Scrum Values
Important values and principles
Values are the foundation of everything else, because they act as the basic pillars of an organization. It is essential that the values communicated match those actually practiced. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case in the real world. An example would be a company that talks about integrity and suddenly find themselves embroiled in an accounting fraud scandal. This disappoints those who believed in the organization and its values and forever loses their trust.
Values also work within the organization. They show what an organization stands for and provide orientation for customers, stakeholders and employees alike. This is particularly relevant for the application of Scrum, as the aim is not to prescribe all work details, but to give the actors sufficient freedom to work on their own responsibly. In order to promote this personal responsibility, values are required that provide a rough orientation while leaving room for individual decisions.
In order to provide this orientation and lay the foundation for autonomous working, it is crucial not only to understand values, but also to actively live them.
The five values of the Scrum framework
The Scrum framework rests on five core values: focus, openness, courage, commitment and respect.
We will explore each of these values in more detail and illustrate why they are essential to a successful Scrum environment. In addition, we will show how to determine whether or not these values are being practiced effectively within the Scrum framework.
Commitment
In challenging projects, it is important that all participants are committed to the common goal. This commitment cannot be forced, but results from the possibility to act on one’s own responsibility and to control one’s own actions. The value of commitment is illustrated by the following examples:
1. Determination of the sprint scope in sprint planning: Commitment is demonstrated when the team communicates openly and honestly with the product owner and sets realistic goals for the sprint.
2. Stability of the environment and sprint: A stable environment and sprint support commitment, as constant change can disrupt self-direction.
3. Critical examination of one’s own work: Strong commitment is demonstrated when teams critically engage with their results and work and actively contribute to further development.
Openness
In uncertain environments, it is essential to identify challenges and obstacles early on. As an agile method, Scrum helps to make problems visible quickly. After a sprint is completed (max. 30 days ), it becomes clear which issues need to be addressed – whether internally within the team or through escalation within the organization. Openness to uncover obstacles and issues is fundamental.
The value of openness is illustrated by the following examples:
1. Honest evaluation of the increment: Openness is demonstrated when aspects of the increment that were achieved and not achieved can be discussed openly.
2. Realistic goal setting in Sprint Planning: Openness is also shown in setting a realistic sprint scope. It should be possible to address and challenge unrealistic goals.
3. Early identification and adjustment of obstacles: Openness is reflected in the Daily Scrum and Retrospective, where issues can be identified and addressed.
Courage
In dynamic and complex environments, it takes courage to move forward decisively. In Scrum, a team works together to muster and sustain this courage. By supporting each other, team members become more than the sum of their parts. The value of courage is illustrated by the following examples:
1. Sprint scope choice: Courage plays a role in the choice of the sprint scope. A courageous team moves forward decisively and openly expresses realistic goals.
2. Self-examination in Daily Scrum: Courage is demonstrated in the Daily Scrum by the team actively questioning what else is needed to achieve the common goal.
3. Self-questioning in Retrospective: Courage is shown in the Retrospective, when the team critically questions its own approach and introduces improvement.
Respect
In Scrum, different areas of expertise come together. Only through mutual respect of all participants can great things be created with Scrum. Respect comes from close collaboration and the shared experience of success and failure. The value of respect is illustrated by the following examples:
1. Collaborative design of the sprint: Respect is demonstrated during collaboration and in the Daily Scrum, where team members seek to understand the perspective of others and work together as a team despite disagreements.
2. Collaboration with the Product Owner during Refinement: Respect is demonstrated in collaboration with the Product Owner. A respectful team integrates their insights into the Refinement process.
3. Collaboration with the Product Owner on Acceptance of Items: Respect is demonstrated by open communication with the product owner and a willingness to make honest recommendations regarding the acceptance of items.
Focus
When opportunities exceed capacity, focused work on the essentials is required to achieve results. The value of focus is illustrated by the following examples:
1. Clearly prioritizing Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog: Focus is evident when the team sets clear priorities in the Product Backlog and Sprint Backlog and determines what to work on next.
2. Limiting the Sprint to achievable goals: Focus is created in Sprint Planning by holding assumptions and defining an achievable work package – the increment that will be delivered at the end of the Sprint.
3. Close collaboration during the sprint: Focus is created through close collaboration during a sprint. The team works together on a few, but significant tasks, rather than individual team members working on many different tasks.
The power of values
In a world full of opportunities and challenges, values play a critical role. They are not just hollow phrases, but are at the heart of what an organization stands for. When proclaimed values match actual actions, trust and credibility emerge. Unfortunately, we also often experience the opposite, where words blow away in the wind.
In the context of Scrum, the five values – commitment, openness, courage, respect and focus– are the key to success. They are not abstract concepts, but living principles that inspire the team and the process. By focusing on what matters, communicating openly, having the courage to embrace change, being fully committed, and treating each other with respect, we create not only a productive work environment, but also a strong team community.
The true success of an organization or team is not only reflected in numbers, but in the rootedness of shared values. They are our compass in uncertain times, the foundation for wise decisions, and the glue that holds us together when it matters most.