If You Could Change Anything About Scrum, What Would it Be?
We didn’t event Scrum, but what if we could reinvent Scrum? We recently asked our AgileMentors Community:
Scrum has been around for a while and every now and then it gets an official update. However, what if you could write the Scrum Guide? If you could change anything about Scrum, what would it be?
We had a lot of people contribute to this conversation, and we got some pretty fun and surprising answers. Read on to learn more...
Change the Name Scrum Master
A lot of people weren’t keen on the name Scrum Master and we got some interesting history and recommendations on alternatives to this role title.
A US-based agile coach suggested the role be called Scrum Facilitator instead of Scrum Master because mastery isn’t something that people obtain after two days of training. He added that the word master may be taken the wrong way by people who are used to command and control management.
Mike Cohn added that his mom would have liked the name to change too! “She once told me she takes my books from her coffee table when friends visit because Scrum sounds like scrotum. She was proud of me, she just wished I did something with a more dignified title!” he said.
A Texas-based agile coach said that her kids often call her the ‘Scum’ Master, which isn’t the best HR title!
An agile practitioner from Scotland added, “I think that the poor naming helps create the confusion that a former project manager should now be a Scrum Master (despite the fact that their horizons and responsibilities are completely different).
Be Explicit About Team Collaboration
A California-based agile coach feels that the Agile Manifesto does a good job with its principles and values around collaboration, but the Scrum framework isn’t as explicit as it should be around this. He added that this lack of guidance leads to a lot of companies performing two week waterfalls with stage-gates and hand-offs.
Have Meaningful Metrics Available
A Scrum Master from Virginia thinks meaningful metrics would be a great addition to the Scrum framework. “If this could be done with metrics in a way that helps teams strive to provide the most value, it may change team member awareness/attitude/investment,” he said.
Define a Role for Managers
Another member suggested that Scrum should define a role for managers. “I wish they had given something specific and concrete for managers to do. Managers aren’t going to go away. Managers need to feel productive and that they’re providing value,” she said.
To join the conversation and to be mentored by more than 4,000 agile practitioners from around the globe, join the Agile Mentors Community. Visit https://www.agilementors.com for more information on membership.