This post on Scrum team failure addresses three categories from the Scrum anti-patterns taxonomy that are closely aligned: Planning and process breakdown, conflict avoidance and miscommunication, and inattention to quality and commitment, often resulting in a Scrum team performing significantly below its potential.
Learn how these Scrum anti-patterns categories manifest themselves and how they affect value creation for customers and the organization’s long-term sustainability.
This is the third of three articles analyzing the 183 anti-patterns from the upcoming Scrum Anti-Patterns Guide book. The other two articles, see below, address adhering to legacy systems, processes, practices, and communication and collaboration issues.
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Let us delve into the three aspects of Scrum team failure: Planning and process breakdown, conflict avoidance and miscommunication, and inattention to quality and commitment:
This category of Scrum Team failure patterns identifies setbacks and breakdowns in planning, process, collaboration, and alignment within the Scrum framework. Such failures may include, for example:
These issues can lead to chaotic, inefficient work, erode trust, hinder alignment, and undermine the Scrum team's ability to deliver value and uphold the principles of Scrum.
Manifestations:
Examples of the effects of this anti-pattern category include:
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The "Conflict Avoidance and Miscommunication" category deals with Scrum Team failure in communication and the evasion of conflict within Scrum teams. These anti-patterns include excluding collaboration, prioritizing individual achievements, delaying communication, lack of transparency, and misunderstanding within the team. Such behaviors lead to friction and undermine trust-building, alignment with Agile principles, and continuous improvement. Additionally, they reflect systemic failures, such as the lack of strategic alignment and adherence to core Agile principles, hindering efficiency and collaboration within the Scrum team.
Manifestations:
Examples of the effects of this anti-pattern category include:
The “Inattention to Quality and Commitment” category of Scrum Team Failure patterns focuses on Developers’ neglect of quality, professionalism, and adherence to Scrum principles. It stresses the importance of not compromising quality standards and maintaining a continuous commitment to excellence. Disregarding quality can lead to suboptimal products, misalignment with customer expectations, and undermining the core values of Agile. The category calls for a renewed focus on standards, learning, adaptation, and avoiding shortcuts that may expedite delivery but risk long-term quality and sustainability.
Manifestations:
Examples of the effects of this anti-pattern category include:
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The discussed Scrum team failure patterns reveal potential pitfalls that will undermine Scrum’s effectiveness. Breakdowns in planning and collaboration can erode trust and veer teams away from core Scrum principles. Conflict avoidance and miscommunication further exacerbate misalignments, pointing to systemic failures in adhering to Agile principles. Finally, compromising quality and commitment jeopardizes the alignment on creating value for customers and fundamental Agile values. In short, the Scrum teams of your organization will perform significantly below their potential, leading to an undesirable outcome.
Therefore, recognizing and actively countering these Scrum team failure patterns is crucial for Scrum’s successful application in any organization.
The Peril of Adhering to Legacy Systems, Processes, and Practices — Scrum Anti-Patterns Taxonomy (1)
Lost in Communication and Collaboration — Scrum Anti-Patterns Taxonomy (2)
Scrum Anti-Patterns Taxonomy — The Big Picture of Why Scrum Fails?
All posts on Scrum Anti-Patterns
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