The Organizational Values Template is ideal for Scrum Masters, Agile Coaches, Product Owners, and organizational leaders who want to seamlessly integrate their company’s unique values into Scrum practices. It is particularly helpful for teams and organizations that already have a strong cultural foundation and seek to align these principles with Agile workflows. By leveraging this template, you can facilitate alignment, reduce value conflicts, and foster a cohesive environment where both organizational identity and Scrum thrive together.
Step 1: Identify Organizational Values
Objective: Clearly articulate the organization’s core values that should guide team behavior.
Activity: Discuss and document the values with stakeholders and the team.
Organizational Value
Description
Example: Excellence
Strive to deliver the highest quality in all outcomes.
Example: Transparency
Foster open communication and visibility across all levels of work.
Example: Collaboration
Work together effectively by leveraging the strengths of all team members.
Step 2: Map Values to Scrum Events
Objective: Connect each organizational value to Scrum events to ensure alignment in actions and discussions.
Scrum Event
Relevant Value(s)
Behavior/Practice
Sprint Planning
Excellence
Prioritize high-value work and ensure team members understand the quality goals for the sprint.
Transparency
Share all backlog priorities openly and explain why they matter.
Daily Scrum
Collaboration
Encourage team members to actively support one another by identifying and resolving blockers together.
Sprint Review
Transparency
Present completed work with openness about achievements and challenges.
Sprint Retrospective
Continuous Improvement
Reflect on processes and teamwork with an honest assessment tied to organizational values.
Step 3: Define Value-Based Behaviors
Objective: Translate values into specific, observable behaviors to guide team interactions and decisions.
Value
Behavior Example
Excellence
– Set quality standards for deliverables.
– Ensure every story meets the Definition of Done.
Transparency
– Share sprint progress regularly with stakeholders using clear and concise updates.
– Log and openly discuss risks during Scrum events.
Collaboration
– Foster a culture of cross-functionality by sharing knowledge and helping teammates when needed.
Step 4: Create a Value-Based Feedback Loop
Objective: Use retrospectives to evaluate how well the team is embodying the organizational values.
Retrospective Agenda
1. Start with Reflection: Ask, “How well did we uphold our organizational values during the sprint?”
2. Celebrate Successes: Identify specific examples where values were reflected in team behavior.
3. Identify Gaps: Discuss areas where the team fell short of living the values and brainstorm actionable improvements.
4. Set Goals: Define one or two value-focused goals for the next sprint.
Step 5: Reinforce Values in Daily Practices
Objective: Ensure that organizational values are reinforced in every interaction, decision, and task.
Practice
Integration Example
Backlog Refinement
Ensure backlog items reflect the value of Excellence by clearly defining quality requirements.
Stakeholder Interactions
Demonstrate Transparency by involving stakeholders in reviews and openly sharing team progress.
Conflict Resolution
Use values like Collaboration to mediate conflicts constructively, focusing on shared goals.
Example: How It Works in Practice
Organizational Value:Transparency
Sprint Planning:
The Product Owner ensures all backlog items have visible priorities, aligning with business objectives.
The team reviews sprint goals to confirm they are clear to everyone.
Team members share updates not just on progress but also on risks or blockers to avoid surprises.
Sprint Review:
Demonstrations include both successes and challenges, inviting feedback from stakeholders.
Retrospective:
Reflect on how transparency was demonstrated (or missed) during the sprint.
Adjust practices, such as improving stakeholder communication channels.
Reference for Further Reading
For a deeper dive into the discussion around Scrum Values and how they interact with organizational values, check out Doug Shimp’s insightful article on LinkedIn: Scrum Values. In the article, Doug explores the potential pitfalls of imposing external values and emphasizes the importance of aligning Scrum practices with an organization’s existing cultural principles. This resource complements the Organizational Values Template by providing additional context and thought leadership on the subject.
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