Scrum

Scrum is the most widely adopted agile framework. It structures work into sprints — fixed-length iterations of one to four weeks — during which a cross-functional team turns a selection of prioritized backlog items into a done, potentially releasable product increment. Three roles define accountability: the Product Owner manages the backlog and maximizes value, the Scrum Master coaches the team and removes impediments, and the Developers do the work.

Five events create a regular inspect-and-adapt rhythm: Sprint Planning selects and decomposes work, the Daily Scrum synchronizes the team, Sprint Review demonstrates the increment to stakeholders, and Sprint Retrospective identifies process improvements. The sprint itself is the containing event that time-boxes all of this. Three artifacts — Product Backlog, Sprint Backlog, and Increment — make progress transparent.

The Scrum Guide, maintained by Scrum co-creators Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland, is the definitive reference. It is deliberately lightweight — thirteen pages — leaving teams room to fill in practices that suit their context.