Scrumbut: The Reality of Agile Implementation

ScrumButs are why teams cannot fully utilise Scrum to address their issues and reap the rewards of employing Scrum in product development. Each Scrum function, guideline, and timeframe is intended to deliver the intended results and deal with predictable recurring issues. ScrumBut indicates that Scrum has revealed a malfunction causing the issue but it is too difficult to resolve. To make the dysfunction less of a hindrance to the team, a ScrumBut keeps the issue while altering Scrum to make it invisible.

As Agile practitioners, we have all been there stuck in a rut, struggling to implement Scrum in its pure form. But what happens when we modify or hybridise Scrum to suit our needs? Welcome to the world of Scrumbut, where agile goes good-for-nothing. And if you are interested in taking your Agile skills to the next level, check out how a PSM (Professional Scrum Master) course can help here.  

To understand better, let’s explore the concept of Scrumbut, its causes, and its implications for Agile teams.

What is Scrumbut?

Scrum is a popular agile framework used by teams to manage and complete complex projects. However, many teams struggle to implement Scrum in its pure form, leading to the rise of “Scrumbut” - a term used to describe teams that claim to be using Scrum but are using hybrid or modified versions of the framework. Scrum, in theory, allows the development process to be tailored to the organisation or the circumstances that the organisation is in during a retrospective. As a result, there are different views on whether a Scrumbut is always harmful or if it is beneficial.

Scrumbut can manifest in many ways, such as:

• Skipping or modifying Scrum ceremonies like Sprint Planning in agile, Daily Scrum, or Sprint Review.

• Not following Scrum roles like Product Owner, Scrum Master, or Development Team.

• Ignoring Scrum principles like iterative development, continuous improvement, or self-organisation.

Scrumbut that does not align with the positive goal also occurs in practice. Even while requirement-gathering workshops can be helpful, Scrum does not specify how they should be implemented. One might also refer to this as a Scrumbut since failure to take action, even if it would be beneficial for the creation of a solution, is not in the spirit of Scrum.

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Signs of practising Scrumbut

1. Status meetings have become daily standups: The daily standups' actual scrum master goals to support the Scrum Team’s focus, promote communication, and expedite problem-solving. If none of this is occurring, it sounds like the team is handling a Scrumbut.

2. Not reaching Sprint objectives: The goal is clear and provides the team with something to work towards. The team evaluates if it achieved the objective, provided any value, and updates the stakeholders on its progress after the sprint. The team can look into the reason and get better for the following Sprint if it fails to meet the Sprint goal.

Causes of Scrumbut

There are several reasons why teams may adopt Scrumbut, including:

1. Lack of understanding: Teams might not fully grasp the principles and practices of scrum, leading to a watered-down or modified approach.

2. Organisational constraints: Company policies, procedures, or cultures can hinder a team’s ability to implement Srum in its pure form.

3. Insufficient training: Without proper training or coaching, teams might struggle to implement Scrum effectively.

4. Team dynamics: Different personalities, work styles, or preferences can lead to a modified or hybrid approach to Scrum.

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Common Indicators of Scrumbut

To understand, the constant failures and challenges in a team, Let’s explore the common indicators of Scrumbut in a more detail manner:

1. Overload Sprints: Scrumbut may be the cause of your team’s persistent failure to finish all of the scheduled work in a sprint. It’s concerning, for example, if a team frequently moves tasks from one sprint to the next without addressing the underlying causes.

2. Backlog of incomplete products: Suppose if a team may not be entirely dedicated to scrum’s tenets if your product backlog is devoid of important details or prioritisation. For instance, there can be a lack of clarity if your Product Owner updates the backlog frequently throughout the sprint.

3. Absence of participation in daily standup: There may be a separation from Scrum’s collaborative spirit if team members begin to miss or become disengaged from the daily standup sessions. For example, it could be assigned to Scrumbut if team members routinely update the Scrum Master on their status instead of sharing it with the team.

