Scrum Cards

A Scrum card is used to keep track of team progress, tasks, and other key information to facilitate the Scrum process. With Agile being recognized as the world's most popular innovation engine, organizations have been able to increase productivity to unprecedented levels through this approach.

Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know about utilizing an Agile Scrum card as part of your project management process.

What Is a Scrum Card?

The Scrum card is a tool that helps Scrum teams keep track of their objectives and complete tasks within the allotted time frame by highlighting tasks or requirements on the Scrum board.

In essence, Agile Scrum cards contain a limited amount of information, but enough for teams to comprehend what needs to be carried out. 

Why Do We Use Scrum Cards?

A Scrum card is part of the Scrum board, which tracks the progress of all tasks assigned during each sprint cycle. Scrum cards can be used to track tasks, organize information, identify dependencies between tasks, allocate resources efficiently, and provide visibility into the progress of a project.

By using Scrum cards as part of your project management process, you can visually ensure efficient delivery times while also reducing risks associated with potential delays or errors.

How to Create a Scrum Card?

Scrum boards, whether physical or virtual, have become an integral part of Agile processes to foster collaboration and teamwork. Here is a way to implement Scrum cards on your board:

1. Brainstorm and list out all the tasks that need to be completed for your project. This list should include any subtasks as well, such as research, design, coding, testing, etc.
2. Divide the task into smaller chunks that can be worked on simultaneously by different team members. For example, the task of designing a web page can be broken down into different tasks, such as researching content, designing the layout, and coding HTML/CSS.
3. Assign each of these smaller chunks to an individual or team member who is responsible for completing it. This way, everyone knows what their role is in achieving the overall project goal.
4. Write all of these tasks on sticky notes called Scrum cards. Arrange the tasks in order according to when they need to be completed.

Once your Scrum card is completed, the team can use it as a reference when discussing their progress and planning upcoming tasks. It’s also helpful for staying organized and keeping track of which tasks are complete or still need to be worked on. 

What Is a Story Card?

Story cards are physical or virtual cards used in Agile project management to describe the functionality to be implemented as part of the user story. The card contains details such as title, description, acceptance criteria, and any other relevant data related to that particular story.

By reviewing story cards, teams can understand how a feature is progressing and what tasks remain to be done. 

Why Do We Use Story Cards?

As an invaluable tool in software development, story cards enable teams to break down complex tasks into smaller and more manageable steps.

These cards help team members define the scope of each feature, maintain a clear timeline for development, and ensure that everyone on the team is working towards a common goal.

These also encourage collaboration among members of the team by providing visibility into what needs to be done and allowing everyone to provide input on the best way to approach a task.

By tracking each story card, teams can keep tabs on the status of each feature and ensure that everything is moving forward in an efficient and organized manner.

How to Create a Story Card

With story cards, customers can articulate how a particular piece of work will deliver specific value back to them by writing effective user stories. Here are the steps involved in creating a story card:

1. Identify the User Need

This should be specific and actionable, usually answering who, what, and why: for instance, "As a user, I want to be able to cancel my reservation at any time to save money in case something comes up."

2. Write a Story Title and Description

Create an easily identifiable title that clearly conveys the user's need, such as “Cancel Reservation.” Then write a brief description of the story to explain what it is and why it matters.

3. Assign a Value

A value helps your team prioritize different stories and determine which should be implemented first. This is based on how much benefit the feature will provide to users, how complex it is to build, or any other criteria you wish.

4. Estimate the Effort

Estimating the effort involved in completing this story can help you determine how long it will take and which resources you’ll need to complete it. You can use an estimation technique such as relative sizing or story points to quantify the effort.

5. Create Acceptance Criteria

Once you’ve estimated the effort, create acceptance criteria that clearly state what success looks like for this feature. This should include any functional/non-functional requirements, user experience goals, and other details related to its implementation.

6. Assign to a Team Member

Finally, assign the story to a team member who is responsible for driving its completion from start to finish. Make sure they have all the information they need to complete it successfully.

Conclusion

Scrum cards are an invaluable tool for teams looking to increase their productivity and effectiveness. By utilizing Scrum cards in your workflow, you can drastically reduce wasted time and better manage projects from start to finish.

When Sprints become overwhelming, a reliable tool such as GoRetro can make project development easier. With GoRetro Planning, you will be able to plan Sprints using data-driven insights with deep Jira integration for an all-in-one Agile tool.