As an owner of the company or the leader of the team, if you have a team that works on their own with or without your presence is a dream team. As a leader, if a team is self-organized, it means that they are self-motivated and can work independently. Scrum teams are self-organized and cross-functional. Self-organization within a Scrum team means the team members have the autonomy to take decisions on their own, without waiting for someone else’s a green signal.
Cross-functional teams are those where each member has a range of skills and abilities, and can therefore contribute to the delivery of a product or service. In a self-organizing team, members rely on each other’s skills and abilities to get the work done.
But, if you are a leader who likes to or has to control everything that is happening in the team, self-organizing and cross-functional is not for you. A self-organizing and cross-functional team can be a challenge for a leader who is used to having full control.
What is a Self-Organizing Scrum Team?
A self-organizing Scrum team is a team that has the ability to work independently and does not need close supervision. The team decides for itself how best to complete the work. This type of team is self-managed and self-sufficient.
The self-organizing principle states that “the team should be free to organize itself in order to achieve the sprint goal.” This means that the team decides how best to complete the work assigned to them. They are not micro-managed by a manager who tells them what to do and how to do it.
The self-organizing principle is one of the core values of Scrum. It is based on the belief that the team knows best how to get the work done and that they should be allowed to do so without interference.
Why is it Important to Have a Self-Organizing Scrum Team?
There are several reasons why it is important to have a self-organizing Scrum team.
- First, self-organizing teams are more successful. Studies have shown that self-organizing teams are more likely to achieve their sprint goals than those that are not self-organizing.
- Second, self-organizing teams are more agile. They can adapt to changes more easily and quickly than teams that are not self-organizing.
- Third, self-organizing teams are more motivated. They feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for the work they are doing.
- Fourth, self-organizing teams are more efficient. They do not waste time waiting for someone to tell them what to do.
- Fifth, self-organizing teams are more effective. They are able to complete the work assigned to them in a shorter period of time than teams that are not self-organizing.
What is a cross-functional Scrum team?
A cross-functional Scrum team is a team whose members have the required skills to perform all the tasks necessary to complete a sprint goal. Each member is able to contribute to the work in some way.
The term “cross-functional” refers to the fact that the team members have different skill sets. They are not all experts in the same area. For example, a cross-functional team may have a member who is an expert in programming, another who is an expert in design, and another who is an expert in testing. The benefits of having a cross-functional Scrum team are that the team is able to complete the work faster and with fewer errors.
How to Build a Self-Organizing Scrum Team
There are several steps you can take to build a self-organizing Scrum team.
- First, select the right people for the team. It is important to choose team members who have the ability to work independently and who are self-motivated.
- Second, give the team members the freedom to organize themselves. Allow them to decide how best to complete the work.
- Third, provide the team with the resources they need to be successful. This may include training, books, or software.
- Fourth, trust the team to do the work. Do not micromanage them.
- Fifth, give the team time to gel. It takes time for a team to become self-organizing.
- Sixth, provide feedback to the team. This can be done through sprint retrospectives.
- Seventh, celebrate the successes of the team. This will help to motivate the team members and encourage them to continue self-organizing.
Strategies to build a Self-organizing and Cross-functional Scrum team
As a leader of the team/company, you need to have a proper strategy in place to build a strong self-organizing, and cross-functional scrum team. Just by implementing a process or framework won’t suffice. The team should be self-aware and understand their own strength and weaknesses. They should also know how to work together efficiently to deliver the product.
There are various ways you can go about it, but here are a few key strategies that you can use to build an effective self-organizing, and cross-functional scrum team:
1. Define the team’s purpose and goals
The team should have a clear understanding of why it exists and what its goals are. This will help to ensure that everyone is working towards the same objectives.
2. Allocate adequate time for planning
Planning is essential for any Scrum team. During the sprint planning meeting, the team should allocate enough time to discuss the product backlog items and decide which ones need to be completed.
3. Encourage collaboration
Members of a self-organizing team should feel comfortable working together and collaborating. This can be achieved by promoting an open and inclusive environment where everyone feels like they can contribute.
4. Establish clear communication channels:
It is important that the team has clear communication channels so that everyone is aware of what is happening. This can be done through regular meetings, emails, or chat groups.
5. Make sure everyone is on the same page
It is important that everyone on the team is aware of the goals and objectives. This can be achieved by ensuring that there is a clear and concise vision for the product.
6. Ensure that the team has the necessary resources
The team should have access to all the resources they need in order to be successful. This includes things like adequate funding, technology, and manpower.
7. Agree on a set of scrum values that will guide the team’s behavior
The team should agree on a set of values that will guide their behavior. This could include things like transparency, respect, and commitment.
8. Encourage continuous improvement
Members of a self-organizing team should be encouraged to continuously learn and develop their skills. The team should always be looking for ways to improve their process and product. This can be done through regular retrospectives and by implementing changes based on feedback.
9. Make sure the team is aware of their impact on the product:
The team should be aware of how their work impacts the final product. This includes things like customer satisfaction and delivery time.
9. Assign a Leader who will be responsible for leading the team
The team should select a scrum master and product owner who will be responsible for leading the team. These roles are important for ensuring that the team is organized and that the product is delivered on time.
10. Hold regular Scrum Meetings
The team should hold regular sprint planning sessions in order to discuss the product backlog and decide which items need to be completed. Conduct daily stand-up meetings to keep everyone on track and identify any impediments to progress.
11. Ensure that everyone is aware of their roles and responsibilities
It is important that everyone on the team knows their roles and responsibilities. This can be done by having a clear job description for each role.
12. Give a sense of ownership
The team should feel like they have a sense of ownership over the product. This can be achieved by involving them in decision-making and giving them a say in how the product is developed.
13. Encourage feedback
It is important for the team to take time to reflect on their progress and identify areas for improvement. This can be done through regular sprint retrospectives. Hold a sprint review at the end of each sprint to demo the work that was completed and solicit feedback. Conduct a retrospective at the end of each sprint to identify what went well and what could be improved. The team should encourage feedback from all members in order to improve the product.
14. Make continuous improvements to the way the team works together
The team should always be looking for ways to improve their process and product. This can be done through regular retrospectives and by implementing changes based on feedback.
15. Celebrate successes and learn from failures
It is important to celebrate successes and learn from failures. This can be done by holding a retrospective at the end of each sprint to identify what went well and what could be improved.
Challenges to building a Self-organizing and cross-functional Scrum team.
- Ensuring that everyone on the team is aware of the goals and objectives.
- Making sure that the team has access to all the resources they need in order to be successful.
- Encouraging self-reflection so that the team can identify areas for improvement.
- Getting everyone on the team to agree on a set of scrum values that will guide their behavior.
- Encouraging continuous improvement so that the team can always be looking for ways to improve their process and product.
- Make sure that the team is aware of their impact on the product and that they understand how their work affects the final product.
Building a self-organizing and cross-functional Scrum team is not an easy task. It takes time, effort, and patience. But the rewards are worth it. A self-organizing team is more successful, agile, motivated, efficient, and effective. They are also more likely to produce a high-quality product that meets the needs of the customer.
Having a self-organizing and cross-functional will make your life easier as a Scrum Master or product owner. You will have a team that is more likely to be successful and that is able to deliver a high-quality product.
If you are struggling with building a self-organizing team, remember that it takes time and effort. But the rewards are worth it. Keep working at it and you will eventually have the team of your dreams.