Scrum is a
light-weight framework for project management which is used for complex product
development in volatile market conditions. With high competition, companies
have to develop products fast and innovatively always adding value and greater
customer satisfaction. Quick decision-making and prioritization help mitigate
risks in a project. The constant flow of new information changes requirements
which Scrum is tailored to handle well and risks are turned into valuable
deliverables.
The Product
Owner starts the Scrum cycle with identifying requirements of the client
through a Stakeholder Meeting. It is up to the Product Owner to clearly outline
the customer needs and place them in a Prioritized Product Backlog. Here risk
plays a crucial role as it becomes essential to determine high risk elements
and place them high in the backlog. The sooner these elements are identified
and dealt with in early Sprints the better for the success of the project as
the possibility of mitigating larger risks diminish with the progress of the
project. Here the Product Owner plays a significant role in discussing various
elements with the Scrum team and clarifying doubts. Thus the Product Owner gets
a great deal of help from the Scrum Team in prioritizing requirements which the
team in turn breaks down into definite User Stories and further into tasks.
The
involvement of various stakeholders in the project with the technical personnel
makes a mark in risk mitigation in Scrum. The “input-development-feedback”
mechanism which is continuous in Scrum keeps everything transparent and
pitfalls are readily visible. The Prioritized Product backlog is constantly
groomed, i.e. it is analyzed and revaluated all the time as requirements change
and/or issues crop up as development of a feature leads to finding a new
element which demands immediate attention. Scrum as an Agile framework lets you
do exactly that – be agile and incorporate changes in short notices. Scrum’s
core principle of Empirical Process Control is thus practiced and upheld. In
Scrum, planning is seen as an ongoing process and is represented by grooming of
the Product Backlog and the Sprint Planning Meeting at the beginning of every
Sprint. Unlike traditional waterfall methodologies where planning is detailed
and upfront, this Scrum practice zeroes in on the risk factor. Yet, it is not
to be taken for granted as active participation is required by the Product
Owner, the Scrum master, and the Scrum Team to keep the mechanism running
smoothly. Issues not addressed for long durations may turn into potential risks
and take up more time and effort to resolve as time passes.
Some of the
Scrum practices which help in mitigating risks are:
1.
Flexibility of adding and modifying requirements
2. Regular
feedback through the iterative nature of Scrum
3. Team
ownership of Sprint Backlog items
4.
Transparency ensures detection of risks and early communication
5. Iterative
delivery reduces investment risk
In Scrum, it
is important to learn and practice its basic principles which collectively and
naturally help in effective management of risk.
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