Reviewing the Scrum Values

Scrum is a simple framework. There are three roles, five events, and three artifacts. Teams can get up and running very quickly. But software development is complex and so are people. When things are going well, the complexity seems manageable. But when stuff starts hitting the fan, bad things can and do happen. These difficult moments are why we need the Scrum values.

Commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage are the five Scrum values. Understanding them can lead to better decisions, higher-quality work, and a truly collaborative environment.

These values are critical to understanding the “why’’ of Scrum. They act as guideposts when your team gets lost. More importantly, they drive the decisions that impact your daily work. Failing to understand them prevents your team from improving their ability to deliver value.

Here’s why each value is so vital:

• Commitment can transform a team. It’s a promise to yourself, your teammates, and your organization to do the very best work you can. If everyone on your Scrum team is committed to delivering a done increment of valuable product each and every sprint, you can accomplish great things together.

• Focus allows us to do our very best. Valuing focus means that we give people the time they need to think about their work. After all, creativity is hard enough without being constantly interrupted. Allowing development team members to focus just on one product, the current sprint, and the current sprint goal gives them the best chance of succeeding. Encourage the product owner to focus on the future value of the product while you, the Scrum master, focus on upholding Scrum.

• Openness is the core of transparency, which is what makes Scrum work. If the members of your Scrum team (and the people who work with your team) aren’t open with each other and the wider organization, they can’t solicit honest feedback or adapt their work accordingly. You need to be open and honest, even when you’re struggling or there’s a tough issue to address. If you aren’t, transparency will suffer.

• Respect creates a feeling of safety. Being open with others can be scary and admitting when you’re stuck is hard, but respect makes these actions easier. A high-performing Scrum team is built on mutual respect, and honest discussions create the safety needed to tackle difficult issues. Respect helps a team gel, grow, and learn together.

• Courage is the linchpin of the other Scrum values. It takes courage to commit, to focus amid distractions, and to be open to new ideas. And it takes courage and faith in your teammates to count on having respectful interactions when you need to discuss problems.

The Scrum values can guide you through the many obstacles and difficult situations that inevitably arise during software development projects. Without these values, your practices become rote and collaboration feels forced and mechanical. Don’t let that happen to your team.

Let’s think about specific ways to use the Scrum values to keep your team on track.