Encouraging Ethical Behavior in Scrum

Scrum is a framework that promotes transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement, which inherently encourages ethical behavior in software development. By fostering an environment where the team is empowered to make decisions, Scrum ensures that actions align with both the team’s and the organization’s values.

Exam Question

In what way does Scrum encourage ethical behavior, doing “the right thing”, in software development?

Explanation

Transparency

• Clear Visibility:
  Scrum’s emphasis on transparency ensures that all work and decisions are visible to everyone involved. This visibility reduces the likelihood of unethical behavior, as actions are open to scrutiny by the entire team and stakeholders.
• Open Communication:
  Daily Scrums, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives promote open communication among team members. By discussing progress, challenges, and outcomes regularly, the team is encouraged to address any issues that may arise, including ethical concerns.

Accountability

• Shared Responsibility:
  Scrum Teams are self-managing, meaning that each member is responsible for their work and the team’s overall success. This shared responsibility encourages team members to hold each other accountable for ethical behavior.
• Commitment to Quality:
  The Definition of Done in Scrum ensures that each Increment meets the required quality standards. By adhering to these standards, the team ensures that they are delivering high-quality work that aligns with ethical practices.

Continuous Improvement

• Reflective Practices:
  Retrospectives provide an opportunity for the team to reflect on their work processes and outcomes. This reflection often leads to discussions about how to improve not only technical practices but also how the team interacts and makes decisions ethically.
• Adaptation to Change:
  Scrum’s iterative nature allows the team to adapt to changes, including those related to ethical considerations. If a team recognizes that certain practices or decisions may not align with ethical standards, they can adapt and make necessary changes in subsequent Sprints.

Encouraging “Doing the Right Thing”

• Customer-Centric Approach:
  Scrum encourages teams to focus on delivering value to the customer. This customer-centric approach ensures that the team prioritizes the needs of the end-users, making decisions that are in their best interest.
• Alignment with Organizational Values:
  Scrum’s emphasis on transparency, inspection, and adaptation ensures that the team’s work aligns with the organization’s values. Teams are encouraged to make decisions that reflect the ethical standards of their organization.

Relevance to the PSM III Exam

Understanding how Scrum promotes ethical behavior is essential for advanced Scrum practitioners. The PSM III exam requires a deep understanding of how Scrum principles guide not only technical practices but also the ethical standards of a team.

Key Takeaways

• Transparency: Ensures visibility of actions and decisions, reducing unethical behavior.
• Accountability: Promotes shared responsibility among team members, encouraging ethical practices.
• Continuous Improvement: Allows teams to reflect on and improve their ethical standards regularly.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Focuses on delivering value to the customer in an ethical manner.

Conclusion

Scrum’s emphasis on transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement inherently promotes ethical behavior in software development. By fostering an environment where teams are empowered to make decisions in alignment with organizational values, Scrum encourages “doing the right thing” at every step of the development process. For more insights into Scrum’s ethical framework and preparing for the PSM III exam, visit our Scrum Master PSM III™ Exam Prep.