International Scrum Master Foundation

3.5 Scrum Principles

Scrum principles are the core guidelines for applying the scrum framework and should be used for maximum effect. The six scrum principles are:

1. Empirical Process Control emphasizes the core philosophy of scrum based on the three main ideas of transparency, inspection, and adaptation.
2. Self-organization focuses on today’s workers, who deliver significantly greater value when self-organized. This results in better team buy-in and shared ownership; and an innovative and creative environment, which is more conducive for growth.
3. Collaboration focuses on the three core dimensions related to collaborative work: awareness, articulation, and appropriation. It also advocates project management as a shared value-creation process with teams working and interacting together to deliver the greatest value.
4. Value-based Prioritization highlights the focus of scrum to deliver maximum business value, from early on in the project and continuing throughout.
5. Time-boxing describes how time is considered a limiting constraint in scrum, and is used to help effectively manage project planning and execution. Time-boxed elements in scrum include sprints, daily scrum meetings, sprint planning meetings, and sprint review meetings.
6. Iterative Development emphasizes how to better manage changes and build products that satisfy customer needs. It also delineates the product owner’s and organization’s responsibilities related to iterative development.