Every team that uses Scrum methodology needs a Scrum master to help them develop and follow the Agile and Scrum practices. With a strong transparency, adaption, and retrospection foundation, the Scrum master guides the team to be cross-functional and independent simultaneously.
Given the fast-paced outputs that have become characteristic of Scrum, more and more organizations are shifting their focus to Scrum. Naturally, the demand for scrum masters has gone up tremendously. To understand the challenges of being a Scrum master, one must first understand the job responsibilities of a Scrum master.
Once you understand how integral Scrum masters are to project management teams nowadays, you will be better able to decide whether scrum training is the right path for you!
What Is A Scrum Master?
The scrum master leads the scrum team. They ensure the team follows the scrum framework properly. In addition, they help design a proper process that includes setting up meetings, roles, responsibilities, processes, etc., ensuring the Scrum methodologies are being followed effectively.
A scrum master is a compass that directs the teams and stakeholders in understanding and adopting Scrum methodologies.
Scrum training focuses more on creating mentors than masters. Scrum master’s primary focus is to assist the team in becoming independent through strategies like self-organizing and dispute resolution instead of simply spoon-feeding them by telling them exactly what to do.
They maintain the team’s alignment with the Scrum model, in contrast to a traditional project manager whose main responsibility is keeping the team and project on track.
Scrum master vs. product manager
A scrum team comprises a scrum master, a product manager, and a team of developers.
While the product manager is responsible for ensuring the team stays on track and delivers results on time, the responsibilities of a scrum master are quite different. People often confuse the roles and responsibilities of a scrum master and a product manager. It’s essential to understand the differences between both these job roles.
A product manager’s primary focus is on product development, whereas a scrum master’s main objective is to guide the team and encourage collaboration using the scrum processes. A scrum master helps the team go through the product backlog and create an effective process where each team member participates, and a project timeline is estimated.
What is Scrum?
Based on Agile principles, Scrum is a methodology that helps teams get into effective and collaborative working processes. A subset of the Agile project management framework, Scrum encourages teams to manage projects with Agile values, goals, and guidelines.
Every Scrum team needs a leader, A Scrum master!
What Does A Scrum Master Do?
A scrum master ensures the product development process stays on track and every team member is equally involved and motivated.
Sets Up Daily Stands Up
The Scrum framework requires daily stand-up meetings, which a Scrum master is responsible for. The scrum master facilitates these meetings and utilizes them to evaluate progress toward the sprint target.
Eradicates Roadblocks
As the Agile team leader, it is a scrum master’s responsibility to remove any problems the team members face in completing their tasks. The scrum master must be forever ready to get into problem-solving mode and help the team whenever needed.
Helps In Clearing Product backlog
Whether planning product backlog sessions and using the Story Points process to help clear the backlog or simply pulling up their sleeves and helping with any backlog tasks they can, scrum masters must see clearing product backlog as their responsibility.
Manages Sprint Planning Meetings
Your Scrum team decides which items from the product backlog need to be prioritized for the following sprint during sprint planning sessions. The Scrum master, the product manager, and the development team are often present at these collaborative meetings, and everyone is encouraged to participate.
Conducts Retrospective Meetings
Sprint review meetings, or retrospectives, are held after each sprint to assess what went well and what didn’t. Scrum team members can pinpoint areas that need improvement for upcoming sprints during these meetings.
How To Become A Scrum Master?
The fundamental path to becoming a scrum master is through professional Scrum training and certification from a renowned institute.
The principles of scrum project management are covered in Scrum training courses, along with other essential elements of Scrum, such as the responsibilities of the Scrum team and events.
Conclusion
A Scrum master is an integral part of the project management system in an organization that has adopted the Agile and Scrum framework. By educating those outside the team about Scrum and Agile methods, scrum masters also benefit product owners and their businesses.
There are several roles that a scrum master plays. They communicate information from higher management, attend to stakeholders’ requirements, and keep track of their Scrum team’s development.
