Scrum: Key Points

Scrum is a methodology for organizing team workflows. At its core are:

• iterative development
• continuous product improvement
• cost reduction
• focus on what matters most

Scrum belongs to the Agile family. These terms are often used interchangeably, but that’s incorrect. Scrum is a specific example of the Agile approach, whereas Agile is more of a philosophy or set of values.

Agile is a philosophy; Scrum is its implementation.

This approach is inherently flexible, allowing for experimentation. That’s why it works well for fast-paced product development. Scrum enables teams to progress step by step while continuously assessing the effectiveness of their work.

Key Principles of Scrum

• Work is divided into short iterations, called Sprints.
• The result of each sprint should be a usable product increment — something that brings value to the customer, even if it’s not yet released.
• Product development is carried out by a self-managed team. All team members have equal rights and shared responsibility for the outcome.

Advantages of Scrum

• Continuous product development increases its value for the end user.
• Each team member’s input is valued, boosting engagement and generating better ideas.
• Fast results — progress is visible after each sprint.
• Adaptability to change, whether it's market shifts, new technologies from competitors, or client requirements.
• Transparency of tasks — everyone knows their area of responsibility.

Disadvantages of Scrum

• Assembling the right team is challenging: members must align both professionally and personally and be highly motivated.
• Takes time to adapt to sprint planning — teams may initially misjudge the appropriate length of iterations.
• Daily meetings and team check-ins consume time.
• Task scope is locked during a sprint — once the sprint backlog is set, no new tasks can be added.
• Not ideal for large companies or projects — coordination across multiple teams can become problematic.