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Scrum Team

Optimising teamwork dynamics for enhanced collaboration and performance in high-functioning project environments.

The Scrum Team is a defined accountability within Scrum, composed of a Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers working together toward a shared Product Goal.

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Overview

A Scrum Team is the core accountability in Scrum, responsible for delivering value through iterative, incremental work. It consists of a Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Developers, working collaboratively toward a single Product Goal.

The Scrum Team is self-managing and cross-functional. It has no sub-teams or hierarchies, and it is collectively accountable for creating a usable Increment every Sprint. Each member may hold a distinct accountability, but the team itself is responsible for the outcome.

Unlike roles or practices, the Scrum Team is an entity defined in the Scrum framework, empowered by the organisation to manage its own work. Its accountability spans all aspects of product delivery, from stakeholder collaboration and development to validation and release.

This tag is used to explore the nature, structure, and responsibilities of the Scrum Team as a whole—not just how the individuals interact, but what they are collectively accountable for in complex, adaptive environments.

Learn More about Scrum Team

Blog

Great Scrum Masters Need Technical, Business, and Organisational Mastery

Scrum Masters are most effective when they combine leadership skills with technical, business, and organisational mastery to support teams, Product Owners, and change.
Blog

There Is No Such Thing as a "Junior" Scrum Master

Argues that the Scrum Master role requires proven mastery and real-world experience, not entry-level skills or certifications, and should be earned within the team, not assigned.
Blog

The Scrum Master is accountable for Delivery

Explains how the Scrum Master is accountable for enabling effective product delivery, fostering team success, and ensuring each sprint produces a usable, valuable increment.
Guides

The Scrum Guide

Discover more about The Scrum Guide and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Videos

Free Workshop 04: Introduction to Sprint Reviews [Review & Retrospective]

Covers key concepts of Sprint Reviews, interactive workshop delivery using Teams and Mural, technical challenges faced, participant feedback, and retrospective insights.
Blog

Delivery is the only Measure of Progress in Scrum

Scrum teams must deliver working software to real users every Sprint; true progress is measured by delivery to production, not just by completing internal work.
Blog

Professional Scrum teams build software that works

Professional Scrum Teams prioritise software quality, accountability, and continuous improvement, ensuring each release is reliable, defect-free, and delivers real value.
Videos

The Problem with Incompetent Scrum Masters: Why Lack of Skills in Team Context Results in Poor ROI

Incompetent Scrum Masters reduce team performance and ROI by lacking key skills. Learn how to measure their impact using innovation, usage, and delivery metrics.
Videos

The Crucial Role of Competence: How Knowledgeable Scrum Masters Drive Team Success

Scrum Masters with deep knowledge and competence enable teams to deliver better products, drive business outcomes, and foster real improvement in software development.
Blog

Are technical skills required to be a Scrum Master?

Technical skills are not required to be a Scrum Master, but understanding technical, business, and organisational contexts helps Scrum Masters better support their teams.
Videos

The Competence Crisis in Scrum Master Roles: A Call for Excellence

Many Scrum Masters lack essential skills and experience, leading to poor agile outcomes. True competence requires deep knowledge, practical experience, and ongoing learning.
Blog

You are doing Scrum but the Scrum Master tells the team what to do!

Discover why a Scrum Master shouldn’t dictate tasks to the team. Empower self-organization and enhance accountability for better project outcomes.
Blog

Getting started with a Definition of Done (DoD)

Explains how to create, apply, and improve a Definition of Done (DoD) in Scrum to ensure software quality, transparency, and consistent delivery of working increments.
Blog

If your backlog is not refined then you are doing it wrong

Explains why regular backlog refinement is essential in Scrum, how to make backlog items ready for Sprint Planning, and ways to measure effective refinement.
Blog

Professional Scrum Developer (.NET) Training in London

Join the Professional Scrum Developer training in London to enhance your .NET skills, collaborate in teams, and master Agile practices. Sign up now!
Blog

The fallacy of the rejected backlog item

Explains why rejecting individual backlog items at Sprint Review is a misconception, highlighting Scrum’s focus on learning, collaboration, and delivering a complete increment.
Blog

Balance of Leadership and Control in Scrum

Explores how Scrum Masters and Product Owners balance leadership, authority, and team autonomy to ensure accountability, effective self-management, and organisational alignment.
Blog

The Role of Agency in Scrum: Why Self-Management Without Agency is a Lie

Explains why true Scrum requires real team agency, not just self-management in name, and how lacking agency leads to ineffective, ritualistic Agile practices.
Recipes

Daily Scrum Recipe

Discover more about Daily Scrum Recipe and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Blog

My first Scrum team in the wild

Discover insights from my first Scrum team experience, highlighting key practices and lessons learned to enhance your agile journey. Join the conversation!
Videos

Redefining the Scrum Master: From Boss to Empowering Facilitator

Explains how effective Scrum Masters empower teams through facilitation, support, and coaching, moving away from authority and micromanagement to foster self-organisation.
Videos

Is a Scrum Master an Agile micromanager?