4. An incomplete meaning of done: Lack of transparency and misunderstanding may result if a team lacks a consensus on what constitutes “done” for each user narrative or task. For instance, it is a Scrumbut indication when a user story is deemed “done’ without adequate testing or user approval.

5. Avoiding retrospective feedback: Scrumbut occurs when your team holds retrospective but does not act upon the feedback to make improvements. For instance, I can also have a Scrumbut issue if problems brought up in retrospective are not fixed sprint after sprint.

Understanding Dysfunctional Behaviours

Let’s now clarify “What is Scrumbut?” and examine the dysfunctional behaviours that frequently go along with it:

1. Micromanagement: Self-organisation may be inhibited when the Product Owner or Scrum Master micromanages the team's work or becomes unduly prescriptive. It is dysfunctional, for instance, if the Product Owner prescribes the implementation of each user story.

2. Indistinct Roles: Confusion may result from Scrum roles and responsibilities being hazy. A dysfunctional practice would include, for example, team members taking on the duties of the Scrum Master or Product Owner without explicit authority or comprehension.

3. Scope Creep: Scope creep may result in causing problems as it leads to poor results and delays. This may make it more difficult for the team to finish the sprint with a possibly shippable product increment.

4. Fear of communicating openly: Problems may go unsolved if team members are reluctant to voice their thoughts or concerns. Because Scrum depends on open communication and teamwork, its efficacy is hampered by a culture of fear.

Why doesn't Scrumbut Work?

Actually, Scrumbut only applies a small portion of the Scrum concept. Nevertheless, you can only fully benefit from the Scrum software development technique if you adhere to the framework. For many entrepreneurs, the process will not be impacted if they miss one or two daily sprints. As a matter of fact, even the most negligible variation renders it “non-scrum".” Although it is possible to adopt only some aspects of Scrum, the end product is not Scrum, according to the official Scrum handbook. Only in its complete form does Scrum exist. 

Implications of Scrumbut

Scrumbut can have some serious consequences that might harm the entire process of Agile such as:

1. Inconsistent results: Scrumbut can result in inconsistent outcomes, making it challenging to scale agile, across multiple teams or organisations.

2. Lack of transparency: Modified Scrum approaches can lead to lack transparency and accountability within teams.

3. Missed opportunities: By not following a standardised Scrum approach, teams might miss out on chances to improve their processes, collaboration and delivery.

Overcoming Scrumbut

Ready to ditch the Scrumbut mentality and get back to Agile basics? Here are some helpful tips to get started:

1. Impact and adapt: Regularly review your processes and make adjustments as needed.

2. Get educated: Invest in Scrum training and coaching to ensure the entire team understands the framework.

3. Emphasise Agile views: Focus on embracing Agile principles and values rather than just following a specific framework and scrum methodology.

How can a PSM course help you overcome Scrumbut?

If you are serious about overcoming Scrumbut and becoming a true Agile practitioner, consider taking a PSM (Professional Scrum Master) course. This PSM Training by StarAgile is designed to help you develop a deep understanding of Scrum principles and practices.

With a PSM course, it will be helpful to learn how to:

1. Apply Scrum in real-world scenarios: Learn how to apply Scrum in various contexts, including software development, product management, and organisational transformation.

2. Understand Scrum fundamentals: Get a solid grasp of Scrum principles, roles, and ceremonies.

3. Facilitate Scrum teams: Develop the skills needed to facilitate Scrum teams, including coaching, mentoring, and conflict resolution.

By taking a PSM course, you will be well on your way to becoming a certified Scrum Master, equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to overcome Scrumbut and lead high-performing Agile teams.

Final Words

Scrumbut might seem minor, but it can significantly affect team productivity, collaboration, and delivery. By recognizing the causes of Scrumbut and taking steps to address them, you can get back on track with Agile and achieve your goals.

Whether a seasoned Agile practitioner or just starting, a PSM training can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to overcome Scrumbut and become a true Agile leader. So why wait? Take the first step towards Agile mastery today!