Scrum vs. ASAP 8 Agile

[Former Member]

Hi there,

currently I'm evaluating ASAP 8 Agile for implementing SAP solutions.

I'm familiar with Scrum, the roles and the artifacts. However, it seems like ASAP 8 Agile is like Scrum, but using other terms for the roles and artifacts.

Is there a comparison chart for Scrum and ASAP 8 Agile? This will help Scrum experts to speed up getting into ASAP 8 Agile.

Regards

Tobias

PS: I'm a certified "Professional Scrum Master" of Scrum.org.

[janmusil · Accepted solution]

Agile ASAP 8 uses the Scrum roles, Scrum ceremonies and Scrum artifacts. But the methodology roles are broader than the three roles given by Scrum.

In a nutshell this is how the mapping looks like ASAP <--> Scrum:

* Business Key Users are Product Owners (Business Sponsor or their designee plays Chief PO role on the SI side the PM/PgM plays this role)

* Project Team is Project Team

* SCRUM Master is SCRUM Master (and it is not done by PM if you were thinking about doing that I recommend you don't)

Other roles like Project Manager, Solution Architect, OCM Lead and such are part of the project and may play role in the SCRUM process if that particular area of the project is managed in iterations.

Agile ASAP project team manages backlog, uses burn-down charts, conduct daily standup, etc.

[stefanhauschi · Accepted solution]

Hi Jan,

why are you not recommending taking the SCRUM Master Role as a PM?

Thanks

Stefan

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hi Stefan,

in traditional project management a project manager is someone managing the developers and the customer requirements.

A scrum master manages the developers only (by taking a look at the Scrum process). A product owner manages the customer requirements.

I think there are 2 ways of doing it.

1) Product owner is a single person of the customer company, Scrum master is person of your company and former project manager

2) Product owner and scrum master are two separater persons of your company.

Mixing up roles may end in confusion and scrum will not work at all. A scrum master is the counterpart of the product owner.

However, using a former project manager as scrum master might work as well, depending on your situation.

Regards

Tobias

[stefanhauschi · Accepted solution]

Hi Tobias,

thanks for quick reply, it becomes much clearer now.

Stefan

[janmusil · Accepted solution]

Tobias,

thanks for chiming in.

The guidance not to have PM play the SCRUM Master role is based on experience from projects where it did not work. Over time we have fine tuned the mapping of SCUM roles to the traditional ASAP Roles as follows:

SCRUM Master - typically team lead or dedicated role in the project guiding the SCRUM teams in their adoption and use of SCRUM principles. Not formally in charge of the teams as a manager. Clears road blocks and helps team stay on target.

Product Owner - one or multiple people from customer site that define the desired functionality of the solution. Typically business users or people that work with the solution. In some cases this role can be played by IT analysts - especially when business availability is constrained (this introduces some challenges in case IT and business do not collaborate well). Defines the WHAT.

SCRUM team - small group of people working on the individual user stories - implementing, developing, testing, etc the solution. Responsible for estimating the effort and planning the details of how to implement. Defines the HOW.

Project Manager is a separate role from these and if the PM is on the consulting side their role is similar to role of Product Owner - as they need to manage the delivery to contract - scope management and change management being the topics here.

Hope this clarifies.

Jan

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Jan,

so the Product Owner is the "Scrum Product Owner" of the customer, and the Project Manager is some kind of "Scrum Product Owner" of the company.

When comparing to Scrum, the ASAP "scrum team" will consist of Development Team, Scrum Master and Project Manager. And the Product Owner is the external product owner of the customer.

Project Manager (company) and Product Owner (customer) work together to get the requirements fixed. However, only the Project Manager is allowed to maintain the product backlog of the development team, right?

Hopefully I don't mix up things here.

Regards

Tobias

[janmusil · Accepted solution]

Tobias,

you got it. With one exception - we do not only manage development this way, but also configuration and other work in the project.

Secondly you are referencing Project Manager (company) - if you mean PM from integrator then it is correct. In internal projects there may be less formal way of managing scope. The PM as Product Owner is a concept you need to put in place in contractual situations where PM is responsible for delivering the solution specified in the contract - she is then the Product Owner controlling what gets in the backlog and what stays out.

Have a great weekend,

Jan

[Former Member · Accepted solution]

Hello Jan,

do you see that SAP will support this in SolMan for testing etc?

Best regards,

Gregor