In the latest episode of the "Scrum is Hard and Disruptive" series, professional Scrum trainers Todd Miller and Ryan Ripley dive deep into a timeless truth: Scrum isn't just a process—it's a powerful change management tool. Reflecting on Ken Schwaber's 2006 white paper, "Scrum is Hard and Disruptive," the trainers discuss how Scrum was never meant to be rolled out like a traditional framework but instead used to instigate change within organizations.
Ken's 9th Statement: "The focus of using Scrum is the change from old habits to new ways of doing business. Scrum is not implemented or rolled-out as a process; it is used to foment change."
Scrum as an Instigator of Change
Miller and Ripley emphasize that Scrum’s true purpose is often misunderstood. Instead of being a plug-and-play solution, Scrum is intended to disrupt the status quo and foster new ways of working. Many organizations, however, have fallen into the trap of treating Scrum as just another process—hiring Scrum Masters as secretaries or creating extensive manuals that dictate how Scrum should be implemented. This misapplication strips away the core value of Scrum: its ability to provoke and instigate real change.
Old Habits Die Hard
Todd and Ryan share real-world examples, highlighting how companies often resist Scrum's transformative potential. Instead of adopting new ways of doing business, they retrofit Scrum into existing management structures, making it indistinguishable from outdated methods like waterfall. It’s a clear case of old wine in new bottles—teams adopt the terminology without embracing the fundamental mindset shift that Scrum demands.
Business vs. IT: The Persistent Divide
One of the standout points in this episode is the discussion on the ongoing divide between business and IT. Miller and Ripley argue that it's time to stop treating IT as a separate entity and start viewing it as an integral part of the business. In today’s tech-driven world, this separation is not just outdated; it hinders progress.
Embracing the Disruption
Ultimately, Scrum is meant to be challenging. It’s not a simple process swap but a call to rethink how we operate, collaborate, and deliver value. As Miller and Ripley put it, if Scrum feels hard and disruptive, it’s doing its job. Organizations must embrace this disruption, confront their old habits, and truly transform their business.
For anyone navigating the complexities of Scrum, this episode serves as a reminder: don’t just implement Scrum; let it disrupt, instigate, and drive meaningful change. Scrum isn’t just another set of rules—it’s a new way of doing business.
Watch the full episode on YouTube, and remember: Scrum is hard and disruptive, but that’s precisely what makes it valuable.
⏩ Join Ryan and Todd for a Scrum.org course: https://buytickets.at/agileforhumansllc
Check out their books:
📖 "Unlocking Business Agility with Evidence-Based Management: Satisfy Customers and Improve Organizational Effectiveness" on Amazon -- https://amzn.to/4690qJy
📖 "Fixing Your Scrum: Practical Solutions to Common Scrum Problems" on Amazon -- https://amzn.to/46dAQTC