Sprint Simulation – Scrum Practice Game

A simple, interactive, and collaborative game to experience at a high-level the ceremonies and common practices of Scrum through simulating a sprint. This game has been used as one part of a longer session focused on learning about Scrum. Prior to playing this game, the team has read the Scrum Guide, been given an overview of Scrum methodology, and has been exposed through various other…

Iterative Incremental Big Bang

Timing: 30-60 minutes expected running time (including prep and debrief) Overview: Iterative, Incremental, Big Bang is a workshop game to encourage people to think about alternative approaches for tackling projects. However, rather than discuss boring work-like scenarios, it asks players to decide on an approach for everyday scenarios like converting a loft, cooking Sunday lunch or building a nuclear submarine! Materials: Iterative Incremental Big Bang cards (available on Amazon) A…

User Stories vs Requirements

Nov 2017: Sorry for the broken links…when Dropbox nuked their public folder support, this link went with it! It’s fixed! Disclaimer: I learned this exercise from Sarah Klarich, I don’t know where she learned it from (Teresa Carlisle according to the document author?) but it’s extremely effective at communicating why User Stories work better than requirements! Hint, it’s NOT about the User Story! Materials Needed…

Story Spines

Simon Bennett generously introduced us to this game during the Scrum Trainers Retreat in Amsterdam in 2010. It is a common improv game Timing: 15 minutes Materials: 6 Chairs Pre-prepared index cards with story element structures (See below) Instructions: Preparation Set out 6 chairs in a row from left to right On chair 1 place an index card with the following words: “Once upon a…

Swedish Stories

This exercise was co-created as part of a collaboration day between myself and Paul Goddard and was inspired by Neil Mullarkey Timing: 15 minutes Materials: None Instructions: Arrange the group so one person is at the front of the group with a number of other participants sitting facing him/her The objective is for person 1 to tell a story…with a twist Every now and then…