Jasper Lamers

If Margaret Mead (1901–1978) were to join a Scrum event, it would most certainly draw her interest as an anthropologist. What is the meaning of this exotic ritual? In which mysterious ways does this gathering of people contribute to group identity? Who is this shaman-like lady, acting as a mistress of ceremony? Does this “Scrum Master” status come with hidden tattoos? And who is this Product Owner person? Which opponents did he have to fight and defeat before calling himself “Owner”?

She would quickly learn that the tattoos were actually badges and certifications that can be earned online and that the Product Owner got a mandate from the overarching company as part of some organizational assessment. She would recognize that Scrum events are recurring rituals. The team uses their time-boxed liminality to inspect their road to awesomeness and adapt as needed. They create and maintain a product for other people, and that product had better be appealing so that it justifies the investment. The Scrum events are rituals that are meant to ensure good harvest.

From an anthropological perspective, rituals bind people. Rituals often address social tensions within a group. Rituals might offer a controlled opportunity to play outside the normal limits. People might deliberately and in a controlled manner cross the borders of their core values, just to emphasize them. In her book, Pieces of White Shell (University of New Mexico Press), Terry Tempest Williams wrote: “Rituals are the formulas by which harmony is restored.” A ritual can be a one-off event, like the start (birth, wedding) or the end (funeral, divorce) of a situation. Or they can be recurring, like birthdays. Many rituals have spiritual roots, like asking the Gods for prosperity. Rituals help groups channel their biggest fears and hopes.

A famous (and curious) ritual to ask the Gods for good yams (exotic vegetables) is Gol, a yearly event on the pacific Island of Vanuatu. It’s also known as land diving. Boys and men volunteer to climb a wooden platform up to 30 meters high. They bind vines to their ankles, and without any other safety equipment, they jump off, frequently leading to serious fractures and occasionally even death. The ritual is meant to please the Gods and in return to be blessed with a good harvest. From an anthropological view, it does something else. Men show their strength, their courage, their masculinity, and hence their status. Boys show that they’re not children anymore. Beyond the focus on masculinity, Gol strengthens group identity as people risk their lives for the greater good of the group. Additionally, there is singing, dancing, food, and drinks! And nowadays…money; because of its intrinsic curiosity, Gol attracts lots of tourists.

The Scrum events, like most rituals all over the world, have a purpose and rules of ceremony. They are performed at a certain cadence and at the same place. Every event offers a chance to reconnect and restore harmony and unity and thus ensure a good harvest. The excitement might compare with the Gol experience, but—fortunately—team members don’t risk their lives, and the Product Owner does not battle other people to ritually claim and emphasize ownership of the product. And, most significantly, Scrum Teams don’t trust the Gods to save the day. They use the rituals to take matters into their own hands as their way of ensuring a good harvest.