swarm
A collaborative technique where several team members converge to focus on a single problem or work item together until it is solved or unblocked.
Key Points
- Brings multiple team members together to address one high-priority issue or task.
- Encourages cross-functional collaboration beyond usual role boundaries.
- Often time-boxed and ends when the item is resolved or meets the Definition of Done.
- Used to speed flow, remove blockers, and reduce cycle time for critical work.
Example
Mid-sprint, a production defect impacts key customers. The developer, tester, product owner, and DevOps engineer pause their other work to swarm the defect: they investigate together, pair on a fix, verify it, and release a patch the same day.
PMP Example Question
During a sprint, a critical user story is blocked by an integration bug. The team decides to pause other tasks and concentrate collectively on resolving this single item. What practice are they using?
- Pair programming
- Swarming
- Daily Scrum
- Adjusting WIP limits
Correct Answer: B — Swarming
Explanation: Swarming is when multiple team members focus together on one problem or task until it is resolved.
