Scrum: What You Need to Know About This Agile Methodology for Project Management

By Robert McCarthy

Did you always want to be a great project manager, able to manage projects and tasks like a cakewalk? But you can't figure out a smart way to do it? If so, then keep reading so you get things done in a productive and smooth way.

You're probably frustrated about projects not going the way you want or as per schedule. Your business might lack self-management of teams.

You might be feeling responsible for not maintaining a transparent workflow. Moreover, you've probably tried solutions for continuous delivery of work, without good or efficient results.

Do you wish to create cross-functional teams with ideal team players in them?

If yes, then you've come to the right place.

You see, managing projects doesn't have to be difficult. Even if you have tried multiple project methodologies, it is easier than you think.

If you put your mind in the right direction, you can easily comprehend the dysfunctions in your organizational hierarchy. Based on that, you can turn your good teams into great ones without creating any chaos during the transformation.

You can implement friendly working strategies to get twice the work done in half the time. You can also create regimes to boost agility and further maintain a self-organizing work structure.

A study conducted by Tomas Gustavsson in 2016 shows that so-called agile methodologies result in far greater outcomes during projects, due to better teamwork, customer interaction, and more flexibility. Thus, making you a professional owner of a product or service.

Similar insights can be found in research conducted by Zahid Masood, who adds that agile methodologies result in a reduction of costs, faster completion of projects, and better management of scope.

Thus, you can tackle your projects as you've never done before-without the hassle traditional methods bring about. So, if you dare to transcend and lead a team, here is a book for you!

"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things" - Peter F. Drucker.

The book will help you uncover aspects like:
- Project management in the past and present and how it can damage you and your organization.
- What Scrum is all about and why you need it.
- What roles and responsibilities can be found in Scrum, and how they deliver value almost secretly.
- How to gather your All-Star Scrum Team.
- How to get the ultimate rewards from various artifacts and ceremonies.
- Practical examples to get things started.
- Common mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars.

Think about a day you will not have a pinch of stress on your mind as you will have a smooth workflow. It is not an imaginary thing, you can achieve it so get this book now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Robert McCarthy
• Release date: Mar 9, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393188841

Book preview

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All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the author. Reviewers may quote brief passages in reviews.

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While all attempts have been made to verify the information provided in this publication, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein.

This book is for entertainment purposes only. The views expressed are those of the author alone, and should not be taken as expert instruction or commands. The reader is responsible for his or her own actions.

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Introduction

Working with Scrum can skyrocket your project's success to new heights. Many project managers wonder if it's really possible to do more with less. You might have the same questions racing through your mind. Is it really possible to finish projects with fewer resources? Is it really possible to make projects more manageable, more efficient, and more fun, with a single project methodology? The answer: yes, yes and ... yes. In the various projects I embarked on as either a project manager or team member, one thing became evident: the methodology employed by an organization has an immediate impact on the team's efforts and results.

As a project manager or aspiring project manager, your success is your team’s success; and vice versa. I have never seen a professional who didn't want to be part of a high-performing team and share in its wins. Professionals who were ever part of a highly-efficient and top-performing team can relate to this. In such teams, the collective energy is immense, leading to constant improvements in the products in development. Amazing results don't just fall from the sky; it's all cause and effect. And if cause and effect aren't adequately managed and channeled, they can delay or even block success

Without a doubt, a team that excels in cooperation, a team that flows, is one that achieves tremendous results with less effort. But a team on its own is not enough in the continuously developing world we live in. A team without the tools, techniques, and the framework to adequately deal with this dynamism, is like a ship without a rudder.

Fortunately, many visionaries, project managers, and entrepreneurs have woken up to the fact that the traditional way of working isn't suited for today's needs. Thus, they have developed new innovative ways to deal with projects from start to finish, called agile methodologies. Many leading companies, use an agile approach to tackle their projects adequately. These big tech companies are aware that continuous technological developments make such a flexible approach to handling projects necessary—maybe almost vital—to surviving.

There are various agile methodologies present today, such as Scrum, Kanban, and XP. Scrum is the most popular method or framework, and this book will make clear how you can implement it in your organization or company for ample project success.

With Scrum, you are given a framework with which you can develop various products that are part of a project. The Scrum framework and methodology started out being used for IT-projects exclusively. Today, things are different. Scrum is used for every kind of project: from transportation to agriculture to engineering projects. Now, isn’t that amazing? Thus, I’m adamant that learning about Scrum will be of much use to you and your team, no matter what field you are in.

The Scrum approach makes competitors using traditional methods look like snails, struggling day in, day out to move the project forward more swiftly. Taking on projects iteratively optimizes predictability of results, mitigates risks—or sometimes even eliminates them—and makes you and your team more efficient. This all falls in line with the three main pillars Scrum is based on, namely transparency, inspection, and adjustment/adaptation.

