Team size is a critical consideration in Scrum that significantly impacts team effectiveness and the ability to deliver value. The Scrum Guide recommends that Development Teams consist of 3 to 9 members, though the optimal size typically falls between 5 and 7 people.
When teams are too small (fewe…Team size is a critical consideration in Scrum that significantly impacts team effectiveness and the ability to deliver value. The Scrum Guide recommends that Development Teams consist of 3 to 9 members, though the optimal size typically falls between 5 and 7 people.
When teams are too small (fewer than 3 members), they may lack the diverse skills needed to complete work independently. Small teams often struggle with knowledge gaps, have limited perspectives during problem-solving, and may face challenges when team members are unavailable due to illness or vacation.
Conversely, teams that grow too large (more than 9 members) experience diminishing returns. Communication becomes increasingly complex as the number of relationships grows exponentially. A team of 5 has 10 communication channels, while a team of 10 has 45 channels. This complexity leads to coordination overhead, longer Daily Scrums, and reduced agility.
Large teams also tend to fragment into sub-groups, reducing cohesion and shared ownership. Decision-making slows down, and it becomes harder to maintain alignment on Sprint Goals and product direction.
The Product Owner role is not counted in the Development Team size, nor is the Scrum Master when they are not actively contributing to the Development Team's work. However, both remain part of the complete Scrum Team.
For organizations with larger initiatives, Scrum recommends scaling through multiple small teams rather than creating one large team. This approach preserves the benefits of small team dynamics while enabling work on complex products.
Product Owners should consider team size when planning capacity and understanding velocity. Stable, appropriately-sized teams develop better collaboration patterns, more accurate forecasting abilities, and stronger collective ownership of the product. The right team size enables effective self-organization, promotes accountability, and supports the delivery of valuable product increments each Sprint.
Team Size Considerations in Scrum
Why Team Size Matters in Scrum
Team size is a critical factor in Scrum because it affects communication, collaboration, and the team's ability to deliver value effectively. The right team size ensures that members can work together efficiently while maintaining accountability and shared ownership of the product.
What is the Recommended Team Size?
According to the Scrum Guide, the entire Scrum Team should be 10 or fewer people. This includes: - One Product Owner - One Scrum Master - Developers (typically 3-9 people)
This size is considered optimal because it is: - Small enough to remain nimble and communicate effectively - Large enough to complete significant work within a Sprint
How Team Size Impacts Scrum
Communication Complexity: As team size increases, the number of communication channels grows exponentially. A team of 5 has 10 communication paths, while a team of 10 has 45. Larger teams struggle with coordination.
Accountability: Smaller teams maintain clearer ownership and individual accountability. When teams grow too large, responsibility becomes diffused.
Decision Making: Smaller teams can make decisions faster and adapt more quickly to changing requirements.
Sprint Planning: Larger teams find it harder to plan effectively and may struggle to define a coherent Sprint Goal.
What Happens When Teams Are Too Small or Too Large?
Teams with fewer than 3 Developers may: - Lack sufficient skills to deliver a complete Increment - Experience productivity constraints - Have limited perspectives during problem-solving
Teams larger than 10 people should consider: - Reorganizing into multiple cohesive Scrum Teams - Ensuring each new team has all skills needed to deliver value - Maintaining shared Product Backlog and Product Owner if working on the same product
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Team Size Considerations
1. Remember the numbers: Total Scrum Team should be 10 or fewer. This is the most frequently tested fact.
2. Understand the reasoning: Exam questions often test WHY size matters, not just the numbers. Focus on communication, agility, and effectiveness.
3. Cross-functional over specialized: When teams split, each team must be cross-functional and capable of delivering a complete Increment.
4. One Product Owner per product: Even with multiple Scrum Teams, there is still only one Product Owner and one Product Backlog for a product.
5. Avoid trap answers: Questions may suggest adding managers or creating sub-teams within a Scrum Team. Scrum Teams are self-managing and do not have sub-teams or hierarchies.
6. Context matters: If a question describes a team struggling with communication or coordination, consider whether team size could be the root cause.
7. Focus on empiricism: The team should inspect and adapt their structure based on what works, not rigid rules beyond the Scrum framework guidelines.