What is Scrum in Software Development?

Scrum is one of the most widely adopted Agile frameworks. It proves especially helpful in bespoke software development projects with evolving requirements. It was co-created by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland. The idea behind it was to help teams deliver high-value products through collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement.

At its core, the Scrum software development framework provides a structured yet flexible way for teams to organise work. Further, they can respond to change and deliver results in short, focused cycles.

What is Scrum?

Scrum is a lightweight management framework. It enables teams to self-organise and work collaboratively towards a shared objective. This framework avoids prescribing detailed processes. Rather, Scrum defines a clear structure. It enables software development services teams to solve complex problems while maintaining high levels of productivity and creativity.

Working in short, iterative cycles, it enables teams:

• Adapt quickly to dynamic requirements
• Deliver value early 
• Continuously deliver value
• Improve product quality via regular feedback
  

Key features of Scrum

• Lightweight framework – simple rules, easy to understand

• Self-organising teams – teams decide how best to deliver work

• Strong collaboration – promotes teamwork and transparency.

• Clear structure – roles, events, and artefacts guide execution

• Continuous improvement – regular reflection and adaptation
  

Scrum lifecycle

A bespoke software development project with dynamic requirements can leverage the Scrum framework. The Scrum lifecycle is built around repeating cycles called Sprints. It is supported by defined events and artefacts:

1. Sprint

A Sprint is a fixed time-box of one month or less. During a Sprint, a potentially releasable product increment is created. Each new Sprint begins immediately after the previous one ends.

2. Product Backlog

It is an ordered list of all features, enhancements, and fixes required for the product. Items are prioritised based on business value.

3. Sprint Backlog

This is a subset of the Product Backlog. It is selected for the current Sprint, along with a clear plan for delivering those items.

4. Sprint Review

At the end of the Sprint, the team presents completed work to stakeholders. The team reviews and reassesses any unfinished or non-achievable features.

5. Sprint Retrospective

The team reflects on the Sprint. The focus is to evaluate quality, processes, and collaboration. The team also identifies areas for improvement.

6. Release

The product moves to the release stage when its set of features meets the required standards.

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Advantages of the Scrum framework

• Fast-moving framework
• Cost-efficient development approach
• Breaks large, complex products into manageable increments
• Strong emphasis on customer satisfaction
• Short Sprint cycles make it highly adaptive
• Continuous feedback improves product quality in less time
  

Disadvantages of the Scrum framework

• Changes are generally not encouraged mid-Sprint

• Scrum software development is a framework, not a complete methodology. So, teams often need to complement it with practices such as Extreme Programming (XP), Kanban, or DSDM.

• It is difficult to apply to projects with vague goals.

• Daily Scrum meetings and frequent reviews are somewhat resource-intensive
  

Who primarily uses the Scrum framework?

Engineering teams use Scrum for building digital products with evolving requirements. It helps teams respond quickly to change and control costs. Further, the team can deliver value in small, manageable increments.

However, Scrum principles are widely applied across many disciplines, including:

• Marketing and growth teams

• IT and infrastructure teams

• Product management and UX teams

• Business operations and transformation teams
  

What is the difference between Agile and Scrum?

Agile focuses on delivering value through continuous, incremental improvement and frequent releases. Practising an agile software development methodology requires changes in how teams think, collaborate, and deliver value.

In contrast, Scrum provides a structured way to deploy Agile principles into the development process. It defines roles, events, and artefacts. 

Who are the members of a Scrum team?

A Scrum team is a small, focused group of 10 or fewer people. They are responsible for delivering valuable product increments every Sprint. 

Scrum defines three essential roles: 

• Product Owner
• Scrum Master 
• Development Team

The Product Owner

They represent the voice of the customer and the business. They focus on maximising product value and ensure the team works on the right things at any time frame.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning, creating, and maintaining the Product Backlog.

• Prioritising work based on business value, customer needs, and market insight.

• Providing clear direction for the next build.

• Collaborating with stakeholders and the Scrum team.

• Deciding when to release features, with a bias towards frequent delivery.
  

Important note: The Product Owner must be one individual, not a committee. Clear ownership avoids conflicting priorities and keeps decision-making efficient.

The Scrum Master

The Scrum Master is the guardian of Scrum principles and practices. They enable the team to perform at its best. Overall, the Scrum Master is responsible for coaching, facilitating, and removing obstacles from the bespoke software development project.

Core responsibilities:

• Coaching the team, Product Owner, and organisation on Scrum

• Removing impediments that block progress

• Facilitating Scrum events (Sprint Planning, Daily Scrum, Review, Retrospective)

• Improving transparency, collaboration, and delivery flow
  

An effective Scrum Master understands both the framework and the team’s real-world challenges. They help to continuously improve performance and outcomes.

The Development Team

The Development Team turns ideas into working product increments. These professionals are cross-functional, self-organising, and delivery-focused.

Typical characteristics:

• Usually 5–7 members

• Cross-skilled to avoid dependency on any single individual

• Strong sense of shared ownership and accountability

• Collaborative, with a clear “we succeed together” mindset
  

A popular sizing guideline is the “two-pizza rule”, introduced by Jeff Bezos, meaning the team should be small enough to be fed by two pizzas.

Development teams:

• Plan each Sprint collaboratively

• Forecast workload using historical velocity

• Keep the sprint length fixed to improve estimation accuracy
  

Conclusion

Scrum is a powerful Agile framework. It enhances team collaboration, self-organisation, and delivery speed. It enables teams to respond quickly to change and continuously improve their work.

When implemented thoughtfully, Scrum remains one of the most effective approaches for modern software development projects.