Implementing Scrum·August 20, 2024·2 min read

Simplify Scrum: Use Occam's Razor

The secret of success when Implementing Scrum: limit WIP. A simple, four-step version of Scrum, and a slightly deeper version using the real Scrum Guide terms.

The “Occam’s Razor” concept is attributed to William of Ockham. Basically, it says:

“Stop over-complexifying.” (per Michael of Vizdos, lol)

Good luck with that, fellow human.

Focus. #deliver

In a recent email to my weekly Saturday morning subscribers, I wrote about THE secret of success when Implementing Scrum:

Limit WIP (Work in Process or Work in Progress).

This post is not about how to do that. This post is about how to keep Scrum super simple.

Implementing Scrum in Four Easy Steps

1. Create a list of the things you think you need to do.
2. Pick one thing from that list and work on that one thing until it’s done.
3. Deliver that one thing.
4. Reflect on how to get better.

Repeat and rinse. Simple, right?

Remind yourself of this simple sentence: “Limit WIP.” Occam’s Razor.

Implementing Scrum With “Scrum Words”

Here is a bit more complex version of the same four steps, using the real terms from the Scrum Guide:

1. Figure out your vision (Product Goal).
2. Gather a list of stuff that might be needed to meet that vision (Product Backlog).
3. Refine / order / prioritize that list (Product Owner and Developers).
4. Figure out what the Scrum Team is going to accomplish this Sprint (Sprint Planning).
5. Work on ONE thing at a time (Sprint Backlog).
6. Adjust as needed (Daily Scrum).
7. Focus to get the work / Increment Done that meets the objective (Sprint Goal).
8. Deliver (Sprint Review).
9. Reflect (Sprint Retrospective).

A Scrum Master can also help the team (and your organization) understand Scrum Theory and the Scrum Values.

Spoiler alert: the Scrum Master accountable person is usually on their own journey of Implementing Scrum — so please remember context matters!

What Next To Simplify Scrum?

Stop over-thinking this. Stop using the excuse that “Scrum is simple but difficult to master.” Keep it Simple, Stupid (KISS).

If you want to dive a bit deeper, keep poking around this site or jump directly to scrumguide.mvizdos.com, where you can listen to a free Scrum Guide Audio Book, view the Interactive Scrum Guide, or watch the entire Scrum Guide Video Playlist at InteractiveScrumGuide.com.

All three ways to listen, view, or watch the 2020 Scrum Guide are free — no email or paywall required — and are authorized by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland (the two co-creators of Scrum).

Need some help with this? While it looks simple (and really is), we humans can make it more complicated than it needs to be (read more at darkscrum.com by my colleague and friend Ron Jeffries). I can help you keep it simple. I am a Consultant and Trainer — consider me your Strategic Advisor.

Contact me or connect with me on LinkedIn to discuss this more together.