July has firmly
set in, August is on the horizon, and the unbearable heat that accompanies
these months, coupled with the intense need and obligation to plan our family
vacations, has led me (with the assistance of the air conditioner) to wonder
how the Scrum Framework can enhance our summer planning for vacations, making
it more flexible, unique, and enjoyable, offering us unique experiences and
great value!
Setting the Vision
For any project to
succeed in Scrum, there must be a clear, well-developed vision and a
well-prioritized and defined product backlog. Similarly, our summer planning
should begin with our vision of what we want to achieve and the value we want
to offer to ourselves and those around us. Do we want to spend more time with
our family, take many trips, spend time in the sea, explore new hobbies, or
simply relax? Once we have decided what we want, we document these items in our
summer product backlog and use it each time to fulfill all our summer desires.
Focusing on What
Has the Greatest Value
Having our summer
backlog, the next step is to prioritize the items we have defined. This ensures
that we focus on what matters most and do not deviate from our mission to
deliver value to the product and offer a unique experience to our customer. In
our summer planning, we consider the importance of each activity and score it
accordingly, focusing on what matters. Thus, family obligations, activities
related to our children, partner, or ourselves, take priority. Ideally, though,
since life is unpredictable, we leave room for unexpected plans. After all,
they have their own magic and are usually invaluable as they can create unique
memories!
Starting the Sprints
The Scrum
framework follows the logic of Sprints, which usually last from one to four
weeks. Applying this to our summer planning, we can divide our summer into
manageable Sprints, to fully utilize each day of our vacation. Each of these
should have specific goals, aligned with our prioritized summer backlog. This
approach allows us to adjust and improve our plans as the summer progresses,
ensuring the necessary flexibility and the ability to respond to unexpected
changes.
Monitoring and
Aligning
The daily stand-up
is an important ceremony in Scrum, as it helps teams stay aligned, monitor
progress, and address any difficulties. Similarly, the morning is the
appropriate daily event to play the role of the daily stand-up. It helps us in
a pleasant way to review what has been achieved so far, confirm the plans for
the day, adapt to sudden changes, and gather the strength needed to have a
highly successful day.
Continuous
Improvement
The Sprint Review
and our summer planning share the core principle of Agile, which is continuous
improvement through inspection and adaptation. Just like in a Sprint Review,
where teams evaluate what was achieved, what was missed, and celebrate
successes (as well as failures) by identifying areas for continuous
improvement, similarly, in summer planning, periodic reviews of activities
(ideally during relaxation moments throughout the day) ensure that our summer
planning remains flexible and aligned with our set goals, creating a dynamic
environment that prioritizes value, enjoyment, and progress.
The Value of
Retrospection
At the end of each
Sprint, teams conduct their retrospective to reflect on what went well, what
did not, and how to improve. They openly discuss the obstacles faced and the
successes achieved and bring forward suggestions for changes and improvements
through specific actions for the next Sprint. Applying this practice to our
summer planning is therefore extremely beneficial. It helps us reflect on
whether we met our goals, faced challenges, feel strong and energized, and
based on the answers, either follow or adapt our plans. It gives us the
opportunity to delve deeper into the summer spirit and lay the foundations for
a unique experience, discovering delightful and unforgettable summer moments
every day.
Embracing Change
In Agile, change
is always welcome. Summer plans often need to be adjusted, but by keeping our
planning flexible and open to change, we can make the most of our summer
without being constrained by strict schedules. By following the principles of
Scrum and setting clear goals with prioritized or adaptable activities, we can
enjoy a productive and enjoyable summer.
So, let us embrace the spirit of Scrum and
do our best to have a wonderful summer!
