Team Utilization
In some cases, an Agile team may decide to add additional categories to their Scrum Boards that match their actual workflows. Most boards have a minimum of three categories: To Do, In Progress, and Done. The optional categories may be for example, Testing or Verify columns. A virtual Scrum Board adds a lot of value in that Product Owners and Scrum Masters can create metrics that help improve the Scrum team’s processes.
Often, teams use a combination of physical and virtual boards to the relevant advantages of both. Additional categories that are used on Scrum boards include but are not limited to the following:
- New Features
- Tasks
- Defects
- Change Requests
- Technical Requirements
- Knowledge Attainment
Physical vs. Virtual Boards
When the scrum team are physically located together, it is often considered better to use a physical Scrum Board. A physical board is better utilized when it is in a common area where the team can view and have access to the board very easily. The scrum board should be in view of the entire scrum team and should ideally be located in a place where the team can gather and communicate around the board. This gathering and communication in front of the board helps during the daily scrum meeting for example. This can result in a better collaborative work area.
Recommended Further Reading
The following materials may assist you in order to get the most out of this course: