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Scrum is a lightweight framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products. It is the most widely adopted Agile framework, used by millions of teams worldwide. Scrum is intentionally incomplete — it defines just enough structure to enable empirical process control while leaving teams free to choose their own practices and techniques.
The term "Scrum" comes from rugby, where it refers to a formation in which a team works together to move the ball forward. Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland formalised Scrum in the mid-1990s. The definitive reference is the Scrum Guide, which Schwaber and Sutherland maintain and update (the latest version was published in 2020).
Scrum is founded on empirical process control theory (empiricism). Knowledge comes from experience, and decisions are based on observation:
| Pillar | Description | Scrum Implementation |
|---|---|---|
| Transparency | Significant aspects of the process must be visible to those responsible for the outcome | Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment are visible to all; Definition of Done is shared |
| Inspection | Scrum artefacts and progress are frequently inspected to detect variances | Sprint Review, Daily Scrum, and Sprint Retrospective provide regular inspection points |
| Adaptation | If inspection reveals that the process or product deviates, the team adjusts as soon as possible | Sprint Planning adapts the plan; the Retrospective adapts the process; the Product Owner adapts the backlog |
The Scrum Guide identifies five values that give direction to the team's work:
| Value | Meaning in Practice |
|---|---|
| Commitment | The team commits to achieving its goals and supporting each other |
| Focus | Everyone focuses on the Sprint Goal and the work of the Sprint |
| Openness | The team and stakeholders are open about the work and challenges |
| Respect | Team members respect each other as capable, independent people |
| Courage | Team members have the courage to do the right thing and tackle tough problems |
Tip: The five Scrum values can be remembered with the acronym CFOCR — Commitment, Focus, Openness, Courage, Respect.
Scrum organises work into fixed-length iterations called Sprints. Each Sprint follows a consistent pattern:
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