Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Elements of Scrum summary
Chris Sims
Hillary Louise Johnson
A guide to every aspect of Scrum
16 mins
Brief summary
"The Elements of Scrum" by Chris Sims and Hillary Louise Johnson is a practical guide for implementing agile methodologies in project management. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to apply Scrum principles to increase productivity and improve team communication.
Table of Contents
The Elements of Scrum
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
The traditional methods of software development are inefficient and lead to cost overruns.
Tradition may have its charm, but it has few fans when it comes to technology development. Technology needs to be constantly updated to remain relevant; in fact, being current is essential not only to technology but also to the processes used to create it.
One system of development is called the waterfall method, which is a finish-to-start process for producing software. In such a system, a software team would typically compile requirements, make a design, write code, test and then deliver a finished product.
The “finish-to-start” aspect of the process is crucial. Activity A must be completed before work on activity B can start. For instance, you can’t begin testing a design until you’ve finished coding.
Why do people and organizations like this method?
By separating each development step, scheduling and planning is made easier. Managers often prefer a waterfall approach as they believe it allows them greater accuracy in scheduling and allocating budgets.
But the waterfall method isn’t very reliable. Software is often too complicated a product to be fully designed before production starts. Therefore, if you demand a perfectly designed product, you’ll be left with little wiggle room for change during production.
So while it’s possible for a perfect design to seamlessly transition to a perfect production process, this usually only occurs when you’re producing a static object, like a car. In this example, you’d design every element in the car, then follow those design directions to the letter during manufacturing.
But software production, in contrast, is just too complex.
So, while designers may come up with what they think is a perfect product, complications are sure to arise when designs are applied. The numbers tell the tale: only 16 percent of waterfall-method projects meet completion deadlines, while 31 percent are cancelled and 53 percent go over budget!
How do you avoid such a pitfall in your own projects? Read on to learn more.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Elements of Scrum?
Key ideas in The Elements of Scrum
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Elements of Scrum about?
The Elements of Scrum (2011) explains how outmoded software development processes are holding companies back in an ever-changing market. Today’s successful teams need to be agile and flexible; and the best companies do this by adopting a methodology called scrum. This book gives you everything you need to know to start a scrum-based process in your own organization.
The Elements of Scrum Review
The Elements of Scrum (2011) by Chris Sims and Hillary Louise Johnson is a valuable read for anyone interested in understanding and implementing Scrum methodologies. Here's why you should dive into this book:
- Practical guide: It provides concrete strategies and techniques for successful Scrum implementation, making it a useful resource for teams and organizations.
- Real-life examples: The book is brimming with real-world stories that illustrate the principles of Scrum in action, bringing the concepts to life and making them relatable.
- Engaging insights: Sims and Johnson present the material in an engaging and accessible manner, making complex topics easy to understand and ensuring the book is far from dull.
Best quote from The Elements of Scrum
The main idea behind the agile approach is to deliver business value immediately.
—Chris Sims and Hillary Louise Johnson
Who should read The Elements of Scrum?
- Project managers
- Software developers and designers
- Anyone interested in agile organizational processes
Categories with The Elements of Scrum
Book summaries like The Elements of Scrum
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
37 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Elements of Scrum FAQs
What is the main message of The Elements of Scrum?
The main message of The Elements of Scrum is to embrace the Agile mindset for effective project management.
How long does it take to read The Elements of Scrum?
The reading time for The Elements of Scrum varies. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just a few minutes.
Is The Elements of Scrum a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Elements of Scrum is worth reading for anyone interested in Agile methodologies. It provides practical insights and useful techniques.
Who is the author of The Elements of Scrum?
Chris Sims and Hillary Louise Johnson are the authors of The Elements of Scrum.
What to read after The Elements of Scrum?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Elements of Scrum, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Learning Agile by Andrew Stellman and Jennifer Greene
- The Agile Leader by Simon Hayward
- The Scrum Fieldbook by J.J. Sutherland
- Personal Kanban by Jim Benson & Tonianne DeMaria Barry
- Scrum by Jeff Sutherland
- The CIO Paradox by Martha Heller
- Management 3.0 by Jurgen Appelo
- F.I.R.E. by Dan Ward
- The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
- The Eight Essential People Skills for Project Management by Zachary Wong