When you hear the term “Zombie Scrum,” what comes to mind? Is it a group of undead creatures practicing Scrum to find more effective ways to kill people? Nah! While that could be an interesting concept, that’s not what I’m going to discuss in this post.
If you’re a member of a development team and you’re utilizing Scrum, you may be curious to learn more about Zombie Scrum. So take a moment to sit back, relax, and read on!
In this blog, I will delve into the concept of Zombie Scrum by addressing the following questions:
What is meant by a Zombie Scrum team?
How do Scrum teams become Zombie Scrum teams?
What are the consequences of being a Zombie Scrum team?
How to come back from being a Zombie Scrum team
What is meant by a Zombie Scrum team?
The term “Zombie Scrum” refers to a situation where a Scrum team mechanically follows the Scrum framework without displaying genuine enthusiasm, energy, or commitment.
In other words, the team goes through the motions of Scrum, but lacks vitality, engagement, and active participation from its members.
This is a gradual process that can occur over time, and even the most experienced Scrum Masters may overlook it if they do not pay close attention to the team’s dynamics and working methods.
Now that you have a clear understanding of what a Zombie Scrum team entails, let’s explore how a team can transition into a Zombie Scrum state.
How do Scrum teams become Zombie Scrum teams?
Zombie Scrum typically emerges when a team has been practicing Scrum for a while but loses motivation and a sense of purpose.
The team may go through the motions of Scrum, conducting daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, but without genuine engagement or active participation.
Team members may become disengaged, disinterested in their work, or simply go through the motions without taking ownership or feeling a sense of responsibility.
The Scrum Master plays a crucial role in identifying when a team has fallen into a Zombie Scrum state and must take immediate corrective actions to facilitate recovery. Otherwise, the repercussions for the team can be substantial, as outlined in the following section.
What are the consequences of being a Zombie Scrum team?
Being in a Zombie Scrum state can have detrimental effects on both the team and the organization, including decreased productivity, quality issues, and low morale.
To prevent Zombie Scrum, teams should prioritize maintaining a sense of purpose and engagement, adhering to Scrum principles, and consistently refining their processes and practices through continuous improvement.
Although the Scrum Master plays a pivotal role in initiating the recovery process, revitalizing a team from a Zombie Scrum state requires a collective effort from the entire team. The following section outlines a few steps that the team and the Scrum Master can take together to facilitate recovery.
How to come back from being a Zombie Scrum team
Increase collaboration: Collaboration is an important aspect of Scrum. The team should work together closely and actively participate in daily stand-ups, sprint planning, reviews, and retrospectives.
Encourage ownership: Team members should take ownership of their work and feel responsible for the success of the project. This can be achieved by providing them with clear goals and expectations, as well as empowering them to make decisions and take ownership of their work.
Continual Improvement: The team should strive for continuous improvement in their processes and practices. This can be achieved by conducting regular retrospectives, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing changes to improve the process.
Increase engagement: The Scrum Master can help increase engagement by facilitating open and honest communication, encouraging feedback, and creating a positive and supportive team environment.
Change the routine: Sometimes, changing the routine or trying new things can help break the monotony of Zombie Scrum. For example, the team can try different retrospective formats or hold meetings in a different location.
I hope this post has provided you with a clear understanding of the definition of a Zombie Scrum team, the process that can lead a Scrum team to fall into a Zombie state, the effects of being in a Zombie Scrum state, and the recovery path.
If you have ever been a part of such a Scrum team, I encourage you to share your experiences in the comment section.
Further reading:
The below post from Scrum.org provides further insights into Zombie Scrum teams
Here is your host Harsha signing off from this post. I will be back soon with a new blog post. Stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, don’t forget to like, comment, and share this blog post.
Till then, cheers!
Comments