Introduction
During a presentation about the job of a Scrum Master in a company, I wanted to involve everyone and create interactivity to encourage ongoing discussion throughout the meeting.
To achieve this, I started by using a tool for asking questions on Microsoft’s “Teams” software. My first question was, “What is a Scrum Master?” I emphasized that there are no “wrong” answers and assured everyone that I would respond with the utmost kindness. I recorded the received answers to create an article and preserve the insights from this interesting experience.
The Answers
It’s a project manager!
The Scrum Master is not a project manager. Their role is not to lead or make decisions on behalf of the team. Instead, the Scrum Master ensures that the team has optimal conditions to work effectively in an Agile context. They are responsible for promoting understanding and application of Agile principles within the organization.
Why this answer? The person had experience in an “Agile environment” where the technical project manager was renamed as a “Scrum Master” (and that’s it) during a transition from a Waterfall approach to the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
They monitor velocity.
Velocity is an indicator for the team, but it should not become an imperative goal. Focusing solely on velocity can lead to losing sight of product quality in favor of a productivity metric. The Scrum Master can use velocity as a tool to assist the team in various aspects:
- Sprint planning: Past velocity can serve as a reference point when planning future sprints. By examining historical velocity, the Scrum Master and the team can estimate the amount of work they can accomplish in a given sprint, allowing for a realistic plan that aligns with the team’s capacity.
- Workload management: Velocity can help the Scrum Master adjust the team’s workload. If the velocity decreases or increases significantly, it may indicate that the team is facing obstacles, collaboration issues, or technical challenges. The Scrum Master can use this information to intervene, address the problems, and help the team maintain a balanced workload.
- Identifying performance issues: If the team’s velocity decreases or stagnates over multiple sprints, it may indicate underlying issues that warrant examination. The Scrum Master can facilitate team discussions to identify obstacles, communication problems, or skill gaps that affect performance. This allows for appropriate corrective actions to be implemented.
- Continuous improvement: By tracking velocity sprint after sprint, the Scrum Master can help the team measure the results of their continuous improvement efforts. If the team manages to consistently increase their velocity, it can be a sign that the adjustments, learnings, and improvements they have implemented are paying off.
Why this answer? In the person’s job, the Scrum Master was primarily focused on increasing the team’s velocity according to the manager’s objective.
They facilitate meetings.
Indeed, the Scrum Master facilitates Scrum events. The person was aware that this is one of the many facets of the job.
They are a technical expert.
While some Scrum Masters may have a technical background (like myself), they are not technical experts per se. Perhaps we could say they are “Agile experts”?
Why this answer? The person was thinking of “a technical expert but Agile.”
They assign tasks.
The Scrum Master facilitates planning, eliminates obstacles, and helps the team focus on sprint completion and organization. However, they do not assign tasks. It is up to the developers to self-organize and collectively fulfill the objective.
Why this answer? The person’s team preferred task assignments rather than having debates about “who does what.” This decision was made based on a team agreement.
They are responsible for the product.
Be careful not to confuse this with the Product Owner, who is responsible for maximizing the product’s value and ensuring a clear product vision through stakeholder interactions. The Scrum Master’s role is focused on Agile facilitation and coaching.
Why this answer? In the person’s role, the Product Owner acted as the Agile facilitator.
They are responsible for the project!
Why this answer? The person sees Agile as a project, so they believe the Scrum Master is responsible for the Agile project.
I found this response very interesting. Although it is evident that the Scrum Master cannot single-handedly ensure success in an Agile transformation, they possess the necessary skills and knowledge to guide the project towards success. A transition project implies expectations and results. In this person’s context, they were aware that an Agile transition project was underway, and the Scrum Master was specifically tasked with increasing the team’s velocity. However, they were unsure about the reasons behind the transition and its objectives.
Conclusion
It is clear that the job of a Scrum Master remains widely unknown and misunderstood in the corporate world, despite its crucial importance. Many people continue to confuse this role with that of a project manager or a manager.
Above all, a Scrum Master is a passionate individual with extensive knowledge of how to foster agility in different contexts, armed with a vast toolbox. They aim to adapt to any given situation, acting as a facilitator, guide, and protector of the team. They ensure that Agile principles and values are understood and respected, acting as a catalyst to foster collaboration and self-organization within the team. They are also responsible for removing obstacles that hinder the team’s progress and creating an open and supportive environment conducive to learning, innovation, and creativity for all team members.
Unfortunately, due to falsely labeled “Agile” contexts prevalent in the market (such as the project manager becoming a Scrum Master), a lack of information and awareness, the role of the Scrum Master/Agile Coach is often underestimated or misunderstood. It is crucial that managers and project stakeholders fully understand the importance and responsibilities of the Scrum Master to fully leverage the benefits of this role.
To address this misunderstanding, it is necessary for us to share our experiences in organizations, online, and within our circles, making our role, mindset, and added value more accessible in professional contexts. Organizations must also communicate clearly about the role and contributions of Scrum Masters within the team.