Scrum Daily Standup: A Concise Guide

This excerpt from Scrum: Novice to Ninja by M. David Green provides a practical overview of the daily Scrum standup. The book is available in stores and as an ebook.

Key Points:

• Purpose: The daily standup synchronizes team efforts, identifies roadblocks, and fosters collaboration. It also allows external stakeholders to monitor progress.
• Time Limit: Traditionally 15 minutes. Brevity is key; standing encourages focus. Laptops and other distractions are discouraged. The Scrum Master manages time and adherence to rules.
• Three Questions: Each team member answers: 1) What was done since the last standup? 2) What will be done until the next standup? 3) Are there any impediments?
• Additional Uses: Updating the Scrum board, pair programming swaps, vacation/completion announcements, and Scrum Master updates (if time permits).

Daily Standup Details:

The daily standup is a core Scrum ritual. It provides a daily pulse check on project status and individual tasks. Team members share updates, and anyone interested can observe (but not participate).

Time Management: The 15-minute time box is crucial. The Scrum Master is responsible for enforcing this, but all team members should help maintain focus. The best time is often at the start or end of the workday, avoiding disruption of longer work blocks. Flexibility is needed for distributed teams, but regular attendance is important. The standup should still occur even if not everyone can attend.

Preparation: Minimal preparation is required. Team members should reflect on their progress to provide concise updates. If external assistance is needed to resolve a blocker, those individuals should be notified beforehand. The Scrum Master might review story statuses before the meeting.

The Three Questions: The Scrum Master leads by asking each team member the three core questions listed above. Answers should be brief and to the point.

Managing Guests: Guests should observe silently. The Scrum Master should prevent them from interrupting or derailing the standup. High-ranking individuals are not exempt from this rule.

Beyond the Three Questions:

• Scrum Board Updates: Teams can update their Scrum board during or after the standup.
• Pair Programming: Pair rotations can be coordinated.
• Planning and Communication: Upcoming vacations or story completions are communicated.
• Scrum Master Announcements: Time-permitting, the Scrum Master can share relevant team announcements.
• Prioritization: If unsure about the next task, the sprint backlog should guide the decision, prioritizing the highest-value items.

Frequently Asked Questions:

This section answers common questions about the daily standup, covering its purpose, duration, attendees, typical questions, the Scrum Master's role, handling delays, remote participation, and distinguishing it from status meetings. It also addresses handling non-project-related issues.

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