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Writer's pictureEsuabom Dijemeni

4 Key Responsibilities of A Scrum Master


Scrum Master
Scrum Master

Summary

A Scrum Master, a true leader, is responsible for:

  1. Establishing Scrum

  2. Serves a Scrum Team

  3. Serves a Product Owner

  4. Serves an organization

Establishing Scrum

The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide - Scrum Guide 2020

The first key responsibility of a Scrum Master is establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. Worth emphasizing, Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide! Another way of saying this is A Scrum Master needs to get their Team scrumming. A Scrum Master does this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization. In a nutsell, a Scrum Master establishes and ensure a team is scrumming!


A Scrum Master establishes Scrum
A Scrum Master establishes Scrum

Serves a Scrum Team

The second key responsibility of a Scrum Master is serving their Scrum team(s). The Scrum Master serves the team by making the team a high-performing, cross-functional and self-organisation team. The Scrum Master achieved this by:

  • Coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality

  • Helping the Scrum Team focus on creating high-value Increments

  • Causing the removal of impediments to the Scrum Team's progress

  • Ensuring that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.

Scrum Master Facilitating Daily Scrum
Scrum Master Facilitating Daily Scrum

Serves a Product Owner

The third key role of the Scrum Master is to support, coach and empower a product owner in his / her ability to maximise the value of the product resulting from the work of the Scrum Team. The Scrum Master serves a Product Owner by:

  • Coaching and supporting in effective Product Goal definition

  • Supporting in effective Product Backlog management

  • Helping a Scrum Team understand the need for clear and concise Product Backlog item

  • Helping establish empirical product planning for a complex environment

  • Facilitating stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed


Scrum Master coaching Product Owner
Scrum Master coaching Product Owner

Serves an Organisation

Ultimately, a Scrum Master serves an organisation. A Scrum Master is an agile change agents that helps foster, nurture and grow an agile mindset and agile value delivery culture. A Scrum Master serves an organisation by:

  • Leading, training, and coaching an organisation in its Scrum adoption

  • Planning and advising Scrum implementations within the organisation

  • Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact an empirical approach for complex work

  • Removing barriers between stakeholders and Scrum Teams

Scrum Master leading a Training Session
Scrum Master leading a Training Session

Conclusion

A Scrum is an agile change agent primarily responsible for establishing Scrum with an organisation. As a True Leader, a Scrum Master serves a Scrum Team, Product Owner and Organisation at large. A Scrum Master is fostering, coaching and supporting empirical value delivery in an ever complex and changing world.



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