The word "scrum" is a term commonly used in rugby, referring to a way of restarting play after a minor infringement. It is pronounced /skrʌm/, with an initial "s" sound followed by a "k" sound. The following "r" sound is pronounced with a slight rolling effect, and the final "m" sound is pronounced with closed lips. The spelling of this word is derived from the word "scrimmage" which has its origins in old French and was originally spelled "escrime". Over time, the spelling evolved to "skirmish" and eventually "scrum".
Scrum is a term used in the context of project management and software development, originating from the domain of rugby. As a noun, "scrum" refers to a framework that allows teams to work collaboratively on complex projects in an iterative and incremental manner. It provides a structured approach for managing projects where the requirements are unclear or continually evolving.
In software development, specifically, "scrum" is also used to describe an agile methodology based on the Scrum framework. It follows the principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, empowering teams to deliver higher-quality products faster with frequent feedback loops.
The term "scrum" can also be used as a verb, where it means to work collaboratively in a highly flexible and adaptive manner. It emphasizes short, focused bursts of work known as sprints, which are time-boxed iterations generally lasting two to four weeks. During these sprints, teams plan, execute, and review their work, constantly adapting to evolving requirements and feedback.
Scrum emphasizes the role of self-organizing, cross-functional teams, as well as regular communication, transparency, and continuous improvement. It encourages breaking down large projects into smaller, manageable pieces known as user stories, prioritizing them based on value and effort, and delivering them incrementally to obtain quick feedback and validate assumptions.
Overall, scrum is a project management framework and agile methodology that promotes collaboration, adaptability, and continuous improvement, enabling teams to deliver high-quality products efficiently in a rapidly changing environment.
The word "scrum" originates from the sport of rugby. It is derived from the term "scrummage", which dates back to the 1800s and referred to a formation in which players from both teams come together with their heads down and arms locked to contest possession of the ball. Over time, "scrummage" was shortened to "scrum" and became the commonly used term to describe this part of the game. The word "scrum" has also been adopted in the context of Agile project management, derived from the similarities between the rugby scrum and the collaborative, team-based approach in Agile methodologies.