Explains why a Scrum Master should facilitate and empower agile teams, not micromanage, highlighting the importance of trust, autonomy, and effective team dynamics.
Blog

Hiring a Professional Scrum Master

Covers key responsibilities, skills, and requirements for hiring a Scrum Master, including leadership, coaching, facilitation, and fostering effective Scrum teams.
Videos

Mastering Scrum: Essential Insights for New Teams from a Scrum Master's Journey

Guidance for new Scrum teams on building strong foundations, embracing empiricism, Scrum values, continuous learning, and the Scrum Master’s role in fostering team growth.
Videos

Understanding the True Role of a Scrum Master

Explains the true responsibilities of a Scrum Master, how to maximise team effectiveness, teach Scrum principles, and address organisational challenges for better outcomes.
Videos

Why the Scrum Master’s True Power Lies in Influence, Not Authority

Explains why a Scrum Master leads through influence, not authority, focusing on building trust, fostering team effectiveness, and supporting agile collaboration.
Videos

How does a Scrum Master or Agile coach motivate a Scrum Team?

Explains how Scrum Masters and Agile coaches boost team motivation by setting clear goals, fostering engagement, recognising achievements, and promoting continuous improvement.
Videos

Unlocking Team Potential: The Essential Role of a Scrum Master in Agile Success

Explains how a Scrum Master empowers Agile teams by bridging business, technical, and organisational needs to boost effectiveness, collaboration, and delivery outcomes.
Videos

Redefining the Scrum Master: From Misconceptions to Empowering Leadership

Explores common misconceptions about the Scrum Master role, highlighting the shift from tool admin to empowering leader who fosters team autonomy, growth, and self-organisation.
Videos

Is a scrum master an agile micromanager?

A Scrum Master empowers teams by facilitating, mentoring, and supporting—not micromanaging—fostering trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement in Agile environments.
Blog

How do you handle conflict in a Scrum Team?

Guidance on resolving conflict in Scrum Teams, including facilitation techniques, escalation steps, and the Scrum Master’s role in fostering healthy team dynamics.
Videos

Unpacking the Scrum Master Role: Moving Beyond Misconceptions to True Accountability

Explores common misconceptions about Scrum Masters, clarifies their true accountabilities, and highlights the importance of principles, competence, and organisational impact.
Videos

Maximise Your Scrum Process: Leveraging Azure DevOps for Agile Success

Learn how to customise Azure DevOps to support Scrum teams, manage backlogs, plan sprints, and improve agile workflows with practical setup and process tips.
Videos

How does a Scrum team decide on a Sprint goal?

Explains how Scrum teams collaboratively define a clear, achievable Sprint goal through early stakeholder input, planning, consensus, and ongoing communication.
Blog

In Nexus with 5 Scrum teams, how can the Product Owner attend all Sprint Planning events?

Explains how a Product Owner can manage Sprint Planning across multiple Scrum teams in Nexus by delegating, using area or team owners, and maintaining clear communication.
Blog

Should the Scrum Master always remove impediments?

Explains when a Scrum Master should remove impediments, focusing on team self-sufficiency, true impediments, and supporting team growth within Scrum practices.
Blog

How to Set and Achieve Effective Sprint Goals

Learn how to define, craft, and achieve effective Sprint Goals in Scrum, using frameworks like SMART and OKR to align teams, deliver value, and improve accountability.
Videos

Who Should Lead the Sprint Review? Unpacking the Role of the Product Owner in Agile Success

Explains why the Product Owner should lead Sprint Reviews in Agile, detailing their role in maximising value, gathering feedback, and updating the product backlog.
Videos

Unlocking Greatness: How the Right Scrum Master Transforms Teams and Organisations

Explores how an effective Scrum Master drives team success by fostering team fit, addressing organisational barriers, and building relationships to enable lasting change.
Blog

Decoding Scrum Team Work: Balancing Sprint and Refinement Work

Explains how Scrum teams can balance Sprint work and Refinement, with strategies and visual tools to track, manage, and visualise both for better workflow and product delivery.
Guides

Nexus Guide

Discover more about Nexus Guide and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Videos

What will you learn on the professional scrum master course?

