Scrum is an excellent framework, but—there’s always a but, isn’t there?!—its users and practitioners are, like everyone, imperfect, diverse, and unpredictable. They will show up as they are, quiet or talkative, hesitant or interrupting, reckless or cautious, linear or creative, bossy or timid. And all, Scrum Masters included, bring reflexive habits of what they do routinely while working in a group. In other words, all the people ingredients that can make ordinary meetings dysfunctional are present in Scrum Events. This is why Scrum practitioners must be prepared to fortify the framework with suitable techniques to ensure that every event delivers its full potential, regardless of the personalities in the room. In short, every Scrum Event must be facilitated well enough to be productive, engaging, rewarding, and enjoyable.
Liberating Structures are ideal fortifiers of Scrum because they perfectly complement it. First, they are easy to use, flexible, efficient, and effective. Second and most important, Liberating Structures ensure that every participant is actively engaged and contributes. This makes the Scrum Events both productive and rewarding for all.
As Scrum Teams learn how to use a few Liberating Structures, they acquire tools that are universally and routinely useful in all manner of situations at work or outside work. For example, a simple “1-2-4-All” or “Impromptu Networking” can engage groups in deeper thinking during a Sprint Review, Sprint Planning, or Sprint Retrospective. “Min Specs” or “Ecocycle Planning” can help Product Owners work with stakeholders to order the Product Backlog. And structures like “Conversation Cafe,” “Troika Consulting,” and “Wise Crowds” can be used to navigate complex challenges and concerns and build trust. Throughout this book, you’ll notice many examples of how Scrum Teams can use Liberating Structures to overcome Zombie Scrum.
Barry, Christiaan, and Johannes have done a magnificent job of accumulating successful experiences and sharing their inspiring stories in this very practical book. They don’t shy away from telling it like it is, which is why their proposals are always useful, as they are grounded in reality.
—Henri Lipmanowicz
Cofounder, Liberating Structures