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Project Management 101 — What are the Roles of a Scrum Master?

Scrum Master is a confusing term for companies that have not fully transitioned to Agile. Understanding the role is important to benefit the most from the Scrum project management approach. The effort is well worth it in the end as it will lead to increased productivity and efficiency, which translates into improved bottom line for the company.

Here we will explain in detail about the roles and responsibilities of the Scrum Master. Knowing about the role will help you understand the importance of including a certified Scrum Master in the project team.

What Does a Scrum Master Do?

First of all, you should remember that the Scrum Master plays a different role than the project manager. The responsibilities of a Scrum Master are limited. The job of the Scrum Master is to educate the team about the Scrum approach, SAFe, Kanban, Extreme Programming (XP) and other techniques to ensure that the team fully transitions to the Agile project management. A project manager can be a Scrum Master but not the other way around.

A Scrum Master can be said to be a coach or facilitator that helps the team to fully transition to the Agile project management approach. The main responsibility includes making sure that the Agile process is being properly followed. The professionals remove any obstacles that can prevent implementation of the Agile approach. The end goal of Scrum Masters is to ensure relentless improvement and increased productivity through high-performing team dynamics.

The role of Scrum Master is to help a team achieve its Scrum goals using online work management software and team management software to ensure better coordination between the team members. They do this by coaching and teaching best practices related to the Scrum approach. Also, they help in identifying and removing any impediments and ensure smooth operations.

Roles of a Scrum Master —At a Glance

The role of a Scrum Master that has been described above can be encapsulated into a few keywords. These include:

• A Coach
• A Facilitator
• A Guide to Removing Obstacles
• A Scrum Framework Custodian

Is Scrum Master a Temporary or a Full-Time Position?

A Scrum Master can be either a temporary or a full-time position. It depends on theproject objective, context, responsibilities, and size. At the corporate level, the role of a Scrum Master is somewhat permanent due to the extensive nature of the projects. Organizations that have 100 or more project team will require the services of a Scrum Master for a longer period.

In conclusion, Scrum Master is a separate, distinct role from project managers. A Scrum Master ensures that the company fully follows the principles of the agile project management. The professional helps transition the team to a more efficient work process that results in improved efficacies. The end results in improved chances of project success and greater profitability for the company.