Scrum is one of the most popular agile project management frameworks today; it has three main roles: the scrum master, the product owner and the development team. The scrum master is responsible for supporting the development team, clearing organizational impediments, and keeping the scrum process true to the Agile Manifesto, the 12 Agile Principles and the five scrum values.
A scrum master is different than a project manager. Teams using traditional project approaches work for a project manager. A scrum master, on the other hand, is a servant-leader, and supports the team so that it is fully functional and productive. The scrum master:
- Is the process coach for the product owner and development team, ensuring the scrum team and the organization follow agile and scrum values and best practices
- Helps remove impediments, both immediate and future, so the development team can stay focused and productive
- Shields the development team from external interferences
- Assists the team with self-organization
- Fosters close cooperation between different team members and departments
- Ensures that everyone on the project team has all the information they need to do the job, use their tools, and track progress
A scrum master is an expert in agile processes and can coach others. The scrum master must also work collaboratively with the stakeholders on the project team that interface with the core scrum team.
Scrum masters must have strong coordination and communication skills, with enough organizational clout to secure conditions for success by negotiating for the right environment, protecting the team from distractions, and removing impediments. Scrum masters are great communicators and great listeners, and can transform conflicting opinions into superior solutions.
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