Scrum Elevator Pro
Ritual Scrum refers to going through the motions of Scrum ceremonies without real engagement, ownership, or adaptation — turning a flexible framework into a rigid checklist.
Ritual Scrum is an anti-pattern where a team formally follows Scrum events and artifacts but lacks the spirit of Agile. Daily Standups, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives happen on schedule, but they are hollow, bureaucratic, and ineffective.
In Ritual Scrum, teams check the boxes — they meet daily, plan sprints, and hold reviews — but fail to collaborate meaningfully or inspect and adapt. This often stems from a superficial or imposed Scrum adoption, with management valuing process compliance over outcomes.
A team holds a Daily Scrum every morning, but everyone just reports their tasks without any interaction or problem-solving. The meeting lasts exactly 15 minutes, but no real collaboration happens, and blockers persist for days.
Want to identify and overcome common Scrum anti-patterns like Ritual Scrum? Download our free guide with 200+ real-world Scrum questions and practical team diagnostics.
Get The Free Scrum Exam eBook!
Download NowRitual Scrum often emerges when Scrum is adopted top-down without genuine buy-in, training, or cultural change. Teams mimic the structure of Scrum without understanding the 'why' behind the practices.
Start by focusing on outcomes over ceremonies. Facilitate honest retrospectives, empower teams to adapt practices, and emphasize the Scrum values — especially courage and openness.