In this book, we delve deep into the most up-to-date manner of implementing Scrum. That may sound overwhelming, but don't worry. I'll simplify matters as much as possible and cover the essential aspects and processes of Scrum in an easy-to-understand fashion, even for complete beginners. And don't worry, this book also includes some more advanced aspects of Scrum for you more seasoned project managers.

With my experience managing different teams in several industries, I have faced many failures and setbacks in my work as a project manager. Truth be told, I'm not a born manager, not at all. But with hard work, consistency, and determination, I distinguished myself from most project managers. Doing so was impossible without the use of Scrum.

I want to help others do the same. Therefore, I aimed to write this book without the fluff, but with accurate and practical information. Information you can apply from the get-go to help you move forward as a project manager. Besides, the book will include various examples, expert advice, and real case studies to give a more precise image of the reality around Scrum.

In the first section of this book, we start by giving an in-depth explanation about how you can get started with Scrum. We explain what it is and why you need it. The second section outlines the Scrum process from start to finish. You’ll learn about Scrum teams, breaking down a Scrum project, Scrum Artifacts, and much more! In the third section, I hand you the necessary Scrum tools, tips, and other essentials to skyrocket your projects’ success. This is done by looking at Scrum metrics, how to excel in a specific Scrum role, common mistakes, and software tools you can use.

So, what are you waiting for? Read forth and set yourself apart from the crowd!

Chapter 1: Project Management: Past and Present

Every innovation has its history. The same goes for methodologies to manage projects. Nowadays, more organizations adopt what we call agile methods for project management. When you ask someone to describe the term agile, you’re likely to get multiple different answers. Therefore, it is helpful to take a look at the origins of this agile-way of working. That’s precisely what we’ll do in this chapter. Furthermore, you will learn more about various agile concepts, its components, multiple benefits, and much more.

The Origins of Agile Methodologies

Before organizations practiced agile methodologies, they employed the so-called waterfall method to get through projects. Winston Royce first mentioned this waterfall method in his paper, Managing the Development of Large Software Systems, that he published in 1970. Royce proffered a diagram for software development, similar to the one you see below:

A close up of a logo Description automatically generated

In the chart, you see the various phases of software development. Starting with the System Requirements and Software Requirements, it was possible to come to an analysis. Afterward, it was possible to design the program based on this analysis. When the design was ready, it was time to start coding and testing the software. Finally, the software would go to operations and would be used. As you see, each phase flows into a new one, without going back to a previous phase, similar to a waterfall. What I found particularly interesting to note is that Royce himself didn't see this method as optimal. This became evident in his paper when he described a more iterative and step-by-step approach of going through these phases (i.e., agile).

There is a reason the method goes through the phases like a waterfall. Remember that in the 1950s and 1960s, computers were as big as a house! They had various intricate parts that were hard to work with and needed professionals to change any of these parts. These computers were very time-consuming and complex to develop. Thus, the waterfall method was introduced to tackle this endeavor. There are numerous challenges involved by practicing this method. In the waterfall method, there are specialized people per phase. Just think of business analysts, architects, and designers, developers, QA specialists, and infrastructure specialists who did the deployment. The problem is the gaps between these activities and the need to transfer information between these phases. A lot of documentation was developed through each stage. The business analyst starts with the documentation and passes it to the designer who adds to it. Analysis and design together are what we call Big Design Up Front or, in short, BDUF. When the design is ready, the document

Reviews for Scrum

[John Kenneth Vertido · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you are interested in the historical context of scrum and want to read "around and about" it, this looks like a good book for you.The book is basic for someone who already studies and practices Agile Methodologies for a long time. But the book deserves five stars because goes on the Why of Scrum

[Ceb Ali · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a very useful guide for the beginner's. From this book you will learn about what exactly is scrum, how can scrum help me and my business, what are the different roles in scrum and much more. I hope this book is able to help you very much.

[Wonderweiss Roslo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very pragmatic writeup about Scrum. Robert has obviously actually worked as a Scrum Master - the scenarios he outlines are very real-world and not eye-rollingly academic. I found myself highlighting something every few pages in the book and have already put some of the tools / methodologies here into place.

[Ed Gary David · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very happy with this book. It is written very well in a engrossing way that one doesn't expect from a non fiction. Great case studies and background. I have a hard time figuring out if Sutherland has a god complex or if it just the writing -- while he is a legend the books comes off like he is the savior of tech and master of all. No offense he has an amazing background and he doesn't shy away from sharing it.

