Scrum suggests 3 roles (The team, ScrumMaster, and product owner), four ceremonies (the sprint planning meeting, Daily Scrum, sprint review meeting, and sprint retrospective meeting), and three artifacts (the product increment, product backlog, and sprint backlog).
A ceremony has three primary elements in it. Firstly, it is a recurring activity that is periodic in its existence. Secondly, it demands a certain form in conduct and protocol, and third, it needs to be time boxed to be effective in its implementation. Finally, the unspoken – practices change behaviour or Do they?
A daily Scrum fulfills all three of the above and hence merits being labelled as a ceremony. A ceremony with certain ritualistic norms that are religiously adhered to. Since rituals are sequenced activities and help in improved conduct, the daily Scrum meeting becomes an important component in the value generation of the overall Agile implementation process. Having said this, are such meets merely regimented and sequenced actions that need to be followed and enacted? Does it only serve the intended purpose for which it was designed or does it have an inherent value addition to team dynamics and human interaction as well? If we dig a little deep and we can uncover the following.
- It is not a reason to assemble, but also a reason to celebrate
- It is just not a ritual, but also an opportunity to be expressive
- It is not a mere ceremony, but an avenue to strengthen relationships
- It is not a place to be seen, but also be heard and appreciated
- It is not a place to submit, but an opportunity to create possibilities
- It is not about quick decisions but also arriving at a considered choice for action
- It is not a space to compete but a reason to collaborate
Ceremonies are the bedrock for systemic actions to exist within a structure for effectiveness and are human-centric actions. Daily Scrum ceremonies, therefore, involve human interactions and behaviors. They are not just platforms to improve communication amongst team members, removal of impediments to development, highlight and promote quick decision-making, and improving the team’s participation levels but also serve to uncover human potential and aspirations. They are reasons to celebrate progress, assist and empathize with challenges, build rapport, enhance familiarity and deliver a choice for action. By uncovering the human element in a daily Drum Meetup, one can unleash possibilities of creativity, freedom and self-expression between the team members. This manifests not only in expanded efficiency in the workspace but also instils intrinsic involvement and clear sense of purpose and intent.
At LeadershipTribe we are aware of the hidden potential that exists in a daily Scrum meet. While we accept the need for a ceremony and adhering to the ritual, we also pay attention to uncovering hidden aspirations and wants and releasing human potential to its fullest. In unlocking hidden potential in each member, does the true manifestation of the Scrum process get realized? At LeadershipTribe, we approach the conduct of a Daily Scrum to meet not as a set of self-serving activities but a very potent medium for leadership to generate self-sustaining members. Come and join us or connect with us to know more about why and how we go about achieving this essential value of a Scrum ceremony.
