Baking with Scrum
By Lisa / Filed under Collaboration, Scrum / November 16th, 2011
I like to think that I entered the Scrum world through the “side door”, but really it is just one of the entry points for a well-integrated scrum practice. My journey to Scrum started with Literature, Accounting, and then as the “First Among Equals” or as we know it, the “Product Owner”. So in keeping with my track record of approaching Scrum in an “unconventional” way, I decided to practice some Scrum values during a baking project with my seven-year-old son. The product: pumpkin cookies with cream cheese icing, topped with a solitary pecan. We dedicated some effort to planning: we read the recipe from beginning to end, pre-heated the oven, greased the cookie sheets, and got out all of the ingredients.
Then, we planned our Sprints:
Sprint 1: Measuring
Sprint 2: Mixing
Sprint 3: Spooning
Sprint 4: Baking
Sprint 5: Decorating
I was the ScrumMaster and James was the cross-functional team. Dad was the Product Owner. We inspected and adapted as we went. I provided the tools (measuring spoons, bowls, scale, ingredients, recipe) James scooped, cracked (eggs, yikes!), and poured. During the scooping, leveling, and pouring, I observed and provided reference back to the recipe and measuring implements, and James delivered a colorful variation on 1/2 cup, 1 tsp, and 4 oz.
Although our last step involved more sequencing than anything else, that delicious pumpkin aroma, and the cotton fluff of creamy white icing swirled on top was a testament to a collaboration, teamwork, and planning. We invited Dad to see the the product as we completed each Sprint, though he saved most of his enthusiasm for the Release Retrospective held at the end of the project. This recipe showed a remarkable improvement over our last baking day, with improved and more accurate measurement, cleaner pours, fewer spills, and no eggshells in the batter!
I hope you are able to envision the value of Scrum in your daily life, and an “unconventional” adoption of Scrum across your organization– inspect and adapt to improve the experience of the participants and the quality of your results. Here’s to a Thanksgiving Holiday filled with collaboration, vision, and communication among your family, friends, and colleagues.
P.S. Let me know if you’d like the recipe for pumpkin cookies!
- Lisa Montaño
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Lisa:
Great article. Thanks
Alex