Beginner's Guide to Scrum Master Roles

By Susan May

You have gone through a comprehensive training, you have gained the certificate. You even have a digital badge to demonstrate your Scrum knowledge. But how exactly would you define your role as a Certified ScrumMaster®? Are you a project manager? Or are you a servant leader? What is the role of a CSM® in an organizational and team context? As a Scrum Master, you’re expected to be the Agile and Scrum expert on the team. Your expertise on Scrum values, principles and processes is what keeps the team on track and ensures that the Scrum framework is implicitly followed at every stage of the project, by every level of the team. A Scrum Master, therefore, is someone who lives and breathes Scrum and helps others transition from non-Scrum to Scrum in order to reap its benefits.What is a Scrum Master Also Known As? The Scrum Master is also known as the servant leader, following the philosophy where the main goal of the leader is to serve. The servant leadership style of working involves not just asking what resources are doing—but helping them do better by removing any hindrances that might be affecting their productivity. The Scrum Master ensures that the team members are working in an environment that fosters maximum productivity. The servant leadership also extends to those that the team members serve, that is the customers. The Scrum Master will create conditions that are conducive to achieving results that are aligned to the customers’ needs, and that fit the overall organizational goals and business objectives. There are many hats that the Scrum Master needs to wear. The responsibilities are diverse and require him or her to apply their knowledge for the upward development of a Scrum team.  As a servant leader, a Scrum Master will: Be conscious of serving others and not themselves Create a leadership legacy that endures Help team members perform to the highest level of their capabilities Selflessly manage team members Create conditions that will help the team, as a whole, perform Expected Benefits The CSM certification comes with several benefits. You can Become a Scrum expert and implement the framework to gain benefits Create a work environment conducive to success and innovation Learn to avoid internal and external distractions and solve disputes Create a high performing team Enhance your Agile toolkit and get lucrative job offersCommon Pitfalls As a Scrum Master there are certain pitfalls you should avoid: Know the difference between a Scrum Master’s responsibilities and that of a project managers. Do not overlap the two. Do not tell your team ‘to do’. Instead create an environment where communication is free and development high. Your job is to further the application of Scrum principles, processes and values. Involve the whole team in project development. You are not solely responsible for delivering the project. The whole team is! The sooner the glitches from a project are removed, the better. Waiting to remove obstacles will only cause them to blow up. Not conducting daily stand ups will cause unsolved problems to fester and prevent open communication. Do not underestimate Agile transition. Go at it with all that you have to ensure success. Do not put off creating the product back-log. That’s among the most common reasons for product failures. Last but not the least, make sure that your team is not over-pressured. Work towards unburdening them by removing impediments and clearing obstacles.Skill LevelsModern projects are complicated—with complex targets, teams that span geographies, and the use of modern technologies. A Scrum Master needs to deal with all this, while ensuring that Scrum processes are always followed. This transformation is an ongoing process. The modern Scrum Master, hence, needs to have certain skills that will help meet goals. These skills include: Adaptability Focus Collaboration Empathy Technical skills Agile mind Soft skills InquisitivenessScrum Master Responsibilities A good Scrum Master always goes beyond the title and focuses on helping further the adoption of the Scrum framework. The top 10 responsibilities of a Scrum Master include: Implement servant leadership and ensure that scrum practices are followed Motivate teams and help them discover their potential Engage in and foster collaboration among team members, product owner and stakeholders Be a change agent Open communication channels between all members involved in a project Scale Scrum at the organizational level Help teams maximise their performance Remove any internal or external distractions that might hinder team performance Help product owner with product backlog Facilitate team progressScrum Master Roles A Scrum Master plays a role and undertakes several responsibilities in supporting the product owner, the development team and the organization as a whole. Scrum master's Role in Supporting Product Owners The Scrum Master helps the Product Owner thus: Helps maintain product backlog Demystifies the product backlog to the team Assists the product owner in helping the team understand end goals and expectations Helps establish and implement Agile principlesScrum Master’s Service to the Development TeamThe Scrum Master helps the development team in these ways: Removes obstacles that may hinder the team’s performance Conducts Daily Standups and Reviews to streamline progress Helps team create high quality products Ensures that the Scrum framework in implemented correctly Helps team transition to Agility and ScrumThe Scrum Master's Role in the Organization The Scrum Master helps the organization in many ways: Scales Scrum from team level to organizational level Aids in change management Helps in problem solving Helps create superior quality products and understand the need of the customer Helps teams and stakeholders adopt and practice scrum Scrum Master Learning Path The Certified ScrumMaster® learning path, as defined by Scrum Alliance®, helps you understand the role and responsibilities of a Scrum Master. It de-clutters the focus areas and sets the tone to help you embark on a journey of continuous learning. It consists of core competencies that include: Understanding and applying Agile and the Scrum framework Understanding the three roles in Scrum Managing Scrum ceremonies, artefacts and sprints Developing and delivering products through planning and estimationScrum Master TrainingA Scrum Master certification will help you validate your skills and expertise in implementing Scrum. A Scrum Master certification such as CSM is your ticket to gaining lucrative Scrum Master roles and salaries. The CSM certification offered by Scrum Alliance is a good option for entry level Scrum Masters or those who want to polish up on their Scrum skills. This is also a great start to go on to gain higher Scrum certifications such as the Advanced Certified ScrumMasterSM certification. The training details for the CSM course are as follows: Attend a 16-hour face-to-face course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®). Scrum Alliance Registered Education Providers are required to offer trainings that are conducted by CSTs. On completion of the training, give the CSM exam, which is a 1-hour, open book exam of 50 questions. You successfully pass the exam on correctly answering 37 out of the 50 questions. Once you get your certified you need to renew it every 2-years to maintain it. This can be done by earning and logging in 20 Scrum Education Units® and paying a fee of $100.Top Qualities of a Successful Scrum MasterA Scrum Master, after all, has been hired for skills in Scrum. A good Scrum Master will become successful by ensuring that Scrum and Agile are properly adhered to and implemented in the course of the project. A successful Scrum master is a coach and motivator par excellence. Having soft skills such as the ability to communicate, smoothen conflicts and facilitate processes can make you a successful Scrum Master. Brush up your technical skills. Stay on par with the latest technologies to understand what your development team wants and needs. To be successful, let go of your title and invest your energies in the adoption and facilitation of Scrum. Scaling Scrum from the team to the enterprise will speak volumes of your success and talent as a Scrum Master.ConclusionEveryone cannot be a servant leader. It takes a special resource, namely the Scrum Master who can be a servant leader and drive project success through the adoption of Scrum. A Certified ScrumMaster is the certification that will help you become a successful Scrum Master and imbibe the core values of Scrum which are commitment, focus, openness, respect and courage. Do you have what it takes to be a successful Scrum Master? Take the first step on what could be an immensely satisfying career path, by visiting our CSM page! 