[Lexi Shane · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Comprehensively and well-written. It has detailed and practical information that you need in managing projects. If you are new to project managing, this book has an easy-to-understand context. Aside from that, it also has some advanced contexts for more experienced professionals.

You'll understand what is scrum, its significance in business, and its different aspects by reading this book. I highly recommend it for project managers who are struggling with work. This book can guide you on how to achieve a smooth workflow.

[Daisy Regala-Ando · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

True! Being frustrated for the outcomes of the project you plan for ages but didn't result as what you plan. Now this book is for me. As I through each pages of this book I became enlightened each words it contents, this book answers my why's and how's. I'm very grateful I read this book. Very highly recommended.

[Enmar David · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scrum is a great overview of WHY you should be doing Scrum even if you aren’t in software or hardware development. It’s a little light on the specifics of implementation unless you read the appendix though.

If you need to be convinced that Scrum is something you should be doing in your organization, then read this. If you’re loooking for specifics on HOW to do scrum with processes you can use, this may not be the book you’re looking for.

[Tolits Mendoza · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I saw this book recommended in a comment thread on Hacker News and decided to give it a look. It's been about a year and half since I was part of a team that used Scrum, and this book made me realize how much I miss it. It also really clarified for me what's wrong with my current work context (for example, my responsibilities are split between too many projects, keeping me from doing one thing at a time), and it is helping me figure out how to correct it. Overall, this book surprised me, I expected a dry book about the Scrum framework and instead found a quite compelling story about its origin. A worthwhile read.

[Leley Guiwo-guiwo · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book will help mostly those who are very busy and and do not know how to manage their schedules.
Scrum is a framework utilizing an agile mindset for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products, with an initial emphasis on software development, although it has been used in other fields including research, sales, marketing and advanced technologies.

[Ian E. Daguplo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Managing will always be a hard time for me since I am busy person and most of the time, I am lazy to figure out on my projects and tasks. But later on, after reading this book, it challenge me to get started managing my life.

It really taught me how to be smart on selecting what is essential from not. Those tips and given ideas, taught me to change my unpleasant attitude when it comes to management.

Thanks to Robert for making this book. It was a great help for all of us especially to me who experiencing difficulty in maintaining life balance and managing activities on side line jobs and academics.

[Harvey Woods · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was true to its title and gave a great overview of the Scrum process, free of distracting and overly cute jargon that is often present in Scrum training materials. Everything is explained in a simple superb manner. This book served the purpose nicely and confirmed my understanding, in essence.

[Shiela Latag · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book. Easy to read. Great examples. It reads like a novel. No technical charts with a bunch of "look how hard this stuff is" language.
I like the ideas in the book and how they are presented--straight forward, clear, concise.
I learned the basics of Scrum after reading this once.

[Scotty Voltaire · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After read this book you can know many things for methodology. Beginners can take many things from this book. This book all topics are very good for learning. This book is simply astonishing!

[Lyra Jhoana Marapao · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There are different methodologies that we may use in terms of project management. Among all of those methods I know, Agile methodoly is best. You may wonder how is it possible to do more while having less or finish your projects quickly while minimizing the resources. That's way impossible for others but with Agile methodology, it is possible.
This book is really informative though some terms are unfamiliar with me. I just want to commend the author's creativity on how he laid the information little by little. It is very detailed so that any reader wont miss any important matter.

[Revi James · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scrum is an easy but effective technique for getting a team to work together quickly and effectively. This is a must-read for someone just getting started with Scrum or who wants to refresh their mind about why and how it works. If there's one thing Scrum has taught me, it's that there's no such thing as so 'over learning' and 'over development'.

[Ryan Intes Patigdas · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I commended the author for such book he wrote. A very deep and difficult topic to discuss but he wrote it precise and understandable that helps the newbie (to the topic) like me to learn easily. For those who is new to this topic you can find it boring to read but, when I go for it I became more curious each word I learn. The author really knows how to interact with the reader.

[Julius Brigades · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book helped me grasp what Scrum is really about in less than an hour. There is no filler here, no anecdotes nor reiteration. Pure content, well distilled. A good book and highly recommended for the high level.

[Karl Angelo Gil · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I consider this book a great reference for SCRUM practitioners. It provides information in a comprehensible and usable format that can be adapted to projects.

[Dhoy Fuyo Ehsoy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Scrum will not only teach you how to manage a project but will also give you a reason why you'll need it. It will teach you your roles and responsibilities as a project manager by telling you what are the common mistakes that you might encounter and how to deal with them. This will be very helpful to the project managers and aspiring ones in attaining success, remember, your success as a manager is your success as a team.

