Scrum is an Agile methodology framework that’s primarily characterized by its iterative and incremental approach to project management software. This approach is achieved by implementing five important steps that act as a blueprint for the entire process.

The five steps of the Scrum methodology—initiation, planning, implementation, review, and release—may sound rather obvious and straightforward. However, without properly understanding them, any team can run into many risks that could have been avoided.

Hence, this article will cover all the important steps that take place throughout the Scrum lifecycle. By the end, you should not only understand how these five steps drive the scrum project management software process but also how to implement them properly.

What Are The Phases of Scrum?

A typical Agile Scrum methodology consists of three entities—a Product Owner, a Scrum Master and the Development Team. Together, the three of them collaborate and work on a project that’s divided into five distinct steps or phases. These phases are:

Initiation Phase

Unlike traditional project management, Scrum does not have a proper initiation phase that marks the start of the project, as the basis of Scrum is to operate within continuous cycles of short bursts of work called sprints in agile. However, it does require a foundational setup, where certain events take place before the project can begin properly.

These events are:

Product Vision: Dictates the goal and direction that the project will go towards. It also gets the ball rolling on creating important documents such as backlogs
Define Roles: After the vision has been established, a development team with all the necessary skills must be assembled. Other roles such as Agile Scrum Master and Product Owner must also be decided
Create Product Backlog: A Product Backlog is a preliminary list that contains a number of features to be implemented during sprints. Normally, the Product Owner is in charge of creating a product backlog as they understand the needs of a consumer the best

Planning And Estimates Phase

Once the product backlog is established, the Scrum team engages in sprint planning. During this phase, the team selects a subset of items from the product backlog to be included in the upcoming sprint. Since a sprint is normally around two-to-four-weeks, the team must work within those time constraints and deliver an iteration of the product.

To help facilitate this endeavor, the team defines sprint goals and creates a sprint backlog, which outlines the tasks necessary to achieve the sprint goal. For more insights, check out scrum examples.

Implementation Phase

This phase is where the bulk of the work happens, where the sprint is executed. To finish a sprint, the development team works diligently to complete the tasks outlined in the sprint backlog. Daily stand-up meetings are held to review progress, identify impediments, and coordinate efforts. The Scrum Master facilitates these agile scrum meetings and ensures the team remains focused on the sprint goal.

However, within the actual work itself, the team is free to complete the work in any way that they think will suit the project. This level of autonomy and flexibility allows teams to quickly adapt and respond to changes on the fly, giving Scrum a leg up over traditional project management workflows. Without it, any Scrum framework can lose its potency.

Review And Retrospective Phase

The penultimate phase of the entire Scrum process, this stage involves reflecting over the currently finished sprint. Essentially, it’s a chance to assess all the crucial parts of the sprint (aspects that were successful, aspects that could have been improved, etc.)

This phase consists of:

Sprint Review: The conclusion of each sprint sees the team engage in a sprint review. Here, the team showcases all the completed work to stakeholders and gathers feedback as both parties discuss areas where improvements can be made
Sprint Retrospective: The team reflects on the Sprint, identifying what went well, what didn't, and areas for improvement. Unlike a sprint review, a sprint retrospective is conducted internally within the team as members reflect on their experience and come up with ways to improve the next sprint
Product Backlog Grooming: Once the sprint is over, the Product Owner updates the product backlog by removing old items and deliverables that have been completed in the sprint. New items are then added as per the Product Owner’s discretion
Product Retrospective: When the final deliverable is submitted to all the relevant parties, a product retrospective takes place so that the team can evaluate how future projects can be improved by using the experience gained from the current project

Release Phase

The final Scrum methodology step involves handing off all the deliverables to the appropriate stakeholders. Given that it’s a Scrum framework, these deliverables are not normally the final product, but the latest iterations of a specific product. While Scrum does maintain that the iterations released are potentially shippable, the goal is to keep polishing the product as much as possible.

How To Implement Scrum Steps In Your Workflow?

This phase consists of:

Grasp The Core Concepts: The very first thing to do is to fully understand Scrum's fundamental principles, values, and roles (Product Owner, Scrum Master, Development Team). Only by understanding these concepts can one make full use of the Scrum framework
Create A Product Backlog: As the Initiation phase has shown us, it’s important to define the project vision and break it down into measurable goals. To this end, requirements must be gathered from various stakeholders to generate user stories—items that fully explain the requirements for the product
Grant Autonomy To Teams: As stated previously, the Implementation phase can only work if the team takes advantage of what Scrum offers—flexibility. In Scrum, teams can call all the shots and work on the project in a way that they deem fit. This level of autonomy not only boosts productivity but can also improve team morale as they feel that their decisions matter
Utilize Relevant Software: Scrum’s nascent popularity means that there are a host of software that are built with Scrum in mind. For example, Jira software boasts a host of features that facilitate various Scrum features such as sprints, tracking, and feedback
Hold Retrospectives: As per Scrum phases, it’s important to hold retrospectives at the end of a sprint. Discuss what went well, what didn't, and areas for improvement. Only with retrospectives will you be able to learn from your past mistakes and constantly improve
Adapt And Adjust: There is an implicit condition within all of the Scrum phases—that of continuous improvement. Continuously refine Scrum practices based on feedback and lessons learned. It’s important for the team to be open to adjustments as the project evolves and changes requirements

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, the Scrum framework is only as good as its implementation. As we’ve discussed, proper implementation and execution can only happen when the team understands the fundamentals of Scrum, adheres to those values and continues to adapt and refine their workflows based on their results. The Scrum methodology steps help with this further as they provide a structured approach to project management.

However, it’s also important to bear in mind that a Scrum thrives on flexibility rather than rigidity. It’s not a framework that’s meant to be followed to the letter, but an approach that aims to make teams more autonomous so that they can deliver value incrementally. As such, teams have the complete freedom to work as they see fit, provided they are still within Scrum guidelines.

Scrum Steps: How Each Phase From Initiation To Release Can Be Implemented

Need Help Deciding