Scrum For Dummies

Scrum For Dummies

by Mark C. Layton
Released April 2015
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781118905753

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Book description

Practice an agile form of management to stop wasting time and money

Scrum For Dummies is an easy to use guide to managing the tricky transition from a traditional project management methodology to the new and most popular agile framework. As the most efficient, successful methodology for team project management, Scrum relies on transparency, flexibility, and fluidity to deliver a final product that fulfills the needs of all stakeholders. Written in easy-to-read Dummies style, this book walks you through the core principles of Scrum and provides a roadmap for tangible implementation.

The vast majority of projects go over budget, and billions of dollars are wasted every year on overruns. Put a stop to this wasteful leakage by switching to a management style that keeps all participants informed, up-to-date, and accountable. Authored by a Certified Scrum Trainer, Mark Layton, Scrum For Dummies covers the key ideas and processes behind Scrum methodologies, and presents the inner workings of the plan in an engaging and accessible format. Topics include:

  • The Scrum values, roles, artifacts, and activities that make up the principle of this methodology
  • When and how best to use Scrum
  • The differences between Scrum and other agile methodologies
  • Using Scrum for IT, finance, construction, health care, and more

The book also delves into the everyday use of Scrum, and how it can help you achieve your own personal goals outside of work. There's a reason why scrum is quickly becoming the standard approach to project management—it works! If you want to stop wasting time and start producing more effectively, Scrum For Dummies is the guide that will get you there.

Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Conventions Used in This Book
      4. Icons Used in This Book
      5. Beyond the Book
      6. Where to Go from Here
    3. Part I: Getting Started with Scrum
      1. Chapter 1: The Basics of Scrum
        1. The Bird’s Eye Basics
        2. The Feedback Feast
        3. Agile Roots
        4. The Five Scrum Values
    4. Part II: Running a Scrum Project
      1. Chapter 2: The First Steps
        1. Getting Your Scrum On
        2. The Power in the Product Owner
        3. Why Product Owners Love Scrum
        4. The Company Goal and Strategy — Stage 1
        5. The Scrum Master
        6. Why Scrum Masters Love Scrum
        7. Cool Common Roles Outside of Scrum
      2. Chapter 3: Planning Your Project
        1. The Product Roadmap — A Common Practice, Stage 2
        2. When to Break It Down
        3. Decomposition Definitions
        4. Your Product Backlog
        5. Product Backlog Common Practices
      3. Chapter 4: The Talent and the Timing
        1. The Development Team
        2. Getting the Edge on Backlog Estimation
        3. Your Definition of Done
        4. Common Practices for Estimating the End
      4. Chapter 5: Release and Sprint Planning
        1. Release Plan Basics — Stage 3
        2. Sprinting to Your Goals
        3. Planning Your Sprints — Stage 4
        4. Your Sprint Backlog
      5. Chapter 6: Getting the Most Out of Sprints
        1. The Daily Scrum — Stage 5
        2. Team Task Board
        3. The Sprint Review — Stage 6
        4. The Sprint Retrospective — Stage 7
    5. Part III: Scrum for Industry
      1. Chapter 7: Software Development
        1. It’s a Natural Fit
        2. Software Flexibility and Refactoring
        3. Embracing Change
        4. Applications in Software
      2. Chapter 8: Tangible Goods Production
        1. The Fall of Waterfall
        2. Construction
        3. Flyover Construction in Bangalore
        4. Scrum Home Building
        5. Manufacturing
        6. Hardware Development
      3. Chapter 9: Services
        1. Healthcare and Scrum
        2. Education and Scrum
        3. Challenges in Education Today
        4. Scrum in the Classroom
        5. The Military and Law Enforcement
      4. Chapter 10: Publishing
        1. The Iterative Angle
        2. News Media and Scrum
    6. Part IV: Scrum for Business Functions
      1. Chapter 11: IT Management and Operations
        1. Big Data and Large-Scale Migration
        2. The Service-versus-Control Conundrum
        3. Security Challenges
        4. The Retiring-Boomer Gap
        5. Profit-and-Loss Potential
        6. Innovation versus Stability
      2. Chapter 12: Portfolio Management
        1. Portfolio Management Challenges
        2. Startups
        3. Scaling Scrum
      3. Chapter 13: Human Resources and Finance
        1. Human Resources and Scrum
        2. Creating the Right Culture
        3. Parexel Informatics
        4. Finance
      4. Chapter 14: Business Development
        1. Scrum and Marketing
        2. Scrum in Action
        3. Scrum for Sales
      5. Chapter 15: Customer Service
        1. The Most Crucial Stakeholder
        2. Scrum and Customer Service
        3. Scrum in Action
    7. Part V: Scrum for Everyday Life
      1. Chapter 16: Dating and Family Life
        1. Finding Love with Scrum
        2. Planning Your Wedding Using Scrum
        3. Families and Scrum
      2. Chapter 17: Scrum for Life Goals
        1. Getting to Retirement
        2. Achieving Weight Goals
        3. Keeping Life Balance
        4. Planning Travel
        5. Studying
    8. Part VI: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 18: Ten Steps to Transition to Scrum
        1. Step 1: Conduct an Audit
        2. Step 2: Identify and Recruit Talent
        3. Step 3: Ensure Proper Training
        4. Step 4: Mobilize a Transition Team
        5. Step 5: Identify Pilot Project
        6. Step 6: Maximize Environment Efficiency
        7. Step 7: Reduce Single Points of Failure
        8. Step 8: Establish Definition of Done
        9. Step 9: Kick Off Pilot Project
        10. Step 10: Inspect, Adapt, Mature, and Scale
      2. Chapter 19: Ten Pitfalls to Avoid
        1. Faux Scrum (Cargo Cult Agile and Double Work Agile)
        2. Lack of Training
        3. Ineffective Product Owner
        4. Lack of Automated Testing
        5. Lack of Transition Support
        6. Inappropriate Physical Environment
        7. Poor Team Selection
        8. Discipline Slips
        9. Lack of Support for Learning
        10. Diluting until Dead
      3. Chapter 20: Ten Key Benefits of Scrum
        1. Better Quality
        2. Decreased Time to Market
        3. Increased Return on Investment
        4. Higher Customer Satisfaction
        5. Higher Team Morale
        6. Increased Collaboration and Ownership
        7. More Relevant Metrics
        8. Improved Progress Visibility and Exposure
        9. Increased Project Control
        10. Reduced Risk
      4. Chapter 21: Ten Key Metrics for Scrum
        1. Sprint Goal Success Rates
        2. Defects
        3. Time to Market
        4. Return on Investment
        5. Capital Redeployment
        6. Satisfaction Surveys
        7. Team Member Turnover
        8. Project Attrition
        9. Skill Versatility
        10. Manager:Creator Ratio
      5. Chapter 22: Ten Key Resources for Scrum
        1. Scrum For Dummies Cheat Sheet
        2. Scrum Alliance®
        3. Scrumguides.org
        4. Scrum.org
        5. ScrumPLoP
        6. Scaled Agile Framework® (SAFe®)
        7. LeSS
        8. InfoQ
        9. Scrum Development Yahoo! Group
        10. Platinum Edge
    9. About the Authors
    10. Cheat Sheet
    11. Advertisement Page
    12. Connect with Dummies
    13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Scrum For Dummies
  • Author(s): Mark C. Layton
  • Release date: April 2015
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781118905753