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by Anthony Boobier on 18 April 2011
The definition is of a checklist is a list of things to be checked or done. It's an informational job aid, used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory. What profession doesn’t benefit from this? A Pilot runs through a safety checklist before takeoff, that doesn't mean he does not know what he is doing (one would hope!) - he is just building quality into the process.
Scrum is an empirical framework, with a simple set of rules, so simple, but that doesn't mean we can't benefit from our own set of checks - a safety and quality Visual control aid. Over time I have built up a set of high-level checklists for Scrum meetings, for this very purpose. I have found these to be a useful reminder, especially to those new to Scrum.
In the Scrum meeting checklists I have included Scrum specific meetings only, for example I haven’t included a visioning meeting to define the product and ensure we aren’t building the wrong thing as efficiently as possible. I have included a few points which I feel are important within these meetings (such as Definition of Ready, which isn’t a Scrum term). I have also included “Grooming the Product Backlog” as a generic requirements definition meeting, it is included in it’s own right as in my experience, it’s the area that most Scrum teams forget to put any time or emphasis. You will also notice I have not included the Sprint itself!
In terms of the meeting checks, I have drawn on the following specfic resources:
- The Scrum framework guide by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland,
- Mike Cohn, specifically his work on Agile Estimating and planning
- Jean Tabaka, Collaboration Explained: Facilitation Skills for Collaborative Leaders, a great resource on general agile meeting and team facilitation.
- Esther Derby and Diana Larsen, Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great, the Definitive guide to retrospectives, they introduce the 5 stage approach that all Retrospectives should adhere to.
Fig1: Scrum Checklist Page 1
Fig 2: Scrum Checklist Page 2
These Scrum meeting checklists are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather an aide-memoire. Don’t be a slave to them. If you don’t do something; have a good reason for omitting it. They don’t replace the need for good agile training including CSM , having practitioner experience, a ScrumMaster or Coach.
Why not print out and use your own copy as a Visual aid, Publish your Polices and Procedures for all to see. Use it as part of your Working Agreement.