The document discusses strategies for running Scrum processes virtually. It provides examples of tools that can be used for communication, planning, daily standups, retrospectives and reviews in remote settings. These include video conferencing, screensharing, persistent messaging platforms, phone bridges and virtual whiteboards. Tips are provided for each event, such as encouraging remote participants and using features like raising hands to ensure their inclusion. The goal is to make remote team members feel like equal, "first-class" members of the team.

1. Virtual Scrum
Jeanne Boyarsky
@jeanneboyarsky
1

2. My background

3. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Background
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Roles
ScrumMaster
Developer
CodeRanch
Fully remote
Around the
world
Async
No Office
Volunteer
Writing
Mostly remote
Same time
zone
Mix of
sync/async
Work from
home
Mentor
robotics
Students
Meetings &
Remote

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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
At work
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Previous
Team
Transition Current Future
# onsite offices Two One Three Four+
Full time
telecommuters
Yes No No ?
Partial
telecommuters
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Time zone
range
Two One Three Three

5. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Play along
http://tinyurl.com/virtual-scrum
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6. Communication channels

7. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Play along
http://tinyurl.com/virtual-scrum
7

8. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Tool: Video/Screenshare
• Google Hangout
• Skype
• Discord
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Tip:
Click “show
messages” to enable
chat sidebar

9. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Tool: Persistent/Shared Messaging
• Slack
• NewsGator
• Discussion Board
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10. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Tool: “Transient” Messaging
• Google Chat
• Skype
• AIM – RIP 
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Tip:
Look for advanced
features such as polls

11. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Tool: Phone Bridge
• Company phone bridge
• Join.me
• FreeConferenceCalling.com
• etc
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Useful if no video
capabilities, team
members traveling,
etc

12. Sprint Planning

13. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Tool: Pointing Poker
https://www.pointingpoker.com/33074
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14. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Player 1
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15. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Player 2
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16. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
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Consensus
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17. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
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Remote Sprint Planning
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Tools
Phone bridge or video
Screenshare
(for seeing backlog or jira)
Pointing Poker
Lessons
Ask quiet phone people what they
think
Ensure only one person has floor at
a time
Don’t press mute in “main room”
Press mute if at home and have fire
engines, etc

18. Standups

19. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
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Tool: Online Scrum Tools
• Jira?
• Scrumwise?
• Agile Buddy?
• Scrumdo?
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20. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
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
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21. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Remote Standup
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Tools
Phone bridge or video
List of stories in sprint
Any learning aids
Lessons
Encourage remotes to stand
Open bridge/video early to chat
What time should standup be? What
time is morning?

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Remote Standup
Priority Order
• Pause long enough for remotes to
speak
Circle
• Give remotes a designated spot in
the circle
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23. Pair Programming

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

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Tool: Whiteboard
• Skype
• Google docs
• Web whiteboard
• Deekit
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Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Remote Pairing
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Tools
Video/voice
Screenshare
Whiteboard
Lessons
Don’t fight over the keyboard/mouse
Pay attention – don’t “multi-task”
Chat vs voice

27. Retrospective

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Tool: Post its
• One Note
• Noteapp
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29. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
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Remote Retrospectives
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Tools
Video/voice
Virtual PostIts
Lessons*
Raise hand on webex
Type “hand” and have moderator
call on
* Good when don’t have video for
teams that
• haven’t gelled yet
• have outspoken members

30. Sprint Review

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Remote Sprint Review
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Tools
Video/voice
Screenshare
Lessons*
Reinforce body language of product
owner (ex: thumbs up)
Have product owner be remote
sometimes

32. Other

33. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
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Tool: Shared docs
• Google Docs
• One Note
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34. Unless otherwise indicated, these slides are © 2013 -2016 Piv otal Software, Inc. and licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/
Closing tips
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Tools
Remember to IM/Chat
Part of team
Virtual lunch
Onsites

35. Learn More. Stay Connected.
Jeanne Boyarsky
@jeanneboyarsky
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#springone@s1p