Other than in the Values section, remove all uses of the word 'Commitment'#21

Too often are people abusing the word ‘commitment’ by treating it as a noun instead of a verb. A “Sprint Commitment” is not a ‘thing’ to be held over a team. To “commit” is an attitude of ‘action’.

With a word that is defined as “the act of binding yourself”, it’s no wonder so many implementations of Scrum struggle with the concept of “Adaptation”, in exchange for treating the Sprints as output contracts.

The fact that the term commitment is misused is not an argument for me. I’d like to see an alternative phrasing, not simply a removal of commitment.

Commitment to goals and quality are a good thing imho

How would you rephrase it?

I agree that in some company cultures commitment implies “just doing what you are told to do, no excuses”.

Commitment happens intrinsically and is not forced upon. I like how Jeff Sutherland put it: “Until there is commitment there is hesitency or draw back, leading to ineffectiveness; once commited providence happens.”

So, given that, commitment means to act without hesitency or drawback towards supporting each other to achieving the team’s goals and meeting its definition of Done.

For that, the team needs to be open about the challenges and demonstrate courage (or be encouraged) to work through them, in order to remain focussed on those objectives, all while respecting eachother to be capable in doing so to achieve them.

Maybe explaining the word Commitment in this context is better than any other word that also will lead to misunderstanding or mis-interpretation? For me Commitment means “with all I know now, I can and will do it”

I personally have no issue with the word “commitment” as it is just a word in the dictionary. The issue is the behavours that some people exhibit about the word.

Let’s not change the word as it will not cause a behavour change. However, lets make it clear about how one should act in this situation where people are exhibiting bad behavours.

It is about making the problem transparent and talking openly about it in respectful way. Courage is needed to have these hard conversations, but the focus is on continous commitment to improving the way the organisation and teams work. It is about transparency, inspection and adaptation and talking about what is not really working.

If one cannot have this conversation, then there are deeper problems that need to be revealed and discussed. Scrum Masters should have the skills to facilitate this type of conversation.

Let’s not get hung up on words like commitment becaue a few people abuse the word.

Having commitment is vital. Can you imagine how bad an organisation will be if noone showed any form of commitment. I shudded with the thought as it will close any business down.

I think in Scrum Guide it is explicitly mentioned now that during the Sprint the Scrum team commit to the Sprint goal. I have no issue with with committing to Sprint goal.