The goal is to consistently deliver high-quality products while minimizing technical debt each sprint. Here are three development practices that can help Scrum Teams achieve this target.
1. Test-Driven Development (TDD)
Test-Driven Development is a practice where the team writes tests before writing the corresponding code. The process is iterative: first, write a failing test that defines a function or improvement, then write the minimal amount of code required to pass that test, then refactor and optimize the code, ensuring it passes the test throughout this cycle. By developing this way, the team confirms that the code meets its intended function from the very beginning.
Example:
- Develop a test for a simple function such as ‘sum’ which adds two numbers.
- Write code that fails the test initially. For example, function ‘sum’ returns null.
- Write the function ‘sum’ to correctly add two numbers and pass the test.
- Lastly, refactor and optimize the code if needed.
2. Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)
CI/CD is a practice that involves continuously integrating, testing, delivering, and potentially deploying an application. With the help of CI/CD, all code changes made by team members are built, tested, and merged to the shared repository several times a day. This approach allows early detection and fixing of bugs, ensuring that the software is always in a releasable state, which contributes to reducing technical debt.
Example:
- For a new feature, a developer would write code in their individual workspace.
- The developer then integrates their changes to the shared repository where it is built and tested automatically, often by a CI server such as Jenkins.
- If issues are detected, they are fixed immediately, ensuring the feature is always production-ready.
3. Pair Programming
Pair Programming is a technique where two programmers work together on the same task at a single workstation. One, the ‘driver’, writes code while the second programmer, the ‘navigator’, reviews each line of code as it is typed. This enables real-time code review, instant knowledge sharing, mitigating human error, and delivering higher quality code.
Example:
- While developing a new algorithm, one developer focuses on the main logic and structure of the algorithm.
- The second developer actively reviews the written code for possible bugs, optimizations, and adheres to coding standards.
- Both programmers frequently switch roles to promote knowledge sharing and mutual understanding of the solution.
These practices, when incorporated into a Scrum team’s workflow, can dramatically improve the quality of the delivered product increment. Not only that, but they can also minimize the amount of technical debt retained each sprint.
Remember, however, that each team is unique and what works best for one team may not necessarily be the most effective strategy for another. It’s crucial to experiment, inspect and adapt these practices based on your team’s unique scenario and needs. After all, the end goal is to produce high-quality increments and reduce technical debt, and it’s the outcomes that determine the effectiveness of these practices.
Practice Test
True or False? Continuous Integration is a development practice that can help Scrum teams deliver a high quality Increments and reduce technical debt each Sprint.
Answer: True
Explanation: Continuous Integration helps detect errors quickly, and locate them more easily as develop is integrated regularly, this can lead to less technical debt.
Automated testing is not beneficial for the Scrum Team to deliver a high quality increment and reduce technical debt:
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Automated testing aids the team by quickly pinpointing issues and problems, thus improving quality and reducing technical debt over time.
What are some of the development practices that can help the Scrum Team deliver high-quality increments each Sprint? (Select Three)
- A. Pair Programming
- B. Daily Standup
- C. Continuous Integration
- D. Automated Testing
Answer: A. Pair Programming, C. Continuous Integration, D. Automated Testing
Explanation: All these practices aim to improve code quality, increase efficiency, and reduce technical debt.
True or False? Code reviews are irrelevant in the context of Scrum and do not contribute to the delivery of high-quality increments.
Answer: False
Explanation: Code reviews are a fundamental practice for maintaining code quality and reducing technical debt. They allow teams to spot and correct errors before they become bigger issues.
Which of the following are benefits from adopting Test-Driven Development (TDD) in scrum teams? (Select Three)
- A. Higher Quality code
- B. Detailed Documentation
- C. Increased Technical debt
- D. Faster Feedback
Answer: A. Higher Quality code, B. Detailed Documentation, and D. Faster Feedback
Explanation: TDD helps in creating high quality code, provides detailed documentation and faster feedback which helps in reducing the technical debt.
Refactoring is not a good way to reduce technical debt.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Regular refactoring helps keep the code clean, improve its readability, and thus reduces the technical debt.
True or False? Pair programming slows down the project progress and adversely affects the quality of the increments.
Answer: False
Explanation: While pair programming might seem slower initially, it contributes to the production of higher quality code and knowledge sharing, which can speed up project progress in the long run.
Adopting Continuous Deployment might increase the technical debt.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Continuous Deployment allows teams to release updates more frequently with less effort, reducing technical debt.
Which of the following statements are true about Unit Testing? (Select Three)
- A. Unit Testing identifies big, system-wide issues.
