Scrum refers to a framework used in agile project management, particularly in software development. This framework is an iterative and incremental process—it splits the project into a series of small, consecutive parts or 'sprints'.
Since everything is broken into these short sprints, the team can constantly iterate and improve the product, adding more and more to it with every single iteration. This approach also allows teams to be more flexible, meaning that they can adapt to ever-changing circumstances and deliver on all fronts seamlessly.
Project management software can be an invaluable tool in organizing and tracking these sprints, ensuring that all team members stay on the same page throughout the process.
However, a scrum workflow is not easily accomplished, and many teams go through growing pains as they try their best to efficiently work in sprints and deal with their perpetually increasing backlog. In such scenarios, project managers can make use of agile scrum meetings to secure beneficial and effective scrum implementation.
Scrum tools are specialized software developed to support the Scrum framework in project management. This means that they offer several features that are specifically designed for scrum steps, such as sprint tracking dashboards, progress visualization, scrum calendar, etc.
Scrum by itself may look simple, but in reality, it can be quite complex and poses several challenges for any team. For instance, its focus on continuous improvement may lead to scope creep and derail sprints. It's also a relatively newer way of working, which can cause friction in companies that rely on traditional, hierarchical structures. Project managers often turn to real-world scrum examples to navigate these challenges effectively:
The best types of agile tools are those that offer all kinds of features that get rid of all the growing pains that come with the territory and help establish a proper scrum methodology. Below, we've listed some of the top tools used by agile scrum masters on the market:
Monday.com
Monday.com Software is one of the top agile scrum tools. It provides pre-built Scrum project templates for sprint planning, bug tracking, and feature backlog creation. It also includes a Scrum board, enabling a project manager to plan, assign, and track tasks and subtasks.
The key features are Gantt charts used to plan projects and project progress reports. The software also offers a shared activity dashboard for project collaboration.
GitHub Software
GitHub Software is perhaps the go-to platform for any project manager in the software development field. A free scrum tool, it's been used by hobbyists as well as companies everywhere.
While its primary feature is to provide version control and store software projects online, it also adheres to the Scrum framework. It enables project managers to divide large projects into minor GitHub Issues—feature descriptions that are written from the perspective of the users. Other scrum features, such as setting team goals and tracking bugs and overall progress, are also included.
Jira Software
Anyone would be hard-pressed to find scrum project management software like Jira. This agile project management tool aids in planning, tracking, and completing Scrum projects. Its primary features include a digital board for tracking the product backlog and a prioritized list of features—allowing teams to move tasks through different stages of development in sprints. It also boasts several other unique features, such as advanced search, burndown charts, and customizable workflows.
The scrum tool landscape is vast, with options catering to different team sizes, budgets, and needs. Some factors to consider when choosing a tool are:
- Team Size And Needs: Larger teams may require more robust features, while smaller teams might prioritize user-friendliness
- Budget: Freemium options exist, while premium tools offer advanced functionalities at a cost
- Integrations: Ensure compatibility with your existing development and communication tools
While scrum tools are no magic bullet, they do help a lot in making projects more manageable. Any company that's hoping to overhaul its entire workflow would benefit a lot in making use of these tools, particularly the ones we've mentioned here. If you wish to browse more options, feel free to explore our scrum software category page.
