Scrum of Scrums: Coordination for Large Agile Teams

As organizations scale agile practices beyond a single team, coordination becomes increasingly complex. While Scrum works exceptionally well for small, cross-functional teams, large initiatives involving multiple teams require additional structure to maintain alignment and transparency. This is where Scrum of Scrums plays a vital role.

Scrum of Scrums is an agile coordination technique designed to help large agile teams collaborate effectively, manage dependencies, and deliver value at scale. It ensures that multiple Scrum teams remain aligned with shared goals while preserving the flexibility and autonomy of individual teams.

What Is Scrum of Scrums?

Scrum of Scrums is a scaled agile coordination framework where representatives from multiple Scrum teams meet regularly to discuss progress, dependencies, risks, and impediments. Instead of replacing Scrum, it extends Scrum principles to enable collaboration across teams working on the same product or program.

Each participating team sends a representative—often a Scrum Master, Product Owner, or senior team member—to the Scrum of Scrums meeting. The focus is not on task-level details but on cross-team coordination and overall delivery health.

Why Scrum of Scrums Is Needed for Large Agile Teams?

As agile initiatives grow, organizations face challenges such as:

• Increased inter-team dependencies

• Conflicting priorities

• Communication breakdowns

• Duplicate work

• Delayed integration and delivery

Without a coordination mechanism, these issues significantly increase project risk and slow delivery. Scrum of Scrums addresses these challenges by creating a structured forum for collaboration, ensuring that teams stay aligned and risks are addressed early.

Core Objectives of Scrum of Scrums

The primary goals of Scrum of Scrums include:

• Improving coordination across multiple agile teams

• Identifying and resolving cross-team dependencies

• Managing shared risks and impediments

• Ensuring alignment with overall product or program goals

• Supporting consistent and predictable delivery

By focusing on these objectives, Scrum of Scrums enables organizations to scale agility without sacrificing speed or quality.

How Scrum of Scrums Works?

Scrum of Scrums operates similarly to a regular Scrum meeting but at a higher level. Meetings are typically held daily or several times per week, depending on project complexity.

During the meeting, team representatives answer modified Scrum-style questions, such as:

• What has your team completed since the last meeting that impacts other teams?

• What will your team work on next that may affect others?

• What impediments or risks could block another team?

• Are there any new dependencies identified?

This structure keeps discussions focused on coordination and risk management rather than individual tasks.

Roles and Responsibilities in Scrum of Scrums

• Team Representatives

Each Scrum team selects a representative to attend the Scrum of Scrums. This person should have enough visibility and authority to speak on behalf of the team and escalate issues when necessary.

• Scrum of Scrums Facilitator

Often played by a Chief Scrum Master or Agile Coach, the facilitator ensures meetings remain focused, productive, and aligned with objectives.

• Product Owners and Stakeholders

In some cases, Product Owners or senior stakeholders may participate to ensure alignment on priorities, scope, and delivery timelines.

Clear role definition ensures effective collaboration and decision-making.

Scrum of Scrums vs Traditional Scrum

While both share agile principles, there are key differences:

• Scrum focuses on a single team delivering increments

• Scrum of Scrums focuses on coordination between multiple teams

• Scrum meetings discuss tasks and sprint goals

• Scrum of Scrums meetings address dependencies, risks, and integration

Scrum of Scrums complements Scrum by extending its practices to a broader organizational level.

Benefits of Scrum of Scrums

Implementing Scrum of Scrums provides several benefits for large agile initiatives:

• Enhanced cross-team communication

• Early identification of project risks

• Improved dependency management

• Faster resolution of blockers

• Better alignment with product vision

• Increased delivery predictability

These benefits directly support enterprise agility and large-scale delivery success.

Scrum of Scrums and Risk Management

One of the most valuable aspects of Scrum of Scrums is its contribution to risk management. By regularly discussing cross-team risks and impediments, organizations can:

• Detect issues before they escalate

• Coordinate mitigation strategies

• Reduce rework and delays

• Improve integration quality

This proactive approach significantly reduces delivery uncertainty in large programs.

Scaling Scrum of Scrums for Very Large Organizations

For very large initiatives involving dozens of teams, organizations may implement nested Scrum of Scrums. This approach includes:

• Team-level Scrum

• Program-level Scrum of Scrums

• Portfolio-level Scrum of Scrums

Each level focuses on coordination at the appropriate scale, ensuring alignment without overwhelming teams with unnecessary meetings.

Scrum of Scrums in Agile Frameworks

Scrum of Scrums is commonly used within broader agile frameworks such as:

• SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework)

• LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum)

• Nexus

• Enterprise Agile Transformations

While these frameworks offer additional structures, Scrum of Scrums remains a foundational coordination mechanism across scaled agile environments.

Common Challenges in Scrum of Scrums

Despite its benefits, Scrum of Scrums can face challenges if not implemented correctly:

• Meetings becoming status updates instead of coordination forums

• Representatives lacking decision-making authority

• Too many participants reducing effectiveness

• Poor follow-up on identified risks and actions

These challenges can be mitigated through clear objectives, disciplined facilitation, and continuous improvement.

Best Practices for Effective Scrum of Scrums

To maximize value from Scrum of Scrums, organizations should follow best practices such as:

• Keep meetings short and focused

• Select empowered team representatives

• Emphasize risks, dependencies, and integration issues

• Track action items and follow up consistently

• Adapt meeting frequency based on project needs

Adhering to these practices ensures Scrum of Scrums remains effective and relevant.

When to Use Scrum of Scrums

Scrum of Scrums is most effective when:

• Multiple Scrum teams work on a shared product

• Teams have frequent dependencies

• Integration and coordination are critical

• Delivery timelines are tight

• Organizational complexity is high

For small or independent teams, traditional Scrum may be sufficient without additional coordination layers.

Impact of Scrum of Scrums on Agile Maturity

Organizations that successfully implement Scrum of Scrums often experience increased agile maturity. Teams become more collaborative, risks are managed proactively, and leadership gains greater visibility into delivery health.

Over time, this coordination model fosters a culture of transparency, shared accountability, and continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Scrum of Scrums is a powerful coordination mechanism that enables large agile teams to work together effectively without losing the agility that Scrum promotes. By focusing on cross-team collaboration, dependency management, and risk mitigation, it helps organizations scale agile delivery with confidence.

When implemented thoughtfully and supported by strong leadership, Scrum of Scrums enhances communication, reduces delivery risk, and ensures alignment across teams. In today’s complex and fast-paced environments, it remains an essential practice for achieving success with agile at scale

About Anita Ankam

Anita Ankam – Expert Project Management Instructor

Anita Ankam is a highly experienced and certified project management instructor, specializing in globally recognized methodologies such as PMP®, PMI-ACP®, DASM®, and DASSM®. With an extensive academic background, including an MBA and MSc, Anita holds multiple industry-leading certifications, including PRINCE2, PRINCE2 Agile Practitioner, CSM, ASM, ITIL, and Six Sigma Black Belt.

As an authorized training instructor, Anita has guided countless professionals in mastering project management frameworks and agile practices. Know more.