Inefficient Daily Scrums
I’m sure every scrum master has had at least one unproductive Daily experience. I think this is mainly because the team has not fully embraced all or some of the scrum values (commitment, courage, focus, openness and respect). There could be many different reasons why it could not be adopted. For example, in an organization that has undergone Agile transformation, the inability to transform the corporate culture, the difficulty of creating behavioral changes in people, etc.
In Scrum, team members should feel responsible towards the team, that is, towards each other. The team should be accountable to itself, not to the manager. This accountability is shown in the Daily. Team members make commitments every day to achieve the Sprint Goal, explain whether they have achieved what they promised, and seek solutions for situations that prevent them from reaching the goal.
On unproductive Daily Scrums, you often hear phrases like:
I couldn’t fulfill the task I promised yesterday because I had to deal with these and these things, so I will try to look at it today.
I finished the development of the task yesterday, today I will concentrate on the tests.
I couldn’t fulfill the task I promised because I was waiting for the other team.
I supported my friend yesterday and I will continue to be today.
…
Unfulfilled commitments…
Vague commitments…
These may be an indication that the team is not able to keep pace with accountability and does not feel commitment.
What about the solution? How should we, as the Scrum Master, react to these situations so that we can make the Daily Scrums efficient?
Here is a list of 10 suggestions for you:
1. Make sure the Daily is done in the same place and at the same time every day.
2. Do not allow the time-box to be exceeded (You can suggest a separate meeting with the relevant people for topics that need to be discussed in detail).
3. Make sure the commitments are related to the team’s sprint goal.
4. If you have a commitment of your own, start by reporting it.
5. Do not allow vague commitments. Make sure to use clear wording. For example: Instead of concentrating on the tests, I will complete the tests of these and these scenarios or instead of I will continue development, I have completed the development of these functions, and today I will code these functions.
6. Make it visible how close you are to the sprint goal. You can design a simple scoreboard as a team and use it in Daily Scrums.
7. Respect. If the unfulfilled commitments are due to other work, thank them by stating their contribution to the organization. This will make the team member feel valued.
8. Say that commitments should not be conditional, that a way must be found and fulfilled. It can be kindly but firmly😊
9. Take a promise that the commitment will be fulfilled the next day. It’s important to do this in an encouraging language.
10. Celebrate success, congratulate.
I wish all teams productive Daily Scrums 😊
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