Scope Management

Agile framework is often vulnerable to unfair scope changes. As a scrum master and as a sprint gatekeeper how do you gauge and allow the goal change?

As a Scrum Master and sprint gatekeeper, it’s important to recognize that Agile frameworks, like Scrum, are designed to be flexible and responsive to change. However, it’s equally important to ensure that any changes to the project goals or scope are fair and reasonable, and that they don’t undermine the integrity of the sprint or the project as a whole. Here are some steps you can take to gauge and allow goal changes:

1. Understand the reason for the proposed change: It’s important to understand why the change is being proposed and what impact it will have on the project. Ask questions to clarify the rationale behind the change and ensure that it aligns with the project’s overall goals.
2. Evaluate the impact on the sprint: Consider how the proposed change will impact the current sprint and whether it will be possible to complete the sprint goals with the new scope. If the change will significantly impact the sprint, you may need to negotiate a different approach or delay the change until the next sprint.
3. Consider the impact on the product: Evaluate the impact of the proposed change on the overall product and the project’s long-term goals. If the change aligns with the project’s goals and improves the product’s value, it may be worth considering.
4. Involve the team: Involve the development team in the decision-making process. Seek their input and feedback on the proposed change, and work together to come up with a solution that meets the project’s goals while minimizing disruption to the current sprint.
5. Communicate the change: Communicate the change to all stakeholders, including the product owner, development team, and any other stakeholders affected by the change. Be clear about the reason for the change, its impact on the sprint and the project, and any changes to the project goals or scope.

In summary, as a Scrum Master and sprint gatekeeper, it’s important to balance the need for flexibility and responsiveness with the need for stability and integrity in the sprint and the project as a whole. By understanding the rationale behind the proposed change, evaluating its impact, involving the team, and communicating effectively, you can ensure that any changes to the project goals or scope are fair and reasonable.

Here are some examples of unexpected changes that qualify for immediate attention. The size of the effort should be small, but the impact should be significant.

1. Legal and compliance change – E.g. Policy document update
2. Addressing a critical issue – E.g. Fixing a system crash on a click of  a particular button. 
3. User experience improvement – E.g. 50% reduction in overall time taken to complete a workflow. 
4. Performance Improvement. E.g. Faster loading of images or videos on the website