Scrum

Capability Template Details

Scrum

Scrum is a lightweight framework that helps people, teams, and organizations generate value through adaptive solutions for complex problems. This Agile team assessment focuses on a high-performing Scrum team's practices, skills, and behaviors. Influenced by many Scrum thought leaders and the recent version of the Scrum Guide (2020), this template provides an opportunity for Scrum teams to measure and improve their Agile team performance. In addition to being a scrum team assessment, it can also be used to aid in developing an Agile transformation roadmap, Agile coach plan, and Agile maturity model focused on Agile team performance.

Ideal For

New and seasoned Scrum teams.

References

Works of thought leaders that influenced the Growth Criteria, assigned Stage, and associated Outcomes.

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Capabilities by Dimension

12 total capabilities

Product

• Team Backlog
• Team Product Owner
• Team Backlog Refinement

Engineering

• Team Definition of Done
• Team Focus on Quality

Process

• Team Composition
• Team Iteration
• Team Iteration Planning
• Team Stand-Up
• Team Iteration Review

Improvement

• Team Retrospective

Leadership

• Team Lead Facilitator

Capability Growth Criteria Example

Team Backlog Refinement

Assesses the team's ability to progressively elaborate backlog items and create a shared understanding of the work.

Starting (0)

There is a lack of activity that enables the team to create a shared understanding of upcoming backlog items (i.e., User Stories)

Developing (1)

Ongoing activity that occurs on cadence

Is attended by the right people to progressively elaborate and decompose backlog items (i.e., User Stories)

Includes rich conversation, backlog item (i.e., User Stories) writing, decomposition, team-based estimation (i.e., planning poker), and progressive elaboration on acceptance criteria and quality assurance

Dependencies are called out and recorded

Emerging (2)

Surfaces ambiguity, risk, and the need for research spikes

Backlog item Definition of Ready is established, and Backlog Refinement is geared toward meeting that criteria

Used as not only a requirement activity but also a planning activity

Time boxes are used for backlog items (i.e., User Stories) Refinement to avoid analysis paralysis

Adapting (3)

Refinement of backlog items (i.e., User Stories) continues until it is sufficiently independent to be worked on by the team without excessive coordination

Informal Backlog Refinement activity is naturally occurring amongst team members beyond the formal event

Optimizing (4)

Iterative planning (i.e., sprint planning) meetings are smooth and fast due to the readiness of backlog items (i.e., User Stories) and clarity on purpose and scope