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Lesson
Lesson 3.3 — Developers, cross-functionality, and self-management
Describe the Developers' accountability and explain cross-functional, self-managing teams.
Developers: Everyone Who Creates the Increment
Who Are the Developers — and What Are They Accountable For?
In Scrum, 'Developers' does not mean 'software programmers only.' Developers are all the people in the Scrum Team who are committed to creating any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint. This could include designers, testers, analysts, writers, or anyone else whose work contributes to the product. Busting this myth matters: if you think 'Developers = coders,' you will misunderstand who participates in Sprint Planning, the Daily Scrum, and the Definition of Done.
Developers are accountable for three key things: (1) creating a plan for the Sprint — the Sprint Backlog; (2) ensuring quality by adhering to a Definition of Done; and (3) adapting their plan every day toward the Sprint Goal, which is what the Daily Scrum is designed to support.
The Scrum Team as a whole is cross-functional, meaning it has all the skills needed to create value without depending on people outside the team. It is also self-managing: the team internally decides who does what, when, and how — no one outside the team assigns their work. The Scrum Guide 2020 is clear that the Scrum Team is one unit with no sub-teams or hierarchies, and it typically consists of 10 or fewer people. Keeping teams small supports communication, focus, and agility.
Lesson notes
Who Are the Developers — and What Are They Accountable For?
In Scrum, 'Developers' does not mean 'software programmers only.' Developers are all the people in the Scrum Team who are committed to creating any aspect of a usable Increment each Sprint. This could include designers, testers, analysts, writers, or anyone else whose work contributes to the product. Busting this myth matters: if you think 'Developers = coders,' you will misunderstand who participates in Sprint Planning, the Daily Scrum, and the Definition of Done.
Developers are accountable for three key things: (1) creating a plan for the Sprint — the Sprint Backlog; (2) ensuring quality by adhering to a Definition of Done; and (3) adapting their plan every day toward the Sprint Goal, which is what the Daily Scrum is designed to support.
The Scrum Team as a whole is cross-functional, meaning it has all the skills needed to create value without depending on people outside the team. It is also self-managing: the team internally decides who does what, when, and how — no one outside the team assigns their work. The Scrum Guide 2020 is clear that the Scrum Team is one unit with no sub-teams or hierarchies, and it typically consists of 10 or fewer people. Keeping teams small supports communication, focus, and agility.