- B. Unit Testing helps in validating each piece of software performs as designed.
- C. Unit Testing enhances the speed of debugging.
- D. Unit Testing increases technical debt.
Answer: B. Unit Testing helps in validating each piece of software performs as designed, C. Unit Testing enhances the speed of debugging.
Explanation: Unit Tests target the lowest level components of the code, allowing faster identification and correction of errors, hence they support high-quality increment delivery and reduction in technical debt.
Dependency management is not important for teams using the Scrum framework.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Effective dependency management can prevent future problems, reduce technical debt and result in a higher quality increment.
Documentation process has no importance in reducing the technical debt each Sprint.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: Proper Documentation helps in understanding the code better thus it can prevent creating technical debt.
Which of these practices can contribute to a reduction in technical debt? (Select Three)
- A. Refactoring
- B. Pair Programming
- C. Ignoring Unit Tests
- D. Avoiding Documentation
Answer: A. Refactoring, B. Pair Programming
Explanation: Refactoring, Pair Programming and Automated Testing are good practices which can lead to reducing the technical debt and not ignoring Unit Tests and avoiding Documentation.
Legacy code makes it impossible for a Scrum Team to reduce technical debt.
- A. True
- B. False
Answer: B. False
Explanation: While legacy code can present unique challenges, it does not make it impossible to reduce technical debt. One can progressively refactor and cleanup legacy code to reduce technical debt.
True or False? Test-Driven Development (TDD) can potentially increase the technical debt.
Answer: False
Explanation: Quite the opposite, TDD can allow teams to reduce the incidence of defects and thus lower technical debt.
True or False? Skipping code reviews can save time and help the team deliver increments faster.
Answer: False
Explanation: Skipping code reviews may save time in the very short term, but increases the risk of low-quality code and subsequently higher technical debt, which would slow down the progress in the long term.
Interview Questions
What is one of the responsibilities of the Scrum Team in Scrum framework?
One of the responsibilities of the Scrum Team is to deliver a potentially shippable Increment of “Done” product at the end of each Sprint.
Who are the members of the Scrum Team?
The Scrum Team is composed of the Product Owner, the Development Team, and the Scrum Master.
What are the accountabilities of the Development Team?
The Development Team is accountable for creating a “Done” Increment each Sprint, collaborating with the Product Owner to refine Product Backlog items, and self-organizing to accomplish the Sprint Goal.
What are the responsibilities of the Product Owner within the Scrum Team?
The Product Owner is responsible for maximizing the value of the product and the work of the Development Team by managing the Product Backlog.
What is the role of the Scrum Master in the Scrum Team?
The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that the team adheres to Scrum theory, practices, and rules, and helping the team to understand and enact Scrum.
How does a Scrum Team maintain transparency?
A Scrum Team maintains transparency by using a shared language to describe the product, by making sure everyone understands the Definition of “Done”, and by keeping the Product Backlog visible, transparent, and clear.
Can a member of the Scrum Team also play the role of the Scrum Master?
No, the Scrum Master is a specific role within the Scrum Team and should not undertake other roles within the same team.
What happens if a member of the Scrum Team does not meet their responsibility to deliver a “Done” increment?
This can result in an incomplete Sprint and the undelivered items are usually returned to the Product Backlog for reconsideration in future Sprints.
How does a Scrum Team deal with changes?
The Scrum Team welcomes changes and adapts by reassessing the work planned for the remainder of the Sprint through the Product Backlog.
What happens when members of the Scrum Team do not collaborate effectively?
Lack of effective collaboration can affect the efficiency, self-organization, and productivity of the Scrum Team, potentially leading to an unsuccessful Sprint.
How can the Scrum Team maintain accountability?
Accountability is maintained through regular Scrum events like Daily Scrums, Sprint Reviews and Sprint Retrospectives where team members reflect, adapt and plan for improvement.
Can someone outside the Scrum Team tell the Development Team what to work on?
No, only the Product Owner has the authority to prioritize and manage the Product Backlog. The Development Team decides how to turn these into a “Done” Increment.
What is the responsibility of the Scrum Team in the Sprint Retrospective?
The Scrum Team inspects how the last Sprint went with regards to individuals, interactions, processes, tools, and their Definition of Done and creates a plan for improvements to be enacted during the next Sprint.
Who is responsible for creating the Definition of “Done”?
It is a shared responsibility of the entire Scrum Team to create and maintain the Definition of “Done”.
What is the ultimate goal for a Scrum Team?
The ultimate goal for a Scrum Team is to deliver valuable, high-quality products incrementally, providing the maximum possible value to the customer or end user.
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