Self-Organizing Teams
Self-Organizing Teams (also called self-managing teams in the 2020 Scrum Guide) are teams that determine the best way to accomplish their work without being directed by people outside the team.
Explanation
Self-organizing teams choose how to approach their work rather than being directed by a manager. In Scrum, the Developers decide how to turn Product Backlog items into an Increment. The Product Owner decides what to build (priorities), and the team decides how to build it. Management provides the environment, support, and trust needed for the team to self-organize.
Self-organization does not mean chaos or lack of structure. Teams still operate within a framework (like Scrum), follow organizational standards, and remain accountable for results. The key difference is that the team has autonomy in how they organize themselves, distribute work, and solve problems.
Research consistently shows that self-organizing teams are more productive, produce higher-quality work, and have higher job satisfaction than teams managed through command and control. However, self-organization requires trust, psychological safety, and a supportive organizational culture. Teams may need coaching to develop self-organization skills over time.
Key Points
- •Teams decide how to accomplish their work without external direction
- •The 2020 Scrum Guide uses the term self-managing instead of self-organizing
- •Requires trust, psychological safety, and organizational support
- •Does not mean no structure; teams work within frameworks and standards
Exam Tip
When the exam asks who decides how to do the work, the answer is always the team (Developers), not the Scrum Master, Product Owner, or management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
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Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy in which the leader prioritizes serving the team, removing impediments, and empowering individuals to perform at their best.
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A Cross-Functional Team is a team that possesses all the skills and competencies needed to accomplish the work without depending on others outside the team.
Development Team (Scrum)
The Development Team, called Developers in the latest Scrum Guide, consists of the cross-functional professionals who do the work of delivering a potentially releasable Increment each sprint.
Agile Principles (12 Principles)
The twelve Agile Principles are guiding statements behind the Agile Manifesto that describe how agile teams should operate, emphasizing early and continuous delivery of value, welcoming change, and sustainable development.
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