PremierAgile

Have you ever wondered how you can scale Scrum? The adaptation of Large-Scale Scrum has enabled many organizations to scale their Scrum Practices for continuous delivery. From this point, you can also follow the LeSS framework.  If that’s what you plan to do, it's time to delve deeper into the LeSS Framework.

Understanding LeSS Framework:

LeSS, which stands for Large Enterprise Scaling of Scrum, is a framework for scaling Agile and Scrum principles across large organizations. While Agile and Scrum are often associated with small, nimble teams, LeSS takes it higher by applying these principles to multiple teams working on the same product or project.

10 Core Principles Of LeSS Framework:

Large-Scale Scrum Framework is more than a set of Agile Scrum Principles. The framework highlights ten core principles for applying LeSS. Let’s discuss them individually before you decide what works best for your organization!

1. Large-Scale Scrum is Scrum: 

This foundational principle emphasizes that the fundamental concepts of Scrum remain the same when applied at scale. Whether you're working with one or multiple teams, the essence of Scrum remains unchanged.

2. Empirical Process Control: 

Utilizing real-world data and feedback to make informed decisions is paramount. By continuously inspecting and adapting based on empirical evidence, teams can respond effectively to change and enhance product delivery.

3. Transparency: 

Transparency ensures that everyone in the team has a clear view of the Product Backlog. It also ensures that business stakeholders know the overall progress through open communication.

4. More with LeSS: 

This principle encourages simplifying the individual responsibilities in a team. It focuses on doing more with less. It concentrates on value-driven activities instead of following unnecessary processes. So, Agile Teams can streamline their workflows and optimize outcomes.

5. Whole-Product Focus: 

LeSS promotes a complete view of the Product Vision. It considers the entire product lifecycle, from ideation to delivery. The Scrum team and Developers follow the same Product Vision to set the Sprint Goal and work accordingly.

6. Customer-Centric: 

Prioritizing customer value and feedback is crucial. By understanding customer needs, preferences, and pain points, teams can deliver products that resonate and create lasting impact.

7. Continuous Improvement Towards Perfection: 

Embracing a mindset of Continuous Improvement fosters innovation and excellence. So, this framework states the teams to regularly reflect on their processes through continuous feedback. Teams can iteratively enhance their performance and drive excellence.

8. Systems Thinking: 

Recognizing the interconnectedness of various components within an organization is vital. By understanding how different elements influence one another, teams can optimize workflows, minimize bottlenecks, and enhance collaboration.

9. Lean Thinking: 

Adopting lean principles, such as minimizing waste and maximizing value, is integral to the LeSS Framework. As it eliminates all non-essential activities, teams can perform value-driven activities and deliver superior results.

10. Queuing Theory: 

Understanding queuing theory helps teams manage workloads effectively. Teams can optimize processes by analyzing the current bottlenecks. It helps reduce wait times and enhance productivity.

Discovering The Roles Involved In The LeSS Framework:

Much like Scrum, this framework comprises the primary Agile Roles. Let’s highlight them below:

• Scrum Master: A Scrum Master is the Agile Leader who guides the Scrum Team about their Sprint Goal and conducts Scrum Events to promote collaboration & help progress.
• Product Owner: The Product Owner is responsible for defining the Product Backlog and ensuring the team delivers value.
• Developers: The Developers translate all User Stories into Increments and contribute to Product Releases.

How Is LeSS Different From One-Team Scrum?

One might wonder, "How does LeSS differ from regular Scrum?" The answer lies in its scalability. While Scrum focuses on a single team, LeSS enables multiple teams to work cohesively on a shared product backlog.

The transition from traditional to Large-Scale Scrum signifies a pivotal shift in organizational dynamics. While the LeSS Framework retains the foundational principles of one-team Scrum, here are the distinct differences that set it apart:

• Unified Product Backlog: Unlike individual team-centric backlogs in one-team Scrum, LeSS emphasizes a singular Product Backlog that caters to the overarching product vision, promoting cohesion and alignment across teams.
• Collaborative Sprint Planning: In LeSS, Sprint Planning (What are we doing) involves representatives from all teams. This collaborative approach fosters shared understanding, enabling teams to self-manage and identify opportunities for synergistic cooperation.
• Parallel Execution: While each team conducts Sprint Planning (How are we doing) and Daily Scrum independently, LeSS encourages parallel execution and information sharing. Teams may observe each other's Daily Scrums, fostering transparency and collaborative learning.
• Holistic Product Backlog Refinement: LeSS introduces multi-team Product Backlog Refinement sessions, facilitating collective learning and coordination. While single-team PBR remains a core component, multi-team interactions enhance alignment and efficiency.
• Comprehensive Sprint Review & Retropsective: LeSS promotes comprehensive Sprint Review meetings to include stakeholders from all teams. The teams may conduct individual Sprint Retrospective meetings for continuous improvement. Additionally, the introduction of an Overall Retrospective focuses on system-level improvements for all the involved teams.

While one-team Scrum thrives on individual team dynamics, LeSS emphasizes collaboration, alignment, and holistic product development, driving organizational synergy and enhanced value delivery.

Final Thoughts: Implementing LeSS Framework For Agility 

The LeSS Framework offers a robust solution for organizations seeking to scale Agile practices across multiple teams. It paves the way for sustained success in today's dynamic landscape by emphasizing collaboration, transparency, and value delivery. 

So, are you ready to embark on the Less journey and redefine your organization's Agile landscape? As an Agile Practitioner, embrace the LeSS Framework with the latest Scrum techniques to thrive in 2024!

Reference:

https://less.works/less/framework/introduction