In today's unpredictable market environment, the framework known as Scrum is gaining significant attention alongside the rising need for AX (Agile Transformation) and DX (Digital Transformation). Like professional sports, Scrum is said to have rules that are relatively easy to learn but difficult to master.
In this article, we introduce several Scrum reference guides available for free.
The "Scrum Guide" is one of the most famous reference manuals in the world. The first version was released in 2010 by Scrum co-creators Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland. As of August 2022, the latest version is the "2020 Scrum Guide," which has been translated into many languages, including Japanese.
The 2020 Scrum Guide begins with the Purpose and Definition of Scrum.
This is followed by the Purpose and Definition for the Scrum Team, Scrum Events, and Scrum Artifacts.
Until you fully grasp the Purpose and Definition of each element mentioned above, it is recommended to re-read the Scrum Guide frequently while putting it into practice.
Each element of the framework serves a specific purpose that is essential to the overall value and results realized with Scrum. Changing the core design or ideas of Scrum, leaving out elements, or not following the rules of Scrum, covers up problems and limits the benefits of Scrum, potentially even making it useless.
The Scrum Guide
Furthermore, the Scrum Guide is updated periodically to reflect the growing global community of users, so be sure to always keep the latest version at hand.
The Scrum Reference Card is published by Michael James and Luke Walter. Michael James, a partner of our company, was certified as a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®) by Scrum co-creator Ken Schwaber and is a Scrum expert active primarily in Japan and the United States.
The Scrum Reference Card makes extensive use of diagrams and examples in addition to text, making it a valuable aid in gaining a more concrete understanding of the Scrum Guide. Additionally, its explanations regarding the differences from Waterfall and the situations where Scrum is appropriate provide useful insights for those accustomed to plan-driven development.
As of August 2022, a version compatible with the "2020 Scrum Guide" is available, so please use it in conjunction with the latest Scrum Guide.
LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) is a large-scale Scrum framework devised by Bas Vodde and Craig Larman. Bas Vodde, a member of our company, is a coach, programmer, trainer, and author specializing in Agile and Lean product development, active mainly in Singapore and the Netherlands.
The LeSS rules are designed for organizations with 2 to 8 teams (roughly 10 to 100 people) to utilize Scrum effectively. However, LeSS does not add unnecessary roles or processes, ensuring that the simplicity defined in the Scrum Guide is maintained. For instance, even when applying LeSS to the maximum of 8 teams, the Scrum principles of having one Product Owner and one Product Backlog are followed, and the Product Owner's responsibilities remain the same. Since LeSS rules are predicated on the principles of Scrum, an understanding and ability to practice Scrum is required first. If your organization is large enough to meet these prerequisites, the LeSS rules serve as an excellent reference.
For applying Scrum to even larger organizations (8+ teams), the LeSS Huge framework exists, but introducing LeSS Huge to smaller scales should be avoided.
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