How late integration inflicts wicked problems on your Scrum Teams

Long-lived “branches” create brittle, frustrated teams. Learn 12 ways to avoid them.

Integration to many in the software space refers to the act of making code parts work together. But integration on a Scrum Team goes far beyond this common technical reference.

Without frequent integration in many contexts outside of technology, Scrum Teams will fail. By expanding your lens on integration, you will see why it‘s a crucial ingredient for Scrum Teams.

A Brittle Branch — Photo by Zach Reiner on Unsplash

Software integration refers to merging, testing, and resolving issues with software component interoperability. But for a Scrum Team, integrating knowledge, learning, and team members are of equal importance:

• Integration of the reality on the ground into go-forward plans.
• Adapting your understanding of scope to meet new user needs and insights.
• Merging ideas from each team member into a shared solution.
• Adapting your game plan every day based on current conditions to meet Sprint Goals.
• Cross-pollinating specialized knowledge across all team members or even across teams.
• Integrating individual work and decisions into the collective…