Daily Scrum

September 23, 2025
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What is Daily Scrum?

The daily scrum is a short, time-boxed meeting held each workday in agile project environments, particularly in Scrum methodology. This meeting allows team members to synchronize their efforts, share progress, identify obstacles, and plan the day’s work. Typically lasting 15 minutes or less, the daily scrum helps maintain momentum, improves communication, and fosters accountability among team members. It is not a problem-solving session but a forum for quick updates and alignment.

Held at the same time and place each day, this meeting often involves the development team, the Scrum Master, and occasionally the Product Owner. Each team member usually answers three questions: What did I accomplish yesterday? What will I do today? Are there any blockers impeding my progress? These questions guide the discussion and help ensure the team stays on track toward the sprint goal.

Key Points

  • The meeting is limited to 15 minutes to keep discussions focused and efficient.
  • It promotes transparency and allows early identification of issues.
  • Team members, not the Scrum Master, lead the discussion.
  • It should occur at the same time and location every day to establish a routine.
  • It supports continuous inspection and adaptation throughout the sprint.

Related Terms

  • A Sprint is the fixed period during which a team works to complete a set of deliverables, and the daily scrum helps monitor progress during this time.
  • The Scrum Master facilitates the daily scrum and ensures it remains on track, but does not lead the meeting.
  • A Product Owner may attend the meeting to stay informed, but does not actively participate unless necessary.
  • The Sprint Goal is the objective the team aims to achieve, which guides daily scrum updates.
  • A project team can reference a Burndown Chart to visually track progress discussed in the daily meeting.

Daily Scrum: Example

A software development team meets at 9:00 a.m. each weekday for their daily scrum. Standing in a circle, each member shares their progress briefly. One team member reports a technical issue blocking their work. The Scrum Master notes the concern and schedules a follow-up after the meeting. The rest of the team continues with their updates, finishing the meeting in under 15 minutes.

Daily Scrum: Best Practices

  • Hold the meeting at the same time and location every day.
  • Keep it short and focused to respect everyone’s time.
  • Encourage team members to speak directly to one another, rather than reporting to a manager.
  • Note but defer problem-solving discussions to separate meetings.
  • Use a visible task board to guide updates and track progress.

Additional Resources

Daily Scrum - Mastering Professional Scrum: A Practitioner's Guide to Overcoming Challenges and Maximizing the Benefits of Agility     Daily Scrum - Scrum: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide To Learn And Master Scrum Agile Framework

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