Managing Multiple Scrum Teams Working on the Same Product
When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, especially if they share the same Product Backlog and codebase, it is crucial that they collaborate effectively to ensure a cohesive and high-quality Increment at the end of each Sprint. The situation described—where two teams work in separate branches and only merge their work during the Sprint Review—can have significant impacts on the product’s quality and the effectiveness of Scrum.
Exam Question
Two Scrum Teams work on the same product. They pull from one Product Backlog and develop in the same codebase. The Product Owner and the Scrum Master perform their roles for both teams. At the combined Sprint Review each team shows the work they’ve done from their separate code branch.
What is the impact of this situation?
What is the Scrum Master’s accountability in this?
Explanation
Impact of This Situation
- Delayed Integration and Feedback: By working in separate branches and only integrating at the Sprint Review, the teams delay critical feedback that could identify integration issues, conflicts, or inconsistencies between the work done by the two teams. This approach is contrary to the principles of Continuous Integration (CI) and can lead to significant integration challenges, potentially compromising the quality of the product Increment.
- Inconsistent Product Increments: The separate branches may lead to inconsistencies in the product. Without frequent integration, it becomes difficult to ensure that the combined work from both teams will result in a single, cohesive Increment that meets the Definition of Done. This can lead to delays, rework, and a lack of transparency in the product’s development progress.
- Increased Risk of Technical Debt: The lack of continuous integration and shared codebase management can increase the risk of technical debt. Unresolved conflicts between branches or misaligned work across teams can accumulate, making the codebase more complex and harder to maintain over time.
Scrum Master’s Accountability
The Scrum Master has a critical role in ensuring that the teams adhere to Scrum practices and principles, particularly in managing dependencies and ensuring a high-quality product Increment. In this situation, the Scrum Master’s accountabilities include:
- Facilitating Cross-Team Collaboration: The Scrum Master should facilitate collaboration between the two teams to ensure they are not working in silos. This could involve encouraging more frequent integration of their work, shared code reviews, and joint Daily Scrums or Sync meetings to align their efforts.
- Promoting Continuous Integration: The Scrum Master should advocate for the use of Continuous Integration practices to ensure that both teams are frequently merging their work into a single codebase. This helps to identify integration issues early and ensures that the product Increment is cohesive and releasable.
- Ensuring a Shared Definition of Done: The Scrum Master should ensure that both teams adhere to a shared Definition of Done. This means that each team’s work should be integrated and tested in the same codebase before it is considered “done” and ready to be shown at the Sprint Review.
- Facilitating Transparency: The Scrum Master should work with both teams and the Product Owner to maintain transparency about the state of the product Increment. This includes ensuring that any challenges with integration or code conflicts are visible and addressed promptly.
Relevance to the PSM III Exam
Understanding the role of the Scrum Master in facilitating collaboration and integration between multiple Scrum Teams is essential for the PSM III exam. This situation highlights the importance of continuous integration, shared practices, and transparency in ensuring that multiple teams can work effectively on the same product.
Key Takeaways
- Impact of Separate Branches: Delaying integration can lead to inconsistencies, increased technical debt, and compromised product quality.
- Scrum Master’s Role: The Scrum Master should promote collaboration, continuous integration, a shared Definition of Done, and transparency to ensure a cohesive and high-quality product Increment.
Conclusion
When multiple Scrum Teams work on the same product, the Scrum Master plays a crucial role in ensuring that the teams collaborate effectively and integrate their work frequently. This approach minimizes the risk of integration issues, ensures a consistent and high-quality product Increment, and aligns with the principles of Scrum. For more insights into the role of the Scrum Master in such scenarios and preparation for the PSM III exam, visit our Scrum Master PSM III™ Exam Prep.