Gain practical skills and deep understanding of the scrum master role, scrum theory, empiricism, team dynamics, and delivering value in agile product development.
Blog

Hiring a Professional Product Owner

Explains the key accountabilities, skills, and behaviours required for a Scrum Product Owner, including hiring trends, role requirements, and practical job specifications.
Blog

Adventures in Scrum: Lesson 1 – The failed Sprint

Explore the challenges of Scrum in ‘Adventures in Scrum: Lesson 1’. Learn from a failed Sprint and discover key insights for effective team collaboration.
Practices

Sprint Planning Event

Discover more about Sprint Planning Event and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Recipes

Sprint Planning Recipe

Discover more about Sprint Planning Recipe and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Blog

Update to the Scrum Guide on the 25th Anniversary of the Scrum Framework

Summarises key changes in the 2020 Scrum Guide, including simplified language, self-managing teams, and new commitments for goals, backlog, and definition of done.
Blog

Why Most Scrum Masters Are Failing and What They Should Know

Many Scrum Masters lack core Scrum knowledge and technical skills, leading to poor team support. Learn key competencies needed for effective, measurable impact.
Videos

Transform Your Scrum Team in 90 Days: Strategies for Continuous Delivery and Empowerment

Learn practical steps to help Scrum teams achieve continuous delivery, clarify business value, integrate feedback, and build empowerment within 90 days for lasting agility.
Blog

Can the Definition of Done change per Sprint?

The Definition of Done can evolve to improve quality but should not be weakened or vary per backlog item. Consistency ensures transparency and reliable product increments.
Videos

What is the hardest part of working with a brand-new scrum team?

The biggest challenge with new scrum teams is overcoming misconceptions about scrum and shifting focus from process mechanics to core agile principles and empirical learning.
Videos

How much of an impact can a strong, skilled product owner have?

A skilled product owner drives teams to build valuable solutions, anticipate customer needs, and deliver features that create real business impact—not just more features.
Videos

Navigating Team Conflict: From Healthy Disagreement to Agile Harmony

Explores recognising and managing team conflict in Agile, outlining stages from healthy disagreement to destructive “war” and offering practical de-escalation strategies.
Workshops

Sprint Review #1

Discover more about “Sprint Review
Videos

Navigating Team Conflict: How Scrum Masters Can Prevent 'War' in Agile Projects

Explores how Scrum Masters can identify, manage, and prevent destructive team conflict in Agile projects, promoting healthy collaboration and effective communication.
Videos

Unlocking the Scrum Master's Potential: Embracing Broader Responsibilities for Agile Success

Explores how Scrum Masters can expand their impact by embracing wider organisational responsibilities, challenging outdated practices, and fostering agile team growth.
Videos

Is Your Scrum Master Struggling? Discover When to Choose an Agile Process Simulation Workshop

Learn when to use an Agile Process Simulation workshop to support struggling Scrum Masters, improve team dynamics, and foster collaborative, effective Scrum adoption.
Videos

What would you advise a scrum team to do in their first 4 weeks?

Guidance for new scrum teams on establishing effective practices, learning from experience, experimenting, and improving during their first four weeks with scrum.
Blog

Searching for self-organisation

Explore the journey to self-organisation in teams. Discover strategies to foster accountability, identity, and high performance for agile success.
Videos

How to Tackle the Challenge of an Ineffective Product Owner in Agile Teams

Learn practical steps for Agile teams to address ineffective Product Owners, including support, education, relationship-building, and fostering team excellence for better outcomes.
Videos

Unlocking Trust in Scrum: The Power of Openness and Transparency

Explores how openness and transparency in Scrum foster trust, clear communication, and a supportive team culture, essential for effective Agile collaboration.
Videos

What does a poor scrum team look, act and feel like?

Explores signs of a poor scrum team, including autocratic leadership, dysfunctional product ownership, lack of trust, and organisational barriers to high performance.
Blog

Product Owners are not a myth

Discover the vital role of Product Owners in Scrum. Learn how they maximize value and manage backlogs effectively for successful agile development.
Blog

Delivering Live Virtual Classes in Microsoft Teams and Mural

Guidance on running live virtual Scrum classes using Microsoft Teams and Mural, focusing on tech setup, safe collaboration, self-organising teams, and effective facilitation.
Videos

How does a Scrum team create a sprint goal?

