The text discusses the optimal size for Scrum teams and the advantages of small teams, recommending 4 to 5 members based on research and practical reasoning. It emphasizes the benefits of small teams in terms of efficiency, communication, and productivity, counterbalancing the potential need for larger teams in certain urgent situations.
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Optimal Team Size in Agile and Scrum
Many people wonder about the best size for a Scrum team and the recommended agile team size. The advantages of small teams are numerous, including less social loafing, more constructive interaction, less time spent coordinating effort, and increased member satisfaction. Over-specialization is also less likely in small teams. I recommend keeping teams small enough to be fed with two pizzas, as per Amazon’s “two-pizza” team-size rule.
Find Your “Just Right” Team Size
For high-performing agile teams, the optimal team size is typically 4 or 5 people. However, there are instances where a larger team may be necessary, especially when time is of the essence. Research by Harvard professor Richard Hackman and colleague Neil Vidmar found that the optimal team size is around 4.6 people. Additionally, a study by QSM showed that larger teams may finish projects slightly faster but are significantly more expensive with more defects.
Advantages of Small Teams
Teams of 4 to 5 people are more productive and efficient due to fewer communication paths and reduced social loafing. Larger teams often suffer from communication overhead and social loafing, which can impair productivity. Ivan Steiner’s formula accounts for social loafing, communication overhead, and other factors affecting a team’s performance, indicating that a team will never perform at its theoretical maximum productivity.
Implement Agile Scrum Bot
Elevate your Scrum processes with our Agile Scrum Bot, a collaborative tool that assists teams by answering Scrum-related queries, managing the product backlog, and organizing sprints and retrospectives. It fosters teamwork, enhances efficiency, and ensures optimal product delivery.
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List of Useful Links:
- AI Lab in Telegram @aiscrumbot – free consultation
- The Just Right Size for Agile Teams
- Mike Cohn’s Blog – Succeeding With Agile
- Twitter – @itinaicom
