The 5 scrum values

Much like Extreme Programming, the Scrum Guide introduces 5 Scrum values that teams are encouraged to uphold:

• Commitment
• Courage
• Focus
• Openness
• Respect

Let’s explore how these Scrum values manifest within this agile framework.

Explanation of the 5 Scrum Values

These Scrum values are designed to reinforce the implementation of the 3 foundational pillars of Scrum: transparency, inspection, and adaptation. Throughout the methodological lifecycle of the Scrum framework, teams will come to embody these values.

Commitment

In Scrum, both development teams and Product Owners enjoy autonomy in their respective roles. This autonomy fosters a strong sense of commitment.
Scrum teams commit to delivering results, exercising their autonomy, and making impactful decisions regarding the product. Without commitment, the successful implementation of this agile framework is compromised.

Courage

Gaining independence, especially within complex organizational structures, can be challenging. Scrum teams must demonstrate the courage to embrace and maintain this autonomy.
Courage is also required for Product Owners to assertively say “NO” and retain ownership over their backlog and prioritization.

Teams quickly recognize the vital role courage plays among the 5 Scrum values.

Focus

To sustain a rhythm of quality work, members of Scrum teams need to concentrate on the product they’re producing and the goals they’re pursuing.
Maintaining focus on the product is crucial to achieving prompt and satisfactory results. Sometimes, the aspect of focus extends to the individual, urging them not to multitask but rather dedicate themselves to one task and excel at it.

Openness

As Scrum becomes increasingly popular and prevalent in companies, it sometimes mirrors a miniature V-model. Team members must possess open minds and willingly adhere to the rules of this agile framework, even if they prove challenging to follow.

Respect

Scrum places significant emphasis on respect within teams. This is evident in the absence of formal titles among development team members. Mutual respect among team members is pivotal for harmonious progress.

Concluding the 5 Scrum Values

Upon exploring these values and their illustrative examples, it’s worth contemplating whether your teams truly embody them. If not, perhaps it’s time to invest effort in cultivating and nurturing these 5 Scrum values.
Useful link: Scrum – Our guide in French