January, 2023 - Scrum Ireland

Attitude: ‘Make-or-Break’ You

Attitude

Having the right attitude is often what makes a leader strong. It can be the difference between failure and success, between inspiring someone and losing their loyalty, and between leading effectively or becoming a tyrant.

A positive attitude can help a leader to make the right decisions in crucial moments and set the standard for their team. It gives them the confidence and resilience they need to handle difficult situations while ensuring that the team has the motivation to keep moving forward.

At the same time, having a negative attitude can have drastic consequences. A leader

Bob Proctor on attitude

Bob Proctor is a motivational speaker, author and mentor. He believes that attitude is an essential factor in success. According to Proctor, attitude is the “one thing that determines whether a leader succeeds or fails.” Having the right attitude allows leaders to remain stagnant and resilient in the face of adversity, while inspiring their team to strive for greater goals.

In terms of attitude, Proctor advises that leaders focus on consistently cultivating positive thinking and emotions such as passion, enthusiasm and belief in their team and their own capabilities. Leaders must be

Agile Manifesto & 12 Core Principles

See how the ‘Scrum Fundamentals‘ fit into Agile.

We are uncovering better ways of developing software by doing it and helping others do it. Through this work we have come to value:

1. Individuals and interactions over processes and tools.

2. Working software over comprehensive documentation.

3. Customer collaboration over contract negotiation.

4. Responding to change over following a plan.

That is, while there is value in the items on the right, we value the items on the left more.

The 12 core principles of the Agile Manifesto are as follows:

1. Our highest priority is to satisfy the customer through early and continuous delivery of valuable software.

2. Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the customer’s competitive advantage. 3. Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference to the shorter timescale.

4. Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

5. Build projects around motivated individuals. Give them the environment and support they need, and trust them to get the job done.

6. The most efficient and effective method of conveying information to and within a development team is face-to-face conversation.

7. Working software is the primary measure of progress.

8. Agile processes promote sustainable development. The sponsors, developers, and users should be able to maintain a constant pace indefinitely.

9. Continuous attention to technical excellence and good design enhances agility.

10. Simplicity–the art of maximizing the amount of work not done–is essential.

11. The best architectures, requirements, and designs emerge from self-organizing teams.

12. At regular intervals, the team reflects on how to become more effective, then tunes

Scrum Master Job Description

The Scrum Master is responsible for managing and facilitating the Scrum process, ensuring the team adheres to the values and principles of the Agile methodology.

The Scrum Master’s primary responsibilities include helping to define and refine team processes, removing impediments to progress, and guiding the team toward successful outcomes.

The Scrum Master acts as a coach to the team, helping them to become self-organizing and highly productive.

The Scrum Master will also work with the Product Owner to ensure a clear understanding of the product goals, and help the team to prioritize accordingly.

The Scrum Master will be responsible for setting up and running daily Scrum meetings, helping to plan and facilitate sprint reviews and retrospectives, and assisting with any conflict resolution that may arise. The Scrum Master will also need to stay up to date with Agile best practices and be available to answer questions and provide guidance to the team.

Qualities that make a Great Scrum Master

A Scrum Master is a facilitator and leader who helps a Scrum team to follow the Scrum framework and principles. The most important skills of a Scrum Master include:

Leadership: A Scrum Master must be able to lead the team and help them to work together effectively.
Facilitation: A Scrum Master must be able to facilitate meetings and discussions, and help the team to make decisions.
Communication: A Scrum Master must have strong communication skills and be able to convey information clearly and effectively to the team, stakeholders and other relevant parties.
Coaching: A Scrum Master must be able to coach the team members, help them to identify and overcome obstacles, and improve their skills.
Conflict resolution: A Scrum Master must be able to help the team to resolve conflicts and maintain a positive and productive working environment.
Problem-solving: A Scrum Master must be able to help the team to identify and solve problems, and make decisions that are in the best interest of the project and the team.
Knowledge of Scrum: A Scrum Master must have a deep understanding of the Scrum framework and be able to apply it effectively.
Adaptability: A Scrum Master must be able to adapt to the changing needs of the team and the project, and be able to guide the team through changes.

Scrum Developer Job Description

A Scrum Developer is responsible for creating and developing software (and other) products. They must use the Agile Scrum methodology to develop and deliver software products. The Scrum Developer should be able to understand the business requirements and create a plan to develop the software product. They must be able to work within a team environment and collaborate with other members to ensure the software product is delivered on time and within budget.

The Scrum Developer must have excellent problem solving and communication skills, as well as experience in software development and the Agile Scrum methodology. They should be able to work independently and with a sense of ownership for their projects. The Scrum Developer must have strong technical skills in areas such as object-oriented programming, software design and development, database design and development, web development, and software testing. They must also be able to use tools such as version control systems, automated testing frameworks, and bug tracking tools.

The Scrum Developer must be able to work effectively and efficiently under pressure, while meeting tight deadlines and maintaining a high level of quality. They should also have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work closely with stake holders, project managers, and other development teams.

Scrum Product Owner Job Description

A Scrum Product Owner is responsible for managing the product backlog and ensuring that the development team is delivering value to the customer.

The Product Owner is the voice of the customer and acts as a liaison between the development team and the stakeholders. They are responsible for ensuring that the product roadmap aligns with the company’s strategy and objectives.

The Product Owner is responsible for anticipating customer needs and developing features that address those needs. They will also prioritize features and manage the development team’s resources to ensure that the most important features are developed first. The Product Owner will also be responsible for setting clear goals, defining acceptance criteria, and monitoring progress against those goals.

To succeed in this role, the Product Owner should have a good understanding of the product, the customer, and the market. They should have excellent communication and organizational skills and be able to work effectively with multiple stakeholders. Additionally, the Product Owner should have experience working with Agile methodology and be comfortable with data-driven decision making.

State of the IrishScrum Nation

The Agile and Scrum frameworks have become increasingly popular in Irish businesses in recent years, as organizations look to reduce costs, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve the overall efficiency of their operations. Agile and Scrum provide a more efficient and flexible way of working, which can be beneficial to both the customer and the business.

Agile and Scrum frameworks are designed to be flexible, enabling teams to quickly adjust their processes and adapt to changing customer needs. This ability to quickly make changes can help businesses to save time and money, as well as providing a more efficient and effective way of working. Agile and Scrum also allow for more collaboration between teams, as well as encouraging communication and problem solving.

In addition, Agile and Scrum frameworks can help businesses to reduce costs and increase customer satisfaction. By working in an iterative and incremental way, teams are able to focus on delivering customer value, rather than simply trying to deliver the product as quickly as possible. This can help to reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction, as customers have a better understanding of what they are getting.

Irish companies that use Scrum most

Irish companies that use Scrum most include:

1. Intercom

2. Version 1

3. Ammeon

4. Workday

5. Stripe

6. HubSpot

7. Aon

8. Alltech

9. Tyndall National Institute

10. Fidelity Investments Ireland

ScrumIreland is a practical and easy way to connect with the Irish scrum market that can help you grow in a meaningful direction and warm more for your business and your family.