SCRUM Agile methodology

SCRUM was created for management of software development projects but it can be also used to run software maintenance teams or as a general project management approach (agile development).

It is an improvement of the iterative and incremental approach to delivering object- oriented software. It organizes and manages the team process in a completely new way. 

That new approach is based on process management that is a defined and black box process.  It is called the SCRUM methodology  after the scrum in rugby that is a tight formation of players who bind together in particular position. SCRUM is not only a management but also enhancement and maintenance  methodology designed for the purpose of existing system and production prototype, also called Agile Methodology.

Two kinds of approaches can be distinguished, namely the defined and empirical.The latter is also called SCRUM approach.

The main difference between the defined (waterfall, spiral and iterative) approach and the SCRUM approach is that the latter assumes that the analysis, design and development processes in the Sprint phase are unpredictable. Thus, in order to manage the unpredictability and control the risk a control mechanism is used. As the results three factors can de distinguished: flexibility, responsiveness and reliability. 

The SCRUM methodology can be characterized by five points.

The first one is concerned about two phases: the first and the last. There are called Planning and Closure and they consist of defined processes in which all process, not only inputs but also outputs, are well defined. In SCRUM methodology it is explicitly known of how to do these processes. Some iterations in the planning phase occur but the flow itself is linear.

The second point is about the Sprint phase that is an empirical process. It needs to be said that some of the processes in the sprint phase are unidentified or uncontrolled so it is treated as a black box that needs external control. To avoid chaos in maximizing flexibility, controls (such as risk management) are put on each iteration of the Sprint phase.

The third point focuses on sprints as used to evolve the final product. Sprints are flexible and nonlinear. If it is available, then explicit process knowledge is used. If it is not possible then tactic knowledge and trial and error is used in order to create process knowledge.

The fourth point is concerned about the environment. Until the Closure phase the project remains open to the environment. Moreover, during the Planning and Sprint process the deliverable may be altered at any time.  Through these phases project remains open to such factors as: environmental complexity, including competitive, time, quality, and financial pressures.

The last, fifth point says that during the project based on the environment the deliverable is determined.