How to Design an Effective Scrum Team Working Agreement for Improved Collaboration, Accountability, and Continuous Learning

As an experienced Agile practitioner, I know that creating a working agreement for my Scrum team is crucial for ensuring collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning. In this article, I will share some tips on how to design and optimize a Scrum team working agreement to enhance our team's performance.

Why a Working Agreement is Important

A working agreement is a written agreement between all members of the team that outlines the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of each team member. It is a crucial tool that helps to foster collaboration, trust, and respect among team members. Here are some of the reasons why having a working agreement is important:

1. Clear Expectations: A working agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of each team member, providing clarity on what is expected of them.

2. Improved Communication: A working agreement establishes clear communication protocols, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

3. Accountability: A working agreement holds each team member accountable for their actions and commitments, ensuring that the team delivers high-quality work.

4. Continuous Improvement: A working agreement includes a plan for continuous learning and improvement, enabling the team to refine their processes and workflows continually.

Designing and Optimizing a Scrum Team Working Agreement

To design an effective Scrum team working agreement, I follow these steps:

1. Identify Team Needs: I start by identifying the team's needs, such as communication protocols, work process, and roles and responsibilities.

2. Collaborate with the Team: I collaborate with the team to ensure that everyone's needs and expectations are addressed in the working agreement.

3. Review and Revise: I review and revise the working agreement regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and useful.

Sample Scrum Team Working Agreement Template

Here's an example of a Scrum team working agreement template that I use:

Communication

• We will use Slack for day-to-day communication, and email for important updates and announcements.

• We will have daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and impediments.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Product Owner: responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog.

• Scrum Master: responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework and removes any impediments.

• Development Team: responsible for delivering high-quality work that meets the Definition of Done.

Work Process

• We will use the Scrum framework, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

• Work items will be prioritized based on business value and effort required.

• The Definition of Done will be agreed upon by the team and followed for each work item.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

• We will have regular retrospectives to review our processes and identify areas for improvement.

• We will attend training sessions and workshops to develop our skills and expertise.

Implementing the Scrum Team Working Agreement

To implement the working agreement, I ensure that all team members understand and agree to the agreement's terms. I also make sure that the agreement is visible and accessible to everyone, and I review and revise the agreement regularly to ensure that it remains relevant and effective.

In conclusion, designing and optimizing a Scrum team working agreement is essential for ensuring collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning. By following the steps outlined in this article and using the template provided, you can create a working agreement that meets your team's needs and helps you deliver high-quality work.

Sample Scrum Team Working Agreement from Agile Alliance

Communication

• We will have daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and impediments.

• We will use Slack for day-to-day communication and email for important updates and announcements.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Product Owner: responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog.

• Scrum Master: responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework and removes any impediments.

• Development Team: responsible for delivering high-quality work that meets the Definition of Done.

Work Process

• We will use the Scrum framework, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

• Work items will be prioritized based on business value and effort required.

• The Definition of Done will be agreed upon by the team and followed for each work item.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

• We will have regular retrospectives to review our processes and identify areas for improvement.

• We will attend training sessions and workshops to develop our skills and expertise.

Source: https://www.agilealliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/SampleScrumTeamWorkingAgreement.pdf

1. Sample Scrum Team Working Agreement from Scrum.org

Communication

• We will have daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and impediments.

• We will use email for important updates and announcements and use Slack for day-to-day communication.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Product Owner: responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog.

• Scrum Master: responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework and removes any impediments.

• Development Team: responsible for delivering high-quality work that meets the Definition of Done.

Work Process

• We will use the Scrum framework, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

• Work items will be prioritized based on business value and effort required.

• We will maintain a Definition of Done that reflects our quality standards.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

• We will have regular retrospectives to review our processes and identify areas for improvement.

• We will attend training sessions and workshops to develop our skills and expertise.

Source: https://www.scrum.org/resources/sample-scrum-team-working-agreement

1. Sample Scrum Team Working Agreement from Scrum Inc.

Communication

• We will have daily stand-up meetings to discuss progress and impediments.

• We will use email for important updates and announcements and use Slack for day-to-day communication.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Product Owner: responsible for defining and prioritizing the product backlog.

• Scrum Master: responsible for ensuring that the team follows the Scrum framework and removes any impediments.

• Development Team: responsible for delivering high-quality work that meets the Definition of Done.

Work Process

• We will use the Scrum framework, including Sprint Planning, Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective.

• Work items will be prioritized based on business value and effort required.

• The Definition of Done will be agreed upon by the team and followed for each work item.

Continuous Learning and Improvement

• We will have regular retrospectives to review our processes and identify areas for improvement.

• We will attend training sessions and workshops to develop our skills and expertise.

• We will share knowledge and insights with each other to enhance our collective knowledge and expertise.

Source: https://www.scruminc.com/sample-scrum-team-working-agreement/

Scrum Team Working Agreement

Team Vision or Mission: Communication: Roles and Responsibilities: Work Process: Continuous Learning and Improvement:

This template includes five sections, with the first section dedicated to capturing the team's vision or mission. The other four sections are for communication, roles and responsibilities, work process, and continuous learning and improvement. Each section has a blank text area that the team can fill in with their own agreements. Once the team completes the form, they can submit it to be printed or saved for future reference.