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Overview

Scrum Video is an unique in its kind and extremely addictive simulation of Scrum. Teams during several Sprints create and show video films on free or given by the facilitator topics.

Is it cool?

We (coaches of Unusual Concepts company) played Video Scrum many times during last 2 years on our Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Professional Scrum Master (PSM) (additional 3rd day) classes. We consider the game to be very effective in demonstrating and teaching main Scrum concepts. Besides, that’s a lot of fun and people really love Video Scrum.

Authorship

Original idea was created by Stacia Viscardi and then significantly updated and extended by us. 

Why Video Scrum?

Indeed, there are number of Scrum simulations. First of all, comes to mind the popular Scrum Lego City simulation, created by Agile42. Despite this, we believe that Video Scrum Video has a number of advantages over other simulation:

  • The team creates a real, not a “toy” product – video clip. We know that some people (this is not us :)) are skeptical about the simulation using Lego, considering it to be childish (we do not think so :)).

  • Video Scrum is great for teaching professionals out of IT industry (marketing, sales etc.), for whom simulations that involve the creation of software products (eg, website) is not suitable.

  • The complexity of the game is very close to the challenges that Scrum Team meet in their daily work. For example, lack of competences (“we do not know how to use this video program”) and the need of developing them “on the fly”, the inability to create the potentially releasable product increment (“we have filmed material but did not have time to mount a movie”), shared responsibility, teamwork (“what should I do, we have only one camera, I have nothing to do”).

  • The game very clearly demonstrates the philosophy of iterative-incremental development with a video clip as the ultimate product. It is not intuitive for teams that the output of each Sprint need to be the finished product. They often slide to waterfall thinking (scenario Sprint, filming Sprint, mounting Sprint).

  • Video Scrum perfectly illustrates the importance and criticality of the feedback and presence of end-users during Sprint Review (“other teams are watching our movie and thus giving the feedback”).

  • Scrum video very clearly shows the importance of creating a “Done” product (“we forgot to check availability of codecs on the demo machine, and now we have nothing to show”).

How much time does it take?

As a rule of thumb we consider 4 hours is enough time for playing full-blown Video Scrum. You can allocate less time for it but quality of the game will be compromised.

Number of players

We have noticed that the game with several teams – not less than two (2) but not more than four (4) 4-6 people in each is the most effective simulation because:

  • Creates more fun.

  • Results in more feedback during Sprint Reviews, when teams one after another demo their videos and give each other critical feedback.

  • In the last Sprint it’s possible to present a task of integrating team’s increments..

  • Creates a healthy competitive atmosphere.

Read the full description of the game on Video Scrum Website.

9 thoughts on “Video Scrum”

  1. Hi Ilia, thank you for responding to me. We will work out the licensing issue off line.

    Bigger picture – I’m happy that you’re using the exercise to teach teams the fundamentals of Scrum. It is quite excellent, isn’t it?

  2. I would love to know how you significantly updated and extended my game! Glad that you’ve found the concept useful. The idea for it goes way back to 2005 at a Scrum Gathering in Boulder at which time a few of us CSTs made a video of a dysfunctional daily scrum. I’ve been doing “Scrum in Reel Life” for over three years now and my teams have turned out some truly wonderful videos. Some are quite shy, however, and thus won’t share their work. 🙁 So does this mean I can’t license my own game since you have done so? Sorry I don’t know how these things work. Thank you for at least mentioning me as the originator.

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