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Beginner's Guide to Scrum Master Roles

By Susan May 14th Feb, 2021

Susan May

Blog

Category: Blog
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5396 742 14th Feb, 2021

You have gone through a comprehensive training, you have gained the certificate. You even have a digital badge to demonstrate your Scrum knowledge.

But how exactly would you define your role as a Certified ScrumMaster®? Are you a project manager? Or are you a servant leader? What is the role of a CSM® in an organizational and team context?

As a Scrum Master, you’re expected to be the Agile and Scrum expert on the team. Your expertise on Scrum values, principles and processes is what keeps the team on track and ensures that the Scrum framework is implicitly followed at every stage of the project, by every level of the team.

A Scrum Master, therefore, is someone who lives and breathes Scrum and helps others transition from non-Scrum to Scrum in order to reap its benefits.

What is a Scrum Master Also Known As?

The Scrum Master is also known as the servant leader, following the philosophy where the main goal of the leader is to serve. The servant leadership style of working involves not just asking what resources are doing—but helping them do better by removing any hindrances that might be affecting their productivity.

The Scrum Master ensures that the team members are working in an environment that fosters maximum productivity.

The servant leadership also extends to those that the team members serve, that is the customers. The Scrum Master will create conditions that are conducive to achieving results that are aligned to the customers’ needs, and that fit the overall organizational goals and business objectives.

There are many hats that the Scrum Master needs to wear. The responsibilities are diverse and require him or her to apply their knowledge for the upward development of a Scrum team. 

