In an Agile environment, the Scrum methodology applies to product development, allowing the team to work in an organized way. In the Scrum framework, sprints are small units of work that deliver the product in small portions. It ensures product quality and satisfies customers’ demands. If you decide to continue your career in CSM Certification, you can encounter the phases of the Scrum methodology.
In the Scrum methodology, multiple stages are followed from the start to the delivery of the final product. This article will discuss the 5 phases of Scrum methodologies essential to achieving the business goal.
5 Phases of Scrum Methodology
The phases will increase your knowledge of Scrum. Let’s explore in detail:
1. Initiation Phase of Scrum
It sets the project’s basic foundation. In this phase, the Scrum team members create a project vision and develop a roadmap, considering the project goal, objectives, and deliverables. After realizing the roadmap, tasks, and the project backlog are distributed among the team members.
The product backlog contains the epics that will be implemented during product development. Considering customer demands, creating the backlog is one of the product owner’s responsibilities. CSPO Training helps you to learn more about the product backlog.
2. Planning & Estimates Phase of Scrum
This is where the real work gets done. Here, each job is given to a resource and finished using the word “done.” The jobs need to be done in 4 steps:
- Make the sprint backlog, then start developing the product.
- Get rid of the work state.
- Review the work.
- Change what needs to be changed for the meaning of “done.”
At the start of this section, Scrum team members should attend the daily stand-ups. In this meeting, Scrum members discuss their difficulties in the previous Scrum and estimate the efforts required for the sprint backlogs.
3. Implementation Phase
In this phase, the specific actions taken complete project deliverables and software requirements in an agile manner. Additionally, the Burndown chart helps team members estimate when the project will be completed and the remaining work it entails. This stage centers on producing sprint work and deliverables. This includes daily stand-up meetings, prioritization of backlogs, and iterative improvement of the backlogs. During these meetings, every team member has the opportunity to articulate the following,
- What did they have to do yesterday?
- What are they going to do next today?
- What problems did they have, if any
Implementation can be challenging for any Scrum team. However, proper collaboration and composition of team members facilitate an easy process and help achieve the desired outcomes.
4. Review & Retrospective Phase
After each sprint, the review and retrospective phase should be completed. It is an integral part of the Agile Scrum method. Gathering customer feedback and team thoughts is a chance to consider what went well, what could be done better, and how to move forward.
The following Scrum steps happen during this phase:
- Sprint review
- Sprint retrospective
- Product backlog grooming
- Project retrospective (after the project ends)
The sprint review enables partners and team members to assess the project’s progress. On the other hand, the sprint review will enable them to reflect on what they did, express their ideas, and determine how the process can be improved. The Product Owner is in charge of the sprint review and asking about the past:
- What did we do well?
- What did we not do well?
- How can we do better?
The work made during the last sprint is compared to the product backlog during the sprint review. It informs the Product Owner which user stories are complete and which ones require further attention based on the results. Product backlog cleaning means keeping the product backlog up to date. This helps ensure the product list can be used to plan the next sprint.
As usual, the process starts with planning and estimating. After a sprint concludes and is evaluated, the next sprint begins. However, after final product delivery, the team can conduct a product retrospective to identify areas for improvement in future work.
5. Release Phase
To complete the Scrum method, you must prepare and hand the final project products to the right people. This is called the Release phase. The team must ensure that all their hard work pays off by completing the project. As mentioned earlier, a project retrospective can also be conducted to identify and implement improvements for future projects.
Closing Thoughts
Scrum is a complex process that requires a detailed understanding of the five Scrum methodologies to perform effectively. The Scrum master can manage Scrum properly if they have sufficient knowledge of these phases. This helps in proper sprint planning and execution that aligns with organizational goals.
