How to Coordinate Multiple Scrum Teams

Written by Bits Lovers on 18 Nov 2023

When a project grows beyond what one Scrum team can handle, you will need to add more teams. Many agile companies have learned to coordinate multiple teams, which leads to higher productivity and faster delivery. An agile development company can help introduce and align these teams.

Understanding the Need for Multiple Teams

Role of an Agile Coaching Company

An agile coaching company plays a significant role in this process. With their expertise, they give strategies, mentorship, and training to make sure all teams are aligned. They offer a roadmap to becoming an agile company.

Synchronization

Daily Scrum of Scrums - This meeting brings together representatives from each Scrum team to discuss progress and challenges. It keeps all teams aligned.
Integrated Product Increments - At the end of each sprint, teams integrate their work. This keeps the product cohesive even when multiple teams develop it.

Dependency Management

Dependencies between teams can become blockers if not managed well. Tools and visual aids help, but regular communication and collaboration between teams is the real solution.

Shared Vision and Goals

All teams should understand the project’s main objectives. Training from an agile consulting firm can help achieve this. A shared vision gives teams a sense of unity and direction.

Tools and Infrastructure

Use integrated tools for real-time collaboration, tracking, and communication. Tools should help the process, not complicate it.

Feedback Loops

Regularly review how teams collaborate. Encourage feedback and make adjustments as needed. An agile coaching company can help set up efficient feedback mechanisms.

Scaling Frameworks

Consider frameworks like SAFe, LeSS, or Spotify, which help scale Scrum. These provide structures and practices for multiple Scrum teams. An agile development company can help choose the best framework for your needs.

The Journey to Becoming a Fully Agile Company

Moving to an agile framework is more than processes and tools. It is a cultural shift. Many agile companies started with one Scrum team and grew from there. Along the way, they worked with agile consulting firms and agile coaching companies.

This transformation can bring real benefits, from faster product delivery to better team morale. In business today, agility is necessary. By working with experts and staying open to learning and adaptation, your organization can become a fully agile company.

Team Topologies as an Alternative Model

If you’re finding that Scrum-of-Scrums and SAFe add more coordination overhead than they solve, it may be worth looking at Team Topologies. Rather than scaling Scrum upward, it proposes organizing teams around how they interact — stream-aligned teams, platform teams, enabling teams, and complicated-subsystem teams. The model pairs well with DevOps practices and gives you a vocabulary for reducing cognitive load. I wrote about applying Team Topologies alongside Scrum for DevOps team structures if you want to see how both models fit together.

Final Thoughts

Coordinating multiple Scrum teams takes work, but it is achievable with the right guidance, tools, and mindset. An agile consulting firm or an agile development company can help make the transition smoother.

Are you ready to begin your agile transformation? Dive into agility and experience the benefits yourself. Take the first step now with meirik.com and pave your way to success.