Adopting Scrum in Hybrid Settings, in a University Course Project: Reflections and Recommendations

Agile software development (ASD) methods such as Scrum promote collocated team collaboration. However, adopting Scrum in hybrid work environments can pose challenges. Therefore, understanding the positive aspects and challenges of adopting Scrum in hybrid settings and the relevant agile tools and practices is important. Software engineering education should also prepare students with the necessary knowledge and skills for implementing ASD methods in hybrid settings. This study provides insight into implementing Scrum in a hybrid setting, in a course project, discussing its positive aspects, challenges, and relevant project management and communication tools. We used a questionnaire to collect feedback from 12 scrum teams, made up of 59 master’s degree students at the University of Oulu, who developed student well-being prototypes in four sprints. We applied thematic analysis to analyze the teams’ feedback. We found 16 challenges, 12 positive aspects, and varying ASD practices and tools. Key challenges included scheduling conflicts, communication issues, and estimating efforts. Discord and Microsoft Teams were popular for communication, while JIRA and Trello were favored for agile project management. This study complements software engineering literature with new empirical findings. It reveals practices and tools applicable to software practitioners and start-up teams for effectively adopting scrum in hybrid settings. It also contributes by illustrating the adoption of scrum course projects in hybrid settings and providing recommendations to enhance the design of similar courses. It identifies research gaps, such as the need for tools and practices to improve collaboration and the potential of asynchronous chats in hybrid environments.