Quotes: Don't scale Scrum! Pragmatic or defeatist?

TL;DR; The idea that Scrum cannot be scaled is a misconception; frameworks like Nexus show that Scrum can be effectively scaled to deliver greater value. Key recommendations include understanding Nexus, starting with a single team, and scaling thoughtfully while adapting as you go. Development managers should explore scaling options rather than dismissing them, as successful scaling is both possible and beneficial.

Published on 9 October 2023

Written by Martin Hinshelwood

2 minute read

https://nkdagility.com/resources/Oj0ybFF12Rw

“Don’t scale scrum ” - A Common Refrain

🙄 The phrase “Don’t scale scrum!” is something I’ve heard quite frequently.

Let’s explore this statement – is it pragmatic caution or simply defeatist?

The Misconception: Scrum Doesn’t Scale

🤔 Many believe that Scrum, by design, cannot scale. While it’s true that the Scrum Guide focuses on one team building one product, the idea that Scrum can’t be scaled is, frankly, rubbish.

Nexus: Scrum Scaling Scrum

🚀 Nexus is a shining example of Scrum scaling Scrum. It doesn’t deviate from the essence but adds nuances to address challenges at scale.

Scrum at Its Core: Nexus retains the Scrum framework at its heart.
Addressing Scale: It introduces additional elements to tackle scaling complexities.
Delivering Value: Nexus proves that you can amplify value delivery using Scrum at a larger scale.

How-To: Embracing Scaling in Scrum

💡 Scaling doesn’t have to be an antithesis to Scrum. Here are some recommendations:

Understand Nexus: Dive deep into Nexus and how it seamlessly scales Scrum.
Start Small, Think Big: Begin with one Scrum team and then scale thoughtfully.
Adapt and Iterate: Scaling is about learning and adapting, just like Scrum.

Pragmatic, Not Defeatist

🌟 The notion of “Don’t scale Scrum” is not pragmatic wisdom; it’s a defeatist attitude.

Scrum can and has been scaled successfully, delivering more value than ever.

Don’t scale Scrum is a phrase that I’ve heard quite a lot, and I think it’s utter bollocks. It implies that there is no scaling within the context of Scrum, and while yes, Scrum explicitly focuses—the Scrum Guide focuses on one team building one product—we can use Scrum to scale Scrum and deliver more value at a higher scale.

If you look at Nexus, Nexus is a great example of using Scrum to scale Scrum. It is just Scrum, but it adds some additional things that you need to concern yourself with to scale. So, use Scrum to scale Scrum.

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