After years of studying the problem, I’ve come up with a foolproof way to determine if Scrum is right for a given project. Here it is:
Pick a number from 1 – 9.
Multiply by 3.
Add 3, then multiply by 3 again.
You will get your answer by adding the two digits together and then using that as a key to look up the right process for you in this list:
- RUP
- Waterfall
- Feature-Driven Development
- Extreme Programming
- Spiral
- EVO
- Kanban
- Crystal
- Scrum
- Team Software Process
so…. what you’re saying is… Scrum is the way to go, unless you’re dreadful at math. Is that it?
HI Abby–
That’s great! Yes, teams that are bad at math should stick to a different process!
simple yet powerful method to surprise Scrum disbelievers
Hi Till–Yes, and I currently have another research project underway for determining if Ruby is the right language for your project.
that’s likely to be bad news for all java fellows *rofl*
As a joke it’s fine! But if you’re suggesting that Scrum is like a silver bullet…
Of course not, Jose. Just having some fun today. I made another for my 9-year-old daughter titled “How soon you can date” and set 9 to be 30. She’s trying to figure out how it works right now.
The list of methodologies isn’t complete. You need to add “Code-and-fix” and “Structured Systems Analysis and Design” to the top of the list. It’s funny, when you look at the full list, you get a different answer every time
pi x 3 ~ 9.4247
+3 ~ 12.4247
*3 ~ 37.2743
Now how many digits do I add up?
Very nice, Ziggs. I suggest adding *all* of the digits.
[...] Cohn has an interesting post about how to know if scrum is right for you. He lists 10 software development methodologies with scrum being #9. He then proposes the following [...]
Ah, the ol’ “multiply by 9 and add the digits up” trick! I use that one (for good this time, rather than evil as Mike is doing here!) when teaching my Math students how to quickly learn their “9 times table”. I’m always amazed at how many kids (and their parents) don’t believe me when I tell them that any multiple of 9 has digits that add up to 9 or a multiple of 9. What are they teaching in Math these days, anyway?
gotta love it!
After woring with and without Scrum I can honestly say that I find Scrum to be wastefull and nothing more than a steaming pile of management crap. You spend so much time managing/discussing what needs to be done/what has been done/what will be done that when you do finally get to write sone actual code you have to rush through it because the majoity of your time has been used up in worthless Scrum meetings. And while were on the subject of worthless meetings, Come on 15 minutes? please!! just get netmeeting and teleconference. Really how long does it take to say “I wrote a few lines of code yesterday and would have written more but I was interrupted with a Scrum meeting.