maybe I have business self-help book overload, I just wasn't blown away by this.

The majority of the book got skimmed as I wasn't sucked into reading each word and looking for the gold nuggets, the magic bullet.