Benefits of the Daily Standup

Since we use a distributed Agile model for our software development, it means we are able to minimize the impact of distribution and offer clients exceptional planning and accurate distribution as well as an exceptional value.  To effectively achieve this goal, our team communicates by a variety of methods including daily standups as well as process and code reviews.  

As the name suggests, the “daily standup” is a meeting that takes place every day at a designated time with the purpose of bringing each team member up-to-date.  The timeframe is 15 minutes, although larger teams may need more time.  As defined by the Agile Alliance organization, each team member stands up and briefly describes their completed contributions as well as any obstacles that stand in the way of their continued success.   

Agile Alliance states that, “Usually, Scrum's Three Questions are used to structure discussion.”  Questions include: what have you completed since the last meeting; what do you plan to complete by the next meeting; and what is getting in your way? 

To visualize the progress and obstacles of a project, daily standups are typically held in front of a task board.  A white board (or even a wall) is usually divided into three columns, titled, "To Do", "In Progress" and "Done".  This allows the team to easily reference the progress of the project with notations regarding the status of each task the team is working on or already completed.   Agile experts say that using sticky notes, sticky dots etc. ensure that there is an easy system to actively change and update the status of a task.   

Daily standups can prevent problems from getting overlooked and make it easier to catch and address an issue before it becomes a much bigger one.  The meetings also help to support continued team bonding.  Another benefit of the daily meeting is that it is not only much shorter than typical sit-down meetings, but given the short timeframe, it must stay on track to keep within the allotted time. 

Velocity Partners expertly delivers nearshore (Western hemisphere) software development services using a distributed Agile model that offers outstanding planning, accurate delivery and optimal business value. Our team is comprised of top Agile experts, consultants, and engineers who believe in not only meeting but exceeding our customers’ expectations. Contact us to learn more about how a distributed Agile model provides high-quality software development.

Source: agilealliance.org/glossary/daily-meeting/