Scrum of Scrums aka “Meta Scrum” is a scaled agile framework used to manage large projects that involve multiple teams. It is an extension of the Scrum framework that allows teams to coordinate and collaborate effectively to deliver complex products or services

Roles in SoS

In this framework, each individual Scrum team retains its own Scrum Master, Product Owner, and development team. However, to manage dependencies and ensure alignment across multiple teams, each team sends a representative to a regularly scheduled meeting called the “Scrum of Scrums.”

SoS Meetings

During the Scrum of Scrums meeting, the representatives from each team discuss their progress, share any blockers or issues, and coordinate their work with other teams. The Scrum of Scrums meeting is usually facilitated by a designated “Scrum of Scrums Master aka Ambassador” who helps to ensure that communication is effective and that the teams are working collaboratively towards shared goals.

The Scrum of Scrum meeting is run very similarly to the Daily Scrum meeting each team holds on a daily basis but is not limited to a fifteen-minute timebox.

• What has your team accomplished since our last meeting?
• What problems occurred, if any, that negatively affected your team?
• What does your team want to accomplish before we meet again?
• What output from your team in future sprints, do you see as possibly interfering with the work of other teams?
• Does your team see any interference problems coming from the work of other teams?

“Growth” is not the same as “scaling” by Dominic Price

While organizations often focus on growing and adding more people, true scaling involves becoming more effective as the organization gets bigger. This requires a clear purpose and focus on uncovering and solving root problems, rather than just adding more people to the same problems. Scaling enables an organization to allocate resources effectively and make better choices about what to prioritize and what to stop doing.

For example, if there is a software development company that is working on a large project for a client. The project involves multiple teams working on different parts of the product, such as front-end development, back-end development, quality assurance, and project management. Each team is using Scrum to manage their work, and to coordinate better each team sends a representative to a Scrum of Scrums meeting, which is held once a week.

In short, The Scrum of Scrums framework is particularly useful for large projects with complex dependencies, as it allows teams to coordinate their work effectively and ensure that all work is aligned towards a shared goal.

Further Readings

Scrum Of Scrums – Guide to Agile Scaling Frameworks – Agilest®

https://www.agilealliance.org/glossary/scrum-of-scrums/

Scrum of scrums | Atlassian