LeSS (large Scale Scrum)

The LESS (Large-Scale Scrum) agile framework is a scaled agile methodology developed by Craig Larman and Bas Vodde. It is designed for large organizations that need to coordinate the work of multiple teams working on the same product. LESS builds on the principles of Scrum, but adds additional practices and tools to help manage the complexity of large-scale development projects. In this blog post, we will discuss the core principles of LESS, its benefits, and how it differs from traditional Scrum.

Core Principles of LESS

LESS is based on several core principles that are designed to help organizations manage the complexity of large-scale development projects. Here are the main principles of LESS:

1. Basic Scrum: LESS builds on the principles of Scrum, including time-boxed iterations, cross-functional teams, and a focus on delivering a working product increment at the end of each iteration.
2. Scaling: LESS provides additional tools and practices to help scale Scrum to large organizations, including multi-team coordination, shared product backlog, and a common Definition of Done.
3. Lean Thinking: LESS incorporates the principles of Lean Thinking, including continuous improvement, waste reduction, and customer value.
4. Systems Thinking: LESS takes a systems thinking approach to development, focusing on the interdependencies between teams, products, and stakeholders.
5. Empirical Process Control: LESS uses empirical process control to manage the complexity of large-scale development projects, relying on frequent inspection and adaptation to improve the process.

Benefits of LESS

There are several benefits to using LESS over traditional Scrum or other agile methodologies. These include:

1. Better coordination: LESS provides tools and practices for coordinating the work of multiple teams working on the same product, leading to better collaboration and more efficient development.
2. Improved quality: LESS emphasizes continuous improvement and a focus on customer value, leading to higher-quality products.
3. Increased flexibility: LESS provides additional tools and practices for managing the complexity of large-scale development projects, allowing for more flexibility in the development process.
4. Better stakeholder engagement: LESS encourages stakeholder engagement throughout the development process, leading to better alignment between development and business goals.

How LESS Differs from Traditional Scrum

LESS differs from traditional Scrum in several ways. Here are some of the key differences:

1. Team structure: LESS uses a team structure that is optimized for large-scale development projects, including multiple teams working on the same product and a Scrum Master Team that coordinates the work of the other teams.
2. Product backlog: LESS uses a shared product backlog that is managed by the Scrum Master Team, allowing for better coordination between teams.
3. Definition of Done: LESS uses a common Definition of Done that is shared across all teams working on the same product, ensuring that all work is aligned with the same quality standards.
4. Coordination meetings: LESS uses additional coordination meetings, including a System Demo and a Product Backlog Refinement Meeting, to help manage the complexity of large-scale development projects.

Conclusion

LESS is a scaled agile framework that builds on the principles of Scrum to help organizations manage the complexity of large-scale development projects. It provides additional tools and practices for coordinating the work of multiple teams working on the same product, including a shared product backlog and a common Definition of Done. LESS offers several benefits, including better coordination, improved quality, increased flexibility, and better stakeholder engagement. Overall, LESS can be a highly effective approach to managing large-scale development projects, particularly for organizations that need to coordinate the work of multiple teams working on the same product.