Explains how Scrum teams create effective sprint goals by aligning product strategy, tactical needs, and backlog priorities to deliver stakeholder value each sprint.
Videos

How critical is a Product Owner in developing a great Product Backlog?

Explains why a product owner is essential for shaping, prioritising, and maintaining a focused, lean product backlog that drives effective Agile product development.
Blog

Adventures in Scrum: Lesson 2 - For the record

Explore key lessons from our first Scrum Sprint at SSW, uncovering the importance of clear communication and alignment in Agile practices. Join the journey!
Guides

Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams

Discover more about Kanban Guide for Scrum Teams and how it can help you in your Agile journey!
Videos

5 tools that Scrum Masters love. Part 1

Discover how Scrum Masters use liberating structures to boost team engagement, improve meetings, and drive effective collaboration in Agile and Scrum environments.
Videos

The Power of Building Relationships Through Immersive Learning in Scrum

Explores how immersive learning in Scrum fosters strong peer relationships, enhancing collaboration, trust, and long-term growth for practitioners beyond the classroom.
Videos

Mastering Remote Work: Key Insights for Agile Teams to Thrive in a Digital World

Practical strategies for remote Agile teams, covering communication, tool selection, value delivery, team dynamics, gamification, and integrating UX into software development.
Course

Applying Professional Scrum for Software Development (APS-SD) with Certification

Experience APS-SD: Hands-on Scrum training for delivering quality software. Gain practical skills in Agile, DevOps, and Scrum principles. Free PSD I certification exam included. Enhance your software development expertise.
Course

Professional Scrum Master

Our Professional Scrum Master Training Program features PSM Training from Scrum.org, delivered as an Immersive Learning Experience. It combines live, instructor-led sessions with additional offline exercises, covering the principles of the Scrum framework and the Scrum Master role. This multi-week format integrates real-world applications, encouraging continuous improvement through practical assignments.
Course

Applying Flow Metrics for Scrum

Elevate Your Scrum Mastery with ‘Applying Flow Metrics for Scrum’: Transform your Agile practices with our immersive, hands-on course. Dive deep into the world of flow metrics and emerge with the skills to enhance your team’s efficiency and delivery. Join us for a journey of practical learning and real-world application – it’s time to turn data into action!
Videos

Why the Concept of a "Junior Scrum Master" is a Misguided Myth

Explains why the Scrum Master role requires experience and competence, debunking the myth of a “junior” Scrum Master and highlighting the need for proven skills in Agile teams.
Course

Professional Scrum Master Advanced (PSM-A) with Certification

Professional Scrum MasterTM II (PSM II) course is a 14h advanced Scrum Master class designed to support Scrum Masters in their professional development. The PSM II course is intended for Scrum Masters with at least one year of experience who are looking to grow their knowledge and abilities as a Scrum Master. This course is one step in that journey.
Course

Professional Scrum Facilitation Skills (PSFS) with Certification

Develop proficiency in facilitation skills to help your Scrum Team better solve problems, create a shared understanding, and foster transparency. Learn how to become a better facilitator to improve Scrum Team, stakeholder and customer interactions.
Course

Professional Scrum Master and Product Owner (PSMPO) with Certification

Scrum Teams flourish when the Scrum Master and Product Owner accountabilities are well fulfilled. The 3-day Professional Scrum Master and Product Owner (PSMPO) course combines the key learning objectives from both the Scrum.org Professional Scrum Master (PSM) and Professional Scrum Product Owner (PSPO) courses.
Course

Scrum for Product Owners Training

This instructor-led class is intended to help Product Owners be more effective in their role. Through a combination of presentation, discussion, and hands-on activities, attendees will learn the responsibilities and preferred practices of being the member of the Scrum Team who drives the value.
Course

Professional Scrum Product Owner

Our Professional Scrum Product Owner course helps students master the Product Owner role with real-world scenarios and practical exercises, enabling participants to drive product success using Agile principles and Scrum.
Course

Applying Professional Scrum (APS) Course with Certification

Enables all members of the Scrum Team to learn Scrum while doing it, experiencing what it is like to deliver products using the Scrum framework
Course

Professional Scrum with User Experience (PSU) with Certification

Professional Scrum with User Experience (PSU) is a 14h hands-on course, delivered over 4 half-days, where students who already have a fundamental understanding of Scrum and some experience using it will learn how to integrate modern UX practices into the way they are working in Scrum and how to work most effectively within Scrum Teams.

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