Agile Marketing Introduction
Using Scrum to manage the work
Scrum for Marketing Teams: An Introduction
Scrum is an agile framework that can be used by marketing teams to improve their workflow. Scrum is based on the idea of breaking down work into small, manageable chunks called sprints. Each sprint typically lasts for one week, and at the end of each sprint, the team delivers a working product increment.
One of the key benefits of Scrum is that it helps teams to focus on delivering value to customers. By breaking down work into small, manageable chunks, teams can more easily see the progress they are making and ensure that they are delivering what is most important to customers.
Another benefit of Scrum is that it helps teams to collaborate and communicate effectively. The daily standup meeting is a key part of Scrum, and it provides an opportunity for team members to share their progress and identify any roadblocks. This helps to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that the team is working towards the same goals.
Metrics for Measuring Success
There are a few simple metrics that marketing teams can use to measure the success of their Scrum workflows. These metrics include:
Cycle time: the time it takes to complete one task. This includes time spent producing the item and the wait stages (amount of time the task is left 'waiting' on the board) between active work times
Lead time: The time it takes from when a task is added to the backlog to when it is completed.
These metrics can help teams to track their progress and identify areas where they can improve. For example, if cycle time is increasing, it may be a sign that the team is taking on too much work in each sprint.
The Daily Standup
The daily standup is a short meeting that is held every day at the same time. The purpose of the daily standup is to check in with the team and see how everyone is progressing. The meeting should be no longer than 15 minutes, and it should be led by the Scrum Master.
During the daily standup, each team member should answer the following three questions:
What did I do yesterday?
What am I doing today?
What are my blockers?
The daily standup is a great opportunity for team members to collaborate and communicate effectively. It is also a chance for the Scrum Master to identify any roadblocks and help the team to overcome them.
Refining and Updating the Product Backlog
The product backlog is a list of all of the work that needs to be done in order to complete the product. The product backlog should be constantly refined and updated as the team learns more about the product and its requirements.
The product backlog should be prioritized, with the most important items at the top. The team should then work on the items in the product backlog in order of priority.
Definition of Ready and Definition of Done
The definition of ready and the definition of done are two important concepts in Scrum. The definition of ready is a list of criteria that must be met before a task can be considered ready to be worked on. The definition of done is a list of criteria that must be met before a task can be considered complete.
The definition of ready and the definition of done help to ensure that the team is working on the right things and that they are delivering high-quality work.
Conclusion
Scrum can be a great way for marketing teams to improve their workflow. By following the principles of Scrum, teams can focus on delivering value to customers, collaborate and communicate effectively, and track their progress.