What is Agile Scrum? Agile Scrum Master Tutorial Guide for Beginner

Are you a tech geek and have heard of terms like scrum, agile, sprints, backlogs and more? Well, these terms have become a part of the language of floors with cross-functional teams. Let’s explore the agile scrum tutorial to be able to better understand how prioritizing and efficient backlogging can help use Agile Scrum values to resolve complicated issues and hurdles in achieving productivity through rapid release cycles.

Agile Scrum master tutorial guide for beginner

This step-by-step tutorial will help you understand these following topics.

  • Basics of Agile.
  • Fundamentals of Scrum.
  • Scrum features.
  • The persons in Scrum Framework.
  • Implementing a basic framework in Scrum.
  • Why use Agile Process.
  • Why iteration is needed.

What are Scrum and Agile?

Though the terms are used together scrum and agile have an important differentiator. Agile is described in its manifesto and is the complete method-set applicable to team collaboration, cross-functionality, self-organization and more. Scrum, on the other hand, is used to execute Agile. Just as a recipe embodies the diet-plan, so also scrum embodies Agile and hence the terms are often interchangeable.

What are the Scrum features?

Scrum can effectively quicken the process and time taken to achieve the desired results. This is so because Scrum values help not just developers, but also the other teams like DevOps, marketing, production and everyone who uses the methodology and framework.

The Scrum Agile Roles:

The roles that are normally used are those of the Agile-expert/coach, ScrumMaster, Scrum product-owner, Scrum-developer, etc. Mainly it is team-work of Scrum members where all are equally communicative, collaborative and contributive within the Scrum framework.

Scrum Methodology:

The normal flow of the Scrum methodology is as below.

  • The SPO/Product-Owner is client facing and is the final authority to bring 100% user requirements and product parameters to the team.
  • The SPO defines Backlog and how it is prioritized.
  • The time-boxed Sprint sets the framework to enable the team task of completing all tasks related to the backlog within the preset-time framework.
  • Teams huddle together in Daily Scrums to review their daily progress and targets.
  • The Retrospective forms the Review-Meet to assess the results of the Sprint and use the learning for the new Sprint.

While learning the principles is easy it is the efficient practices of Scrum that take time to learn and practice.

How to implement a basic framework in Scrum:

  • The Scrum website provides a downloadable file in PDF format to help define the framework.
  • Learn all about your role as an SM and as the unofficial Project Manager especially about conflict resolution, hurdle removals and ego-clashes in teams. Scrum team members are equals striving to achieve a common goal and hence cannot afford ego clashes and team conflicts.
  • Backlog creation is an important task leading to proper prioritization of the project. Though this is initially incomplete the SPO adds details and client requirements to enable clarity and progress with the backlog.
  • The Sprint is where the team will decide on how to work on the prioritized backlog tasks within the allocated time-frame.
  • In the next stage, the Scrum team members execute their tasks in a self-organized manner where you may need to play the enabler, hurdle remover and constant supervisor of the Daily Scrum progress. This is where what each member did yesterday and what they will do today is of utmost importance to review.
  • The Retrospective is meant for feedback, review, testing and evaluation on how to move forward and improve the upcoming sprint.
  • The Sprint ends and the next sprint will begin with a new backlog item.

In parting, the transparent Agile Scrum methodology breaks the entire project into achievable products that are viable and executed in short Sprints. Due to progress being constantly reviewed this means frequent changes, evaluation and testing.

Rather than spend on one complete project that becomes unviable later, it is a very attractive feature of Scrum that smaller market-ready products are frequently released, providing for feedback incorporation and iteration. Thus Scrum enables efficiency in production and anytime iteration in a product lifecycle.

An efficient Scrum Master can be either self-taught or use a CSM Course from a reputed institute like Imarticus Learning to learn Agile Scrum practices and earn his CSM certification. All the best in Scrum learning!

3 Ways in Which AI is Transforming Business Operations

The business scenario today has evolved and kept pace with technological developments. And AI has been at the helm of the change experience impacting literally every area that affects growth and development. The changing economic, geopolitical and social environments are in a state of constant flux and need businesses to adapt very quickly to tide over the changes in organizational dynamics, critical business glitches like employee retention and hiring or landscape requirements like being scalable and Agile.
Artificial intelligence can help bridge over troubled waters in many areas where human intelligence and limitations fail. Let us explore some of these critical areas where AI has and still has the potential to improve the business scenario.
The successful customer and user experience:
The experience of the customer is what tells brands apart and this differentiator is best exploited through successfully harvesting of the data and changes brought about by AI. Research and use of Walker data suggest that large multinationals like Adobe, Intuit, and EMC have benefitted greatly by entwining the customer experience into their operational daily routines of marketing, sales, and operational routines. And AI makes it possible to offer those great user-experiences crafted from forecasts and gleanings of data on why the customer buys, when and for how much, how the competition fares and their latest parleys, or what the customer wants from you.
The arsenal of data forecasts and insights can personalize an individual’s experience to match his needs, budget, etc, through a more seamless integrated process that offers high satisfaction and customer loyalty. The results are most helpful in rapidly predicting markets, changing products, forecasting customer- behavior, and staying up to date with the latest offers of technology. Thus AI is the one tool that has immense potential in accumulating, understanding and changing the fortunes of business enterprises by forecasting touch-points, trends, brand preferences, pricing strategies and more.
Bettering the hiring process:
The acquisition of skilled talent is critical to all businesses. However, most processes like recruitments, interviews, talent hunting, employee-referrals, and assessments are subject to very many biases, nepotism, controls, and flaws.
For bettering the hiring process certain tasks are all important. Firstly, one has to cast the net wide. Secondly, the talents need to be matched to the job requirements and the process of pivoting in on the right candidate needs to be free of human errors and bias. Lastly, the holistic use of data using the latest developments needs to be deployed. Not surprisingly, AI aided assistants today can make short work of the recruitment process while ensuring a great supply database for recruitments and keeping in mind the specifics of talent growing into higher roles and reducing the pitfalls of employee migration and retention issues.
Retaining and engaging the employees:
Skill and talent lie at the core of the hiring process. With increased demand comes the problem of retention and employee engagement turning into a competitive minefield. Poor management practices, lack of growth on the job and employee engagement have turned into major contributors for lack of retention of employees as is evident from surveys conducted by SalesForce and Gallup.
AI has enabled cutting-edge technologies like analysis of employee sentiments, biometric trackers, and such AI-empowered techniques can aid in effective retention through timely motivation, employee empowerment, continued learning opportunities and ensuring deserving rewards, career growth, skill up-gradation and more. More engaged employees mean better retention, employee loyalty, and engagement.
Conclusion:
In parting, it is valid to note that AI helps the new operations in business which in turn can change the dynamics of a beyond satisfying customer-experience, growing engagement with employees, hiring and retention. People are assets to the company and the twist that AI and technology have brought in can easily transform companies through efficient dynamics, change and people management.
To learn all about futuristic technologies like adaptations of artificial intelligence, powering AI through effective Machine Learning, scouring the growing volumes of data through Deep Learning and beyond to futuristic technology like blockchains for fintech industries try the Imarticus Learning experience.
The Agile Scrum Tutorial are succinct with due emphasis on the practical applications of knowledge and concepts coupled with invaluable modules of self-development and soft-skill training. Besides, one gets the mentorship of certified and industry-drawn mentors and instructors. Go ahead and make the most of opportunities and jobs on offer in their placement program too. Why wait then?