what is daily scrum in agile methodology

What is a Daily Scrum Call?

The Daily Scrum (also called the Daily Stand-up) is a short, time-boxed meeting where the Scrum Team synchronizes their work and plans for the next 24 hours. It is a 15-minute event held every working day of a Sprint and is facilitated by the Development Team (not the Scrum Master).

As part of our PMI-ACP Certification Training, we cover all Scrum events and best practices to ensure a deep understanding of Agile methodology and frameworks. The training includes Sprint Planning, where teams define goals and backlog items; Daily Scrum, a 15-minute stand-up for progress tracking; Sprint Review, where completed work is demonstrated to stakeholders; and Sprint Retrospective, focusing on continuous improvement. We also emphasize key Scrum practices such as Backlog Refinement, Definition of Done, Agile Estimation, and Servant Leadership, equipping participants with practical skills for real-world Agile project execution. 🚀

Purpose of the Daily Scrum

• To inspect progress toward the Sprint Goal.
• To identify and address impediments early.
• To improve team collaboration and communication.
• To help the team self-organize and plan their next steps efficiently.

Who Attends the Daily Scrum?

• Development Team – The main participants who discuss their work.
• Scrum Master (optional) – Ensures the meeting stays focused and follows Agile principles.
• Product Owner (optional) – May attend but does not participate unless required.
• Stakeholders/Managers (observers, if necessary) – They do not intervene in the discussion.

Daily Scrum Format – The Three Questions

Each team member answers three key questions:

1. What did I do yesterday? – Updates on completed tasks.
2. What will I do today? – Plans for the upcoming work.
3. Are there any impediments/blockers? – Challenges that may slow down progress.

Best Practices for an Effective Daily Scrum

• Keep it within 15 minutes – Focus on critical updates only.
• Conduct the meeting at the same time and place daily for consistency.
• Use a task board, Kanban board, or Sprint Backlog to track progress visually.
• Encourage team accountability and avoid problem-solving within the meeting (discuss separately if needed).
• Keep it a team-driven event without unnecessary interventions from management.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

🚫 Turning it into a status update meeting for the Scrum Master or managers.
🚫 Allowing off-topic discussions that go beyond the meeting scope.
🚫 Focusing only on individual updates instead of team progress toward the Sprint Goal.
🚫 Skipping the meeting or inconsistent participation from team members.

Conclusion

The Daily Scrum is a critical Agile ceremony that ensures continuous progress, alignment, and early identification of risks. When done right, it fosters team collaboration, agility, and efficiency in delivering high-value work within the Sprint. 🚀