S
CRUM is an agile way of working that is widely used in software development and makes it possible to develop complex products that are subject to frequent changes. Autonomously working teams are staffed in such a way that all the necessary skills are represented in order to holistically implement the customer's request.
In addition to software development (across all components), the skills also include quality assurance, process discipline and product management in the customer's sense. A clearly planned rhythm – the so-called sprint – regularly provides the teams with the opportunity to constantly improve themselves, whereby the focus of the sprint is always on creating added value for the customer.
The SCRUM framework provides us with benefits throughout the development process in order to meet the client's needs. We manage to keep the time between the technical planning of a software change and the actual implementation and delivery low, and to the same extent, reduce the number of software changes between planning and implementation. In addition, the software developers' understanding of a recently planned change is more present than for plans that were made a long time ago. Further, the same colleagues that develop the features are also involved in the planning process.
Due to our complex products and our claim to always offer excellent software, a team of several people is involved in product management, so that we have established further product experts within the teams in addition to the SCRUM role of "product owner".
In addition to software development (across all components), the skills also include quality assurance, process discipline and product management in the customer's sense. A clearly planned rhythm – the so-called sprint – regularly provides the teams with the opportunity to constantly improve themselves, whereby the focus of the sprint is always on creating added value for the customer.
SCRUM@FLS
At FLS, we currently have six SCRUM teams working on the development and modernisation of our product portfolio. Two teams each specialise on a customer segment such as "surveyors", "technical service" or "retail". This specialisation helps the teams to have a deep understanding of the requirements of the users.The SCRUM framework provides us with benefits throughout the development process in order to meet the client's needs. We manage to keep the time between the technical planning of a software change and the actual implementation and delivery low, and to the same extent, reduce the number of software changes between planning and implementation. In addition, the software developers' understanding of a recently planned change is more present than for plans that were made a long time ago. Further, the same colleagues that develop the features are also involved in the planning process.
Due to our complex products and our claim to always offer excellent software, a team of several people is involved in product management, so that we have established further product experts within the teams in addition to the SCRUM role of "product owner".
SCRUM ROLES
SCRUM Master | Product Owner |
Product Experts | SCRUM Developer
SCRUM DURING COVID-19
Over the past few months, we have had to move our development and SCRUM work entirely into virtual space due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fortunately we were well prepared and it was possible to send all colleagues involved in software development into home office. Since then, the transfer of knowledge and joint work on solutions has taken place via online meetings and now feels completely natural to us.For the technical planning and all regular SCRUM meetings, we use interactive online collaboration platforms. This allows us to develop a shared understanding of our work even remotely. The regular improvements that our teams strive for seem to be completely independent of the virtual way of working and would be expected in exactly the same way in teams that meet in real life.
In addition to the advantage of being able to improve our software from at home with this way of working, the satisfaction of the employees involved has remained high and each individual has found his or her way around extremely well.