Applied Scrum: Contexts and Practices

This unit explores how Scrum is adapted and applied across diverse real-world contexts — from construction, education, and marketing to customer service, home building, and personal goals — and examines scaling, tooling, and cultural factors that influence success. It builds on foundational Scrum concepts and prepares students to design context-specific sprint plans, select appropriate tools and scaling approaches, and manage the human and organizational changes required for effective implementation.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze adaptations of Scrum across at least three distinct contexts (e.g., construction, marketing, education, customer service) by identifying required role, artifact, and event modifications
• Apply Scrum artifacts and events by producing a context-specific Product Backlog, Definition of Done, and a one-sprint plan that demonstrates vertical slicing and measurable acceptance criteria
• Demonstrate decision-making for scaling and tooling by selecting and justifying an implementation approach (e.g., de-scaling for large portfolios, COTS vs custom tools, use of Primavera Unifier) and mapping its impact on workflow
• Evaluate cultural and personal factors (team culture, transparency, work-life balance, pandemic considerations) and develop at least two actionable change strategies to improve collaboration and product quality