Freestyle Fridays - The Cult of Scrum, or Why Not Everything Needs to be a Sprint

16 snips

Feb 28, 2025

Many data professionals are stressed from pressure to deliver quickly instead of taking time to think deeply. There’s a discussion on the clash between agile practices and effective data modeling, emphasizing the need for a solid foundation. The importance of distinguishing between Deep Work and Delivery Work is highlighted. Finally, the conversation encourages a balanced approach to project planning that respects both speed and depth in complex workflows, rather than forcing everything into short sprints.

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ANECDOTE

Bubble Wrap Analogy

A data practitioner at a successful fintech startup felt their work was like "adding bubble wrap" to existing systems.
This was due to shortcuts taken during the company's initial fast-paced growth phase.

INSIGHT

Thinking vs. Delivery

Some work requires deep thinking, while other work focuses on delivery.
These two types of work can coexist but often clash due to an overemphasis on speed.

ADVICE

Agile vs. Scrum

Understand that Agile and Scrum are different.
Scrum, with its sprints, is a delivery methodology, while Agile is a broader philosophy.

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The Scrum Guide

None

Scrum Guides

The Scrum Guide is a concise yet comprehensive guide to the Scrum framework. It outlines the roles, events, and artifacts involved in Scrum, providing a clear understanding of how to implement it effectively. The guide emphasizes iterative development, collaboration, and continuous improvement. It's designed to be easily accessible and adaptable to various contexts. Regularly updated, the Scrum Guide ensures that practitioners have access to the latest best practices and insights. Its focus on empirical process control and self-organizing teams makes it a valuable resource for anyone involved in agile software development.

Balancing Agility and Discipline

Baum and Turner

Data Model Patterns

David Hay

The Nimble Elephant

John Giles

The Agile Manifesto

Manifesto for Agile Software Development

Agile Alliance

The Agile Manifesto, created in 2001 by 17 software developers, is a foundational document that defines four core values and 12 principles for Agile software development. It emphasizes the importance of individuals and interactions over processes and tools, working software over comprehensive documentation, customer collaboration over contract negotiation, and responding to change over following a plan. The manifesto aims to provide a more efficient, flexible, and customer-centric approach to software development, contrasting with traditional waterfall methods[1][3][5].

Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport

In 'Deep Work', Cal Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work—professional activities in a state of distraction-free concentration—is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. The book is divided into two parts: the first part explains why deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, while the second part presents four rules to transform your mind and habits to support this skill. These rules include 'Work Deeply', 'Embrace Boredom', 'Quit Social Media', and 'Drain the Shallows'. Newport provides actionable advice and examples from various successful individuals to help readers master the skill of deep work and achieve groundbreaking results.