Tools and techniques for doing Scrum and agile remotely. Includes tips for full remote teams, hybrid teams and teams new to having remote members.

1. Virtual Scrum
QCon New York - 6/14/16
Jeanne Boyarsky
Twitter @jeanneboyarsky
Blog: http://www.selikoff.net

2. Background
Role at job
CodeRanch
Fully remote
Around the world
Async
No office
Volunteer
Writing
Mostly remote
Same time zone
Mix of sync/async
Work from home
SM Developer
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky
Mentor robotics
Students
Meetings and remote

3. Previous Current Future
# onsite offices Two One More
Full time
telecommuters
Yes No Yes
Partial
telecommuters
Yes Yes Yes
Time zone
range
Two One Three
Team Structure at Job
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

4. http://tinyurl.com/virtual-scrum
Play Along!
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

5. Tool: Video/Screenshare
• Google Hangout
• Skype
Tip:
In Google
hangout,
choose
original view
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

6. Tool: Persistent/Shared Messaging
Persistent
•Slack
•Discussion
board
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

7. Tool: “Transient” Messaging
“Transient”
•Google chat
•Skype
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

8. Tool: Phone Bridge
• Company phone bridge
• Join.me
• Freeconferencecalling.com
Useful if no
video
capabilities
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

9. Tool: Pointing Poker
Go to:
https://www.pointingpoker.com/33074
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

10. Pointing Poker – Player 1
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

11. Pointing Poker – Player 2
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

12. Pointing Poker - Consensus
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

13. Remote Sprint Planning
• Tools:
• Phone bridge or video
• Screenshare (for seeing backlog ex: Jira)
• Pointing Poker
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

14. Remote Sprint Planning
• Lessons
• If phone people are quiet, ask what they think
• Make sure only one person has floor at a time
• If “main” room, don’t press mute
• If at home, do press mute (fire engines, etc)
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

15. Tool: Online Scrum Tools
• Tools:
• Jira?
• Scrumwise?
• Agile Buddy?
• Scrumdo?
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

16. Tool: Learning aid
• “The Moose” can
attend meetings
• Helpful as a crutch
when not used to
having remotes
• Reminds the person is
participating
• Or stuffed animal/prop
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

17. Remote Standup
• Tools:
• Phone bridge
• List of stories in sprint
• Any learning aids to get started
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

18. Remote Standup
• Priority order
• Pause long
enough for
remotes to speak
• Circle
• Give remote
people a
designated spot in
the circle.
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

19. Remote Standup
• Talking points
• Encourage remotes to stand
• Open bridge/video early to chat
• What time should the standup be? What time
is “morning”?
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

20. Tool: Whiteboard
http://webwhiteboard.com/#ayu3e3ff
• Tools:
• Skype
• Google docs
• Web
whiteboard*
• Deekit
* Security not added yet
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

21. Whiteboards – remotes as
afterthought 
• Point webcam
at whiteboard
• Take a photo
• Narrate
Remember
your remotes
are first class
citizens.
(Don’t do
these)
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

22. Remote Pairing
• Tools:
• Voice/video
• Screenshare
• Whiteboard
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

23. Remote Pairing
• Lessons
• Don’t fight over the mouse/keyboard
• Pay attention – don’t “multi-task”
• Pros/cons between chat/voice
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

24. Remote Interaction
• Remember to IM/chat with your remote
• Part of team
• Virtual lunch!
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

25. Tool: Post its
https://noteapp.com/LAPkE5OZ1B
• Tools:
• OneNote
• Noteapp
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

26. Remote Retrospectives
• Tools:
• Phone/video
• Virtual post its
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

27. Remote Retrospectives
• Aid for an outspoken team or team who
hasn’t gelled yet or isn’t used to remote
• Raise hand remotely (WebEx)
• Raise hand by typing “hand” and have
moderator call on
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

28. Remote Sprint Review
• Tools
• Phone/video
• Screenshare
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

29. Remote Sprint Review
• Lessons
• Reinforce body language of folks in room. For
example, thumbs up.
• Have product owner remote sometimes
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

30. Tool: Shared docs
• Tools:
• Google Docs
• One Note
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

31. Discuss
• Burndown
• Task board
• Trello
• What else?
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky

32. Questions
?
Twitter: @jeanneboyarsky