LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum)
Minimalist scaling framework.
PURPOSE
Organizations looking to scale Scrum tend to add complex process layers that hinder rather than foster agility. LeSS takes the opposite approach: it scales with as few additional rules as possible and emphasizes simplicity. It helps organizations maintain genuine agility even with multiple teams, instead of scaling bureaucracy.
HOW TO USE
Multiple teams work together on a single Product Backlog, managed by a single Product Owner. The teams coordinate in a self-organizing manner through shared Sprint Planning, Reviews, and Retrospectives. Organizational structures are simplified by deliberately removing unnecessary roles and coordination mechanisms.
WHAT IT IS
LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum) is a minimalist scaling framework that extends Scrum for two to eight teams. It consists of the standard Scrum elements plus a few additional rules and guidelines. For more than eight teams, LeSS Huge serves as an extension. The framework was developed by Craig Larman and Bas Vodde.
EXAMPLE
Example: Your company has eight Scrum teams all working on the same product — an e-commerce platform — and previous scaling efforts with additional coordination roles have inflated bureaucracy. You adopt LeSS because it deliberately avoids extra roles and instead relies on a single Product Owner and shared Sprint Reviews for all teams.