Will SCRUM help me improve productivity?

What is the SCRUM framework?

The SCRUM framework was designed to have more interaction with clients, among individuals working on a team, be more productive by delivering small pieces of a product and get the feedback from client. This framework has a good transparency and a more open interaction with client where one can reach to client for help. 

Normally the product development is done across Sprint. You might be wondering that what is a Sprint? 

Sprint is a period of usually 15 days. There is a product backlog where the client of BAs keep adding defects / new features / Change requests. The first day of the Sprint starts with Planning where the whole team does their capacity planning - work hours, leaves etc and then depending on capacity pull items to be done in the period i.e. Sprint. 

While pulling the items, they are estimated for how much time will be needed and then everyday as the team works, they log their hours 'spent'.
 
Everyday Standup is held where the team talks about they plan for the day, previous day's activities and look at the burn down chart. A burn down chart is the graphical representation of the estimation Vs the work (hours) logged. The last day is the Demo day where the developed feature is shown to the client and asked for their feedback. The Sprint ends and again next day new sprint starts.

Along with this there are usually calls everyday with the client to discuss road blocks, queries etc and the whole team the participant.

Happy and Satisfied Clients :)

So you see SCRUM is a framework designed to help you grow.

http://www.softwaysolutions.com/blog/tag/softway-solutions/


How is it different from the normal water fall model?

• Flat team structure comprising of the SCRUM Master, devs, QAs, BAs and the Product owner.
• Short delivery cycle.
• Less product documentations.
• Early feedback from client.
• Better utilization of resources.
• More focus on building good relations.

http://pm.stackexchange.com/questions/9918/scope-time-cost-triangle-balancing-to-motivate-team-and-satisfy-client


What benefits can I get from SCRUM?

• Increased interaction across team(s) and client.
• Capacity planned beforehand so good work life balance.
• Less wait time for getting replies from client.
• Increased co-operation between team members.
• Reduces release time 'stress' which usually people get at the product release time.
• More focused due to more clarity of the feature and easy access to client

Talking about my personal experience I am working in the QA field since last 7.5 years and Mommy of a toddler and  and I find it very easy to maintain a work life balance because of the SCRUM culture. 

Google creates security patch for android

                                                   

     

Recently came across an article  Android security threat which states that 99% of the Android app are prone to take over, as a result of which the code can be altered without changing the cryptographic app signature. The vulnerability revolves around the way Android apps are verified and installed. Although as per Google they haven seen any such breach but Bluebox claims that this threat was present since Android 1.6 version. 

Nothing to fear because Google came up with a fix for this and has release it to some Original Equipment Manufacturers(OEMs) like Samsung and HTC. This will be provided by the vendors as an update to the device Fix to OEM .

But the patch that is or will be provided may not be made available to all devices. Like Samsung S which quite old and updates have stopped coming for it. In such case it would be good to keep the option of download from Unknown sources disabled.

Being a QA how important it is to be Patient?

It is said  that 'Patience is the key to success' and success or happiness in life can be guaranteed in life if you learn to be patient. In today' fast running world it is very difficult to keep cool and we mostly tend to loose it become agitated, angry very soon. I am in the QA field for the past 6.5 to 7 years and kept thinking about the role that 'patience' plays being a QA.

We all know that QA is a field which completely relies on your thinking power, your ability to judge, analysis, think out of the box and hence if the mind is agitated it becomes difficult to think which directly affects our work. So what could be the reasons which make agitated ? They can be:

1. Disturbance at home - had a heated argument while leaving to office with parents or spouse or someone else.
2. Trying to put up your point - you are trying to put up your point in the team which you think is very important and either no one is ready to listen to you or they feel it is irrelevant.
3. Work Pressure - release is coming round the corner and development is pending / testing is pending.
4. Boss - got a bad report from boss about you
5. Client reported bug - even after you put al your efforts, still client found a bug.

The reasons could by any, hundreds, thousands and everyday a new reason but loosing cool, getting into argument will never help. Rather we should try to keep our cool, when you feel agitated tell yourself in your mind 'Stay Cool, this will pass'. Things that we can try to avoid are like never take personal life to office; keep both separate; if you are not heard wait till other finish and then put up your point; try to keep a soft tone. When you feel angry it is always better to stay quite and not talk to anyone, try to calm down and think, you will get the answer. I know this is very hard to do but if we try this can be achieved.

At home try to activities that relax you, give you relief like: cooking , listening to soft music, exercising, going for a walk. Talking about my personal experience to relax myself I take out my sketch book and that gives me a lot of peace and I am still working on this. No one is perfect but we need to work upon and improve our self for our betterment.