Exploring the Scrum Values Workshop

In 2016, five Scrum Values were added to the Scrum Guide: courage, focus, openness, respect, and commitment.

From Gunther Verheyen’s idea and with Mohamed Gargouri, we recently translated the Scrum Values into French. It’s been the opportunity for us to explore them deeper and to give more precisions.

Crucial to creating trust, the Scrum Values are the lifeblood of Scrum, the foundation for transparency and are much-needed if you want to inspect and adapt efficiently in an empirical process.

The first time I read about the Scrum Values, I remember being skeptical of their concrete purpose in a working environment. Then, I started to read more about them, applying these values to my own behavior and starting to see how these five Scrum values helped me maintain my professional integrity.

The next step was to think about how to use these values to make others understand what I understood myself. That's how I started experimenting with a workshop, with different clients and in different countries, that I share here.

Steps for Facilitating a Scrum Values Workshop (1 Hour)

The Facilitator Sets the Context (5 Minutes)

• Introduce the Scrum Values. Prepare yourself by reading the Scrum Guide and the Gunther Verheyen article.
• Don’t give too many details or examples about the Scrum Values. Give your participants time to assimilate them and be inspired. People can always surprise you!

In Small Groups, Explore the Scrum Values (5 Minutes)

• Within your group: think about a past or current situation when someone showed a courageous behavior — or a not-so-courageous act.
• What were the consequences for the team and/or stakeholders regarding trust issues?

Share your Findings (3 Minutes per Group)

• Each group shares the findings with the full audience. The facilitator can use a Flipchart to sum up the feedbacks (see pictures).
• Leave room for discussions; usually good discussions start after the first round. Don’t be afraid if the first round isn’t so great yet.

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for focus, openness, respect and engagement for a total of 32 minutes.

Workshop Takeaway (10 Minutes)

Take the time to wrap up the workshop by collecting people general impressions and let them interact. Possibly share your own experience as a facilitator. It’s now time to share examples related to Scrum. Be ready and give them a heads-up.

Material Needed:

• One flipchart with at least six papers
• Post-its (facultative)
• Markers

Room Setup

• Ideally no tables, or small round tables
• Small clusters of 4/5 chairs gathered in circle

What I Learned from Previous Workshops

• You will sometimes need the first round to warm up, the participants will be more natural in the next sessions.
• Some people may not feel safe in participating in the workshop. That’s why it’s important to set some basic rules, like not sharing people, project, or product names. Those who do not want to participate are welcome to step aside, observe, and listen to the discussions.
• If the group is already using Scrum, relate the Scrum Values to the Scrum rules. If not, just relate the Scrum Values to trust issues in work environments.

Conclusion

Scrum values are a great way to create a climate of trust between people and, as a result, a working environment in which people's mindsets and behaviors are adapted to solve problems. Don't be afraid to add complexity by experimenting with bold and innovative solutions!

Try out the workshop, I’ll be happy to know how it went!

Click here to download and print the Scrum Values poster!