Scrum board is a visual tool used to manage and organize projects by breaking them down into defined sprints of time. It tracks individual sprints and helps team members visualize their progress. Scrum boards are also known as Scrum task boards or sprint boards. Humans are visual creatures, and the Scrum board builds on that by helping team members better understand the sprint's progress. It is a key part of a larger project management system known as the Scrum process or Scrum framework. The simplest Scrum board consists of three vertical columns: "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done". The board can take many physical and virtual forms, but it performs the same function regardless of how it looks.

Scrum boards can be as complex or as simple as needed, with as many sticky notes or columns as necessary. The Scrum board is a tangible part of the Scrum process, a visible indicator of the status of the current sprint, and a constant cheerleader pushing the team to accomplish more before the sprint ends.

Scrum has been ever-growing in popularity over the years and has captured the attention of thousands of professionals. According to a survey by Scrum Alliance involving about 5,000 people, the overall success rate of projects delivered using Scrum is 62%.

Using a Scrum board in project management has several benefits, some of which are listed below:

  1. Visualizing tasks: A Scrum board helps you visualize your tasks, which can help you stay organized and maximize efficiency.

  2. Short sprints: Scrum boards break projects down into short sprints of time, which can help teams stay focused and motivated.

  3. Collaborative execution: Scrum boards promote collaboration among team members, making it easier for teams to execute tasks and solve problems.

  4. Adaptability: Scrum boards allow teams to adjust their plans based on the latest information and feedback, allowing them to quickly adapt to changes in the project and make necessary changes to their plans and strategies.

  5. Focus on functionality: Scrum boards allow teams to focus on the functionality of their product and the experience of their customers, rather than just the process of creating it.

  6. Increased team efficiency and communication: Scrum boards increase team efficiency and communication by providing transparency and visibility of all the processes

Scrum Board types:

There are two types of Scrum boards that can be used in project management that are physical scrum boards and digital scrum boards.

Physical Scrum boards are typically set up on a whiteboard or wall, using sticky notes or index cards to represent tasks. The board is updated by the team and shows all items that need to be completed for the current sprint.

Digital Scrum boards, on the other hand, are hosted online and can be accessed by team members from anywhere. They are easier to set up and use and can be customized to fit the specific needs of a project.

Both types of Scrum boards are highly versatile and can be adapted to reflect the specific needs of a project. Ultimately, the choice between a physical or digital Scrum board depends on the preferences and needs of the team.

The working process of a Scrum board involves the following steps:

  1. Create the board: The Scrum board is created by adding tasks, user stories, features, and requirements after discussing them with the Scrum team.

  2. Divide tasks: Divide the tasks, flesh out individual product backlog items, and estimate how long each task will take.

  3. Add tasks to the board: Teams use a workstream method to break down user stories into small tasks and add them to the sprint backlog.

  4. Categorize tasks: The simplest Scrum board consists of three vertical columns: "To Do," "In Progress," and "Done." Post-it Notes or stickies, each representing a single task, are placed in the appropriate category and moved as necessary.

  5. Update the board: The Scrum board is constantly updated by the team members and displays all the tasks that should be completed by the end of the Scrum project.

  6. Collaborate: All team members efficiently allocate the resources and collaborate to flesh out user stories into tangible work items and assign different workflow steps to team members with relevant skills.

  7. Analyze progress: The Scrum board is a visual status of the sprint, showing the work split across different stages of the workflow. It helps you analyze what’s going on with your Scrum project and team members.


Conclusion:

Scrum boards can help teams stay organized, focused, and motivated while promoting collaboration and adaptability. Overall, the Scrum board is a tool that helps teams make Sprint Backlog items visible, promotes collaboration, and provides transparency and visibility of all the processes. It is a key part of the Scrum process, which is an agile framework for managing and completing complex projects.