A common scenario that arises in Scrum teams is a request for accommodating new items within an ongoing sprint. It may be the boss asking to include a new item/work/tasks or any other stakeholder making a similar request. The response to that request should consider the need for balancing the commitment to the Sprint Goal, maintaining focus, and upholding the principles of continuous improvement. In a general sense, it's important for the team to balance the need for flexibility with the need to maintain the integrity of the sprint.
According to the principles outlined in the Scrum Guide, if your boss comes to the team and asks to add a new item to the sprint, the team should consider the following:
Deal with the change and don’t forget to talk about it at the retrospective meeting: In the dynamic world of Product Development, the ability to navigate unexpected changes is important. As you face and conquer these challenges, remember the significance of the retrospective meeting. After the sprint concludes, take the time to collectively discuss the events that transpired. Was the introduction of the new item an exceptional occurrence? If so, explore how the team handled it and whether there are ways to manage similar situations more effectively in the future. On the other hand, if this situation isn't an exception and there's a likelihood of it occurring again, consider implementing a plan. Could your sprint planning process incorporate a contingency for such events? Should there be a dedicated triage team within the Scrum team for frequent production issues that demand immediate attention? By addressing these questions in the retrospective, the team can further refine their strategies, fostering an environment of continuous improvement. Further Reading: The Scrum Guide 2020 The Importance of Sprint Goal in Scrum: Commitment, Focus, and Continuous Improvement
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Manoj VadakkanArchives
September 2023
Scrum |