Overcoming Challenges of Virtual Scrum Teams: Lessons Learned Through an Action Research Study

Abstract After the COVID-19 breakout, agile teams found themselves in situations that “pure agilists” and textbooks on methods had preferred to ignore. Whereas mindsets helped them quickly shift remote work, mere virtualization of practices often proved insufficient, several challenges emerged. This paper reports an Action Research project carried out Lufthansa Systems Poland with aim (1) revisiting their ad-hoc actions adapt work; (2) elaborating systematic solutions maintain efficiency such a setting. With our assistance, participating measures mitigate issues posed by new work environment. They devised inter-team communication model improve effectiveness information exchange declined absence spontaneous, face-to-face communication. Moreover, they employed other mitigation strategies, including working at least one day per week office, keeping webcams during online meetings, recapping meetings end session. Our study largely supports previous findings indicating Scrum can be effectively applied beyond its comfort zone but also suggests for adaptations successful comprehensive, should developed structured manner.