[Ross Mari Galleto · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Scrum will teach you the possibility of doing more with less resources. Even lets you make a project more manageable, more efficient and more fun with a single methodology. The use of scrum was explained clearly with words that are easier to understand. It also appreciates the efforts of working in a team and only adds up the very big advantage of having the tools, techniques, and the framework in accomplishing a project.

Robert McCarthy wrote various agile concepts, its components, multiple benefits, and much more that will surely help an individual to be the best project manager.

[Arvie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The terminologies integrated here in the book are well explained by the author. It gave an overview how and when the approach or method are appropriate or best suitable in such projects being handled by the team. Overall, the book is commendable for the reason that it really is a helpful medium to fulfill such goals.

[Troiii · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I like how the book aims to reach everyone, especially those who fails in project managing. It aims to inform and teach about the easiest method to success while reminding about the possible pitfalls one might encounter while trying to do so. But don't worry, the book also suggest ways on how to approach and face these. Another thing I like about this book is that it uses simple language and makes sure that new terms are well explained. And lastly, it tackles about the concrete actions one can take, like creating a team, organizing, and so much more.

[Romelyn Castro · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You would not be lost about what the author is talking about the content of this book since every chapter are explained concisely that gives us, the reader, the grasp as to what is the process of Scrum. It fascinates me how the author genuinely wants to help others through creating this book that are backed up by his past experiences. This book proved that all the process we've been through would be worth it especially once the goal is achieved.

[Chasty Faith Delos Reyes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Development can be acquired by people who wish to see themselves be better. Without a doubt, a team that excels in cooperation and professionalism, is the tea that achieves good results even with minimal efforts. Fortunately, someone whom has been agile in this field has come up to gather strategies in order to publish this book of advice. Foemost, in order for us to get a good grip of what tasks should be done, we all have to agree that we need to be organized in every way until we accomplish the said activity. In this book, the author encourages his readers into training themselves on how to be agile and to be organized in every activity that they are about to conduct. If you're working in an environment that requires unity and teamwork, this is also a good guide in order to commence your fellow people for them to be aware regarding the project and their responsibilities. We are also entitled to train our minds to be more progressive, intuitive, calm and innovative in certain situations, as we delve through the depths of this book.

[Ate and Bunso Vlogs · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Project managing is too difficult for me to understand before but while reading this book, its enlighten me on how to do it with less worries using scrum method. I also learned some techniques and strategies to get work done by not using extra and overtime, it also helps me how outcome can be beautifully done without stressing my team if I am having a future project to do.

[Camille Manalese Gonzal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"Back then the scrum framework used in projects exclusively but thanks to all the years of modern technologies it can also be use and can be learn by many."

Every chapter gives you more meaning of how scrum works into putting it into project management.

It also digs deeper into agile methodology and framework of scrum for every reader to understand it more thoroughly.

Its a great book. I recommend it.

[Chelly Cruz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed reading this book so far. It is a book to introduce you to the concepts associated with agility like developing a correct mindset. It gives you an overview of the most important frameworks after going through the agile principles which are the most difficult to deeply understand. I think this is a good starting point to deeply understand what agile truly is. Respect, collaboration, trust, and courage.
It gives great insight!

[Nelna Mae Nalangan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

More than achieving the best results that would satisfy the customers, Scum is also about the process, the entire process that would allow you to develop skills and values. The ideas are presented concisely and that's a good shot (well, at least for me). Also, there are times that McCarthy is using informal tone and language, and that made me feel like talking to a friend or to a mentor. It's a great read!

[Shiks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The scrum is an agile methodology to tackle projects. The core of Scrum has a
roles so that everyone knows where she/he stands, fixed ceremonies in which the team comes
together, and a few handy lists that replace extensive, highly-inefficient plans. However I found some issues on grammar, punctuation, conciseness but it is still readable. An article serves as a marker letting the reader know how many or which of the noun you're referring to. Where possible you should use a simple word over a complex word. Simple words are easier to read and let your readers focus on your ideas. By the way I liked to continue to read this book maybe I could used this in the future.

[Hiel Bibliophile · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Explicitly explains relative insights about Scrum. It has in-depth emphasis on the significance of Scrum across other industries and not just IT-related projects. What I like most of this book is it discuss key points to determine if an organization is ready for Scrum. The provided example is also situational which gives better understanding on what Scrum is; particularly its relevance in an organization and creating a project.

The contents are concise and gives detailed inputs from basics down to the roles and responsibilities of a Scrum Team. Straight to the point and well-defined!

I've acquired clear apprehension on what Scrum is like and the value of dividing a project into smaller tasks or sprint which relates to the goal of Scrum: acknowledging change or iterations, and customer feedback. All in all, I'd be more glad to recommend this book, very informational and compelling.