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Why are the values/ principles of scrum manifesto not included in the scrum guide?

Last post 10:30 am May 4, 2024 by Ryan Kent
10 replies
04:19 pm May 20, 2019

Hello everyone,

Can somebody explain me why is the Scrum Manifesto is not included in the Scrum Guide? 

And when I face an issue, where should I first look to find the root of my problem and a sustainable solution? Is it the Agile Manifesto with it's 4 values or the scrum guide with it's 4 values? 

I will be so glad to hear from you.

Best Wishes.

 


09:59 am May 21, 2019

What lead you to believe Agile values are in opposition to Scrum ones?

What's the difference between them?

And why do you think these values (whether Agile or Scrum ones) would help you towards resolving an issue?


05:10 pm May 21, 2019

I see all of the Agile Manifesto for Software Development values and principles represented in the Scrum Guide.  Is the wording different?  Absolutely. But the basis for the values and principles exist in both. There are always many ways to state the same message and this is an example of such. 

The premise of the Agile Manifesto for Software Development was to provide a foundation for new ways of addressing software development that allows for delivery of iterative value, embracing change as it occurs and allowing teams at the level doing the work to make decisions on how to do that work. Scrum is all about those same foundational principles. 

I will also point out that both of them are based on the same base principle of Empiricism. 


06:55 pm May 21, 2019

@Daniel Wilhite, So we have 2 independent guides which both have the same purpose (building software in a better way) on the basis of Empiricism. They differ in wording not meaning and in addition to that the scrum manifest provides more detail practises. They do not build upon each other. None of them is better or worse, they are just different  sources with different content. Did I summarized this in my word, correctly?

 


07:45 pm May 21, 2019

In my opinion you have it mostly right.  They do build upon each other but not in a way that makes the others wrong or obsolete.  In my reality, they enhance each other as the respect for each grows. 

But do not take my explanation as the only one.  In the world of agile practitioners, each and everyone of us will have slightly different perspectives on how everything relates.  As you said "none of them are better or worse, they are just different".  Please use everything that anyone says and everything that you can read to form your own opinions and views.  Come back here and share them with us.  We all learn from each other.  And I will admit that the first time you post something and one of the "old timers" comments on your post, it is a real big ego boost.  Even if they tell you that your thoughts are flawed.  Take any constructive input as a good thing. Constantly employ empiricism in your journey to understand and use agile practices in anything you do.  


08:42 pm May 21, 2019

Maybe a better approach would be to consider the Agile Manifesto as an umbrella and under that umbrella you have various frameworks such as Kanban and Scrum. They are not necessarily separate or wholly independent of each other because Scrum is just a framework of doing work within the Agile mindset and Agile values. The Scrum Guide is a deeper dive of sorts than the 4 values with the Agile Manifesto. Lastly, and it's a minor point, there are 5 values in Scrum, not 4. Commitment, Courage, Focus, Openness, and Respect.


01:40 pm May 22, 2019

So we have 2 independent guides which both have the same purpose (building software in a better way) on the basis of Empiricism. 

Tobias, it may be easier to think of Agile (Agile Manifesto) and Scrum (Scrum Guide) in the following terms:

Agile is a software development approach that leverages several "better" practices around communication, collaboration, Lean-thinking, and Empiricism.

Scrum is an Agile framework (not restricted solely to software development) that fully leverages Empiricism as the basis of its framework.

Hope this helps.


04:07 pm May 22, 2019

Thank you Daniel for your words. They helped me a lot!

 

We all learn from each other.  (Daniel)

That's the major reason why I like Agile/ Scrum so much. Progress is more important than being right

 

Maybe a better approach would be to consider the Agile Manifesto as an umbrella and under that umbrella you have various frameworks such as Kanban and Scrum (Curtis)

That's a good picture and you are absolutly right, they are 5 values in the scrum guide

 

 


07:13 am May 4, 2024

This is an old comment thread, but seeing that Scrum and Agile are often used interchangeable, I was curious how Scrum and Agile officially join together, as Scrum does not mention Agile in the ScrumGuide. From page 13 of the 2020 ScrumGuide the following sentence:

“Scrum exists only in its entirety and functions well as a container for other techniques, methodologies, and practices"

Is that correct to understand that Scrum allows other methodologies like Agile to give a deeper understanding, but at the same time does want to tie Scrum to a specific (other) methodology?

 


07:14 am May 4, 2024

I meant does NOT want to tie Scrum to a specific (other) methodology ...


10:30 am May 4, 2024

Agile, as in The Manifesto for Agile Software Development isn’t a methodology or method in and of itself. It is 4 “we have come to value” statements and 12 principles related to the lightweight approaches the signatories of that manifesto were using at the time.

If you were to do a DNA test on ‘Agile’ you would find Scrum in its heritage along with Crystal, DDSM, XP etc and other influences. The term ‘Agile’ and its manifesto is the love child of Scrum, XP and other lightweight approaches that came before it.

Scrum provides an empirical framework for generating value in complex domains. As a framework, it is purposely incomplete, leaving room to add in other approaches and techniques that may be needed depending on each product’s domain and needs. So yes you can add to it. 


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