Daily Scrum | Daily Standup
According to the Scrum Guide, the Daily Scrum is a fixed-duration event that allows the team to inspect its progress. In a meeting that lasts no more than 15 minutes, the team reviews completed work, plans upcoming tasks, shares information, identifies impediments, and ensures transparency. In other words, the Daily Scrum provides visibility into progress while facilitating inspection and adaptation. Moreover, it creates opportunities for empiricism in the development process.
Also known as the Daily Standup in other frameworks, this event is particularly valuable for distributed teams that do not share a physical workspace. When communication is not always immediate or straightforward, the Daily Scrum helps ensure alignment.
How Does a Daily Scrum Work?
During a typical Daily Scrum, team members update their peers by answering three fundamental questions:
- What was accomplished since the last meeting?
- What will be worked on today?
- Are there any impediments?
Why Hold the Daily Standup at the Same Time and Place?
The Daily Standup should take place at the same time and location every day. This consistency enhances predictability as well as simplifies coordination. Additionally, by sharing updates daily, the team improves its workflow, optimizes task allocation, and increases overall efficiency. More importantly, it creates opportunities to identify and address blockers before they impact progress. The team can track these impediments on a task board or Scrum board, which basically resembles a Kanban board.
Who Should Attend the Daily Standup?
The developers are the primary participants in the Daily Standup. However, other stakeholders, such as the Product Owner, Scrum Master, or even interested parties from the project, may observe the meeting without actively contributing.
By making the Daily Scrum a consistent and focused event, teams can improve collaboration, increase transparency, and enhance overall productivity.