The Strain of Scrum & Specs

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As a requirements analyst I often hear 'Oh we don't do specifications, we do Scrum!' Although fewer specs are needed in a true Scrum environment with an experienced team, this doesn't mean specs can be eliminated altogether. A new balance needs to be found. This presentation elaborates on this discussion and gives you hands-on tips for working with specifications in a Scrum environment.

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The Strain of Scrum & Specs

@Marion de Groot marion@pickmybrain.eu

www.pickmybrain.eu

“We don’t do Requirements, we do Scrum”

The importance of thinking before doing

Scrum and Specs The Strain between

Content

Who am I?

What are we talking about?

Why specs?

How much specs?

When to specificy?

How to specificy?

Marion de Groot Pick my brain – Your idea into IT Requirements analyst Functional designer Scrum Product Owner

Who?

My resume

2013 2012 2010 2006 2000

Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft Graduation project: A support tool for the Chinese village doctor

Application Designer @ KSYOS TeleMedical Center

Functional Designer @ Up2 Technology

Requirements Analyst @ Pick my Brain

Who?

My mission

“Happier customers and developers through clear,

complete and concise requirements”

Who?

Are we talking about? What

Waterfall

Define

Design

Develop

Test

Deploy

What?

The Agile Manifesto

We value

Individuals and Interactions

Working software

Customer collaboration

Responding to change

Over

Process and tools

Comprehensive documentation

Contract negotiation

Following a plan

What?

Agile development

What?

Define

Design

Develop Test

Deploy

Iteration

Daily Scrum

Sprint 1-4 weeks

Scrum

Product Backlog

Sprint Backlog

Working incremental piece of software

What?

Specifications

Describe the product Are recorded

Examples Documents Post-its Photo’s Drawings

What?

Waterfall extremist: “Document everything!”

Agile extremist: “All documents are waste!”

“Specifications should serve a purpose.”

Documentation scale

What?

Do we make requirements? Why

Customers

Why?

Developers

Why?

Start of project

Expectation management Cost estimate Risk management Prioritising

Why?

During project

Clear work instructions Avoid rework

Why?

End of project

Guidelines for testing Avoid disagreement Reference Quality Assurance

Why?

Requirements are for

People Communication

Why?

Who makes them?

Specifications should be made by someone who understands: Customer Product Technology For example Product Owner Other team member

Why?

Involve stakeholders and team members

Use their expertise Sense of ownership Be on one line Approve

Why?

Keep it simple

Images, tables, diagrams Drawings and sketches Avoid jargon Be concise

Why?

Should be specified? How much

Depends on

Product Team Customer

How much?

Product

How much?

Complex New

Unknown for team

Technology

Team

How much?

Distributed

Different culture / background

New Time difference

Customer

How much?

Stubborn

Unfamiliar with IT

New

When can we plan a story?

What’s your definition of ready?

How much?

Should we specify? When

Solid basis

Sprint 0 Research, Analysis General requirements and structure Context Goal, Vision Priorities

When?

Bit by bit

During the project Define use cases, user stories Elaborate when needed

Use online collaboration tools

When?

Staggered sprints

When?

A Requirements

Development

Sprint 0 Sprint 1 Sprint 2

B C

A B C

Sprint 3

Can we specify? How

Conclusion

Good requirements Save time, money and frustration Aren’t endless documents Are Agile

Content

Who am I?

What are we talking about?

Why specs?

How much specs?

When to specificy?

How to specificy?

Questions?

@Marion de Groot marion@pickmybrain.eu

www.pickmybrain.eu

Thank you!

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