Agile adoption in software development teams grew 86% in 2020, according to the 15th annual State of Agile report. And Scrum ranks as the most popular Agile approach, with 66% of respondents reporting that they use it and another 15% adopting derivations of it.
A simple, easy-to-use framework for implementing the Agile methodology, Scrum helps teams manage software development projects. Using the approach, teams are better equipped to solve problems, collaborate, manage uncertainty, and deliver superior software.
Scrum in a Nutshell
Scrum is an approach for applying Agile principles. It allows teams to work through problems in an efficient, productive manner while constructing and releasing exemplary software. The framework was first introduced in the 1990s and has gained enormous popularity, becoming the chief Agile approach for teams looking to produce the most value in their products.
Foundational to Scrum is a small team, consisting of a Scrum Master, a Product Owner, and a group of developers. Underscoring the importance of collaboration, no real hierarchy exists — no one member outranks another, and teams are self-organizing.
The building blocks of the approach are Sprints, timed intervals focused on achieving the specific goal.
What to Look for in a Scrum Developer
Developers on the Scrum team should have experience using the approach and working on Agile teams in the past. Of course, they should also have strong development skills and knowledge of a range of programming languages, particularly widely-used ones like Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, and others.
Developers should also be self-motivated, highly organized, capable of working in teams, efficient, and committed to building quality software. They must be willing to function independently and with others, all while contributing to the larger team’s goals.
Developers should have the Professional Scrum Certification attesting to their abilities and capacity to work on Scrum teams.
How Prevalent Are Scrum Developers?
Scrum boasts more than 500,000 members in the community, meaning there is plenty of support available from peer Scrum professionals. Additionally, the founders of the approach, Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland have written The Scrum Guide, which is frequently updated and provides all the information Scrum professionals need to get started.
While there are no concrete statistics on the precise number of Scrum developers available worldwide, they do constitute the majority of professionals using the Agile approach. The Guide stipulates that there should be one Scrum Master, one Product Owner, and several developers per each individual team. More specifically, it says that there should be 3–9 developers per team.
Interview Questions
Describe the relationship between Agile and Scrum
Agile is a philosophy, revolving around a given set of stated principles, and Scrum is a particular Agile approach or methodology. In other words, Agile governs the software development project, while Scrum involves putting the philosophy into practice. All Scrum projects are Agile projects, but the reverse isn’t true.
What is a sprint?
When you use Scrum, the larger project is divided into smaller components, meant to make the project more accessible and easy to tackle. These are called sprints. Each sprint lasts a specified period of time, usually, several weeks, where there’s a given set of tasks that need to be completed to get you closer to project completion.
Describe the roles of each member of a Scrum team.
The Scrum Team consists of the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Developers.
The Product Owner specifies the requirements and features of the software, working closely with the stakeholders and other team members to ensure that the product meets expectations.
The Scrum Master maximizes team productivity and ensures that the rest of the team operates according to Agile and Scrum principles.
The Development team tackles the objectives as laid out by the Product Owner, determining the best course of action for creating high-value software.
What are the major Agile methodologies?
While Scrum is the most popular Agile framework, there are several other widely-used approaches, such as:
- Kanban
- Crystal
- Dynamic Systems Development Method
- Extreme Programing
- Feature Driven Development
- Lean
- Adaptive Software Development
What are the benefits of Scrum?
- It’s simple and easy to use
- It’s continuing to evolve and improve
- It saves teams time and money
- It promotes collaboration and teamwork
- It’s adaptable for different-size teams and a range of businesses and industries
- It’s flexible
- It has a large community with plenty of support
- It enhances creativity
- It speeds up the development process, bringing products to market more quickly
Job Description
We are looking for an experienced Scrum developer to work closely with the Product Owner, Scrum Master, and other development team members on new and existing software solutions. You will be responsible for collaborating with your team in order to meet the specified requirements and deliver exemplary products for clients in a wide range of business fields.
Responsibilities
- Collaborate closely with team members, including the development team Product Owner, and Scrum Master, while also being self-driven
- Clean all code
- Contribute to user stories and break them down into manageable components
- Unit-test and security-test products
- Understand and research client requirements as laid out by the Product Owner
- Understand the meaning of and act as a cross-functional team with colleagues
- Consistently update the Scrum board and participate in meetings to assess progress
- Deliver feedback to peers
- Document all efforts
- Strive to deliver innovative solutions and excellent outcomes
Skills And Qualifications
- Professional Scrum Developer certification
- At least 5 years of experience working on Agile and Scrum teams
- Strong organization, collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills
- Knowledge of and abilities in areas like architecture, software testing, design, and software analysis
- Proficient in Java, C++, C#, and JavaScript
- Experience in SQL
- Knowledge of continuous integration
- Ability to learn and grasp new concepts quickly
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field
