Author: Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

Posted in Working as a ScrumMaster

Visualisation of “Very very important tasks”

Posted on by Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

“I have this very important task that needs to get done. Who will do it?”
This is a phrase often heard, and every ScrumMaster eventually will have to deal with. A mature agile team will have it’s work agreements and processes to deal with this type of request in an efficient manner. However, not so mature agile teams, and teams in a early state of their agile journey, should be very alert when hearing this sentence, as it maybe a symptom of an underlying and more serious problems.

But why should we be alert? It’s just <someone> who wants to get this task done, what is wrong with that? Continue reading “Visualisation of “Very very important tasks”” →

Posted in Working as a ScrumMaster

Doing Scrum – Leading the way – Learning agile

Posted on by Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

“I have heard Scrum is ‘the thing’, please google it and implement accordingly!”. This was the exact words from a previous boss of mine, when he wanted me to make our team deliver on time and with the desired quality. This was the beginning of my career in “doing Scrum”.

I have learned quite a few lessons since. In this blogpost I will deal with a few of the hardest challenges I have faced. You will most likely not learn from my mistakes, but being aware of them, may help you overcome them faster when you face them. Continue reading “Doing Scrum – Leading the way – Learning agile” →

Posted in Working as a ScrumMaster

Need more details!?

Posted on by Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

Product Owner: “Please code this feature”.
Developer: “I can’t code this, until I receive a better spec”.
PO: “Just go ahead, I want your input to this as well”
Dev: “Alright”
— Developer codes it like he believes is the best, and show it to the Product Owner —
PO: “Why wasn’t _this_ included?”
Dev: “It wasn’t a part of the spec”
PO: “Well, I think it is kind of obvious, and I wanted your input as well”

Continue reading “Need more details!?” →

Posted in Working as a ScrumMaster

Lack of Product owner – What to do?

Posted on by Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

I often hear from ScrumMasters and Agile Coaches stating, that you cannot have a succesful Scrum implementation without a Product Owner. The importance of the Product Owner can not be discussed, but there are “everyday situations” out there where a Product Owner for some reason is not available, as much as desired, and for sure won’t be for  period of time. Telling the Product Owner to be more available won’t help anything, and calling off the desire of becoming more agile, doesn’t seem to be the solution as well.

Continue reading “Lack of Product owner – What to do?” →

Posted in Working as a ScrumMaster

Let’s call off Scrum!

Posted on by Jacob Rasmussen - Scrum Master / Agile Coach

A software development team, had been “doing Scrum” for years, since it was decided that Scrum was the “way to go”. A classic. All meetings were conducted, but gave no or little value. It was just accepted like “that’s what happens when Scrum meets reality”. Failed sprints were the standard, frustrations were building and unfortunate leadership mecanisms were “needed” to get things done.

When I was appointed as the ScrumMaster, I quickly realised that I had to do something drastically to gain the team’s trust to Scrum, and to build the team’s trust in me, as a ScrumMaster. Especially because I do not have a developer background. I had to relaunch Scrum in a way I had never tried before…

So I said: “Let’s call off Scrum!”

Continue reading “Let’s call off Scrum!” →