As a servant leader, a Scrum Master will:

Be conscious of serving others and not themselves
Create a leadership legacy that endures
Help team members perform to the highest level of their capabilities
Selflessly manage team members
Create conditions that will help the team, as a whole, perform

Expected Benefits

The CSM certification comes with several benefits. You can
Become a Scrum expert and implement the framework to gain benefits
Create a work environment conducive to success and innovation
Learn to avoid internal and external distractions and solve disputes
Create a high performing team
Enhance your Agile toolkit and get lucrative job offers

Common Pitfalls

As a Scrum Master there are certain pitfalls you should avoid:
Know the difference between a Scrum Master’s responsibilities and that of a project managers. Do not overlap the two.
Do not tell your team ‘to do’. Instead create an environment where communication is free and development high. Your job is to further the application of Scrum principles, processes and values.
Involve the whole team in project development. You are not solely responsible for delivering the project. The whole team is!
The sooner the glitches from a project are removed, the better. Waiting to remove obstacles will only cause them to blow up.
Not conducting daily stand ups will cause unsolved problems to fester and prevent open communication.
Do not underestimate Agile transition. Go at it with all that you have to ensure success.
Do not put off creating the product back-log. That’s among the most common reasons for product failures.
Last but not the least, make sure that your team is not over-pressured. Work towards unburdening them by removing impediments and clearing obstacles.

Skill Levels

Modern projects are complicated—with complex targets, teams that span geographies, and the use of modern technologies. A Scrum Master needs to deal with all this, while ensuring that Scrum processes are always followed. This transformation is an ongoing process.

The modern Scrum Master, hence, needs to have certain skills that will help meet goals.

These skills include:

Adaptability
Focus
Collaboration
Empathy
Technical skills
Agile mind
Soft skills
Inquisitiveness

Scrum Master Responsibilities

A good Scrum Master always goes beyond the title and focuses on helping further the adoption of the Scrum framework.

The top 10 responsibilities of a Scrum Master include:

Implement servant leadership and ensure that scrum practices are followed
Motivate teams and help them discover their potential
Engage in and foster collaboration among team members, product owner and stakeholders
Be a change agent
Open communication channels between all members involved in a project
Scale Scrum at the organizational level
Help teams maximise their performance
Remove any internal or external distractions that might hinder team performance
Help product owner with product backlog
Facilitate team progress

Scrum Master Roles

A Scrum Master plays a role and undertakes several responsibilities in supporting the product owner, the development team and the organization as a whole.

Scrum master's Role in Supporting Product Owners

The Scrum Master helps the Product Owner thus:

Helps maintain product backlog
Demystifies the product backlog to the team
Assists the product owner in helping the team understand end goals and expectations
Helps establish and implement Agile principles

Scrum Master’s Service to the Development Team

The Scrum Master helps the development team in these ways:

Removes obstacles that may hinder the team’s performance
Conducts Daily Standups and Reviews to streamline progress
Helps team create high quality products
Ensures that the Scrum framework in implemented correctly
Helps team transition to Agility and Scrum

The Scrum Master's Role in the Organization

The Scrum Master helps the organization in many ways:

Scales Scrum from team level to organizational level
Aids in change management
Helps in problem solving
Helps create superior quality products and understand the need of the customer
Helps teams and stakeholders adopt and practice scrum

Scrum Master Learning Path

The Certified ScrumMaster® learning path, as defined by Scrum Alliance®, helps you understand the role and responsibilities of a Scrum Master. It de-clutters the focus areas and sets the tone to help you embark on a journey of continuous learning.

It consists of core competencies that include:

Understanding and applying Agile and the Scrum framework
Understanding the three roles in Scrum
Managing Scrum ceremonies, artefacts and sprints
Developing and delivering products through planning and estimation

Scrum Master Training

A Scrum Master certification will help you validate your skills and expertise in implementing Scrum. A Scrum Master certification such as CSM is your ticket to gaining lucrative Scrum Master roles and salaries.

The CSM certification offered by Scrum Alliance is a good option for entry level Scrum Masters or those who want to polish up on their Scrum skills. This is also a great start to go on to gain higher Scrum certifications such as the Advanced Certified ScrumMasterSM certification.

The training details for the CSM course are as follows:

Attend a 16-hour face-to-face course taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer® (CST®). Scrum Alliance Registered Education Providers are required to offer trainings that are conducted by CSTs.

On completion of the training, give the CSM exam, which is a 1-hour, open book exam of 50 questions. You successfully pass the exam on correctly answering 37 out of the 50 questions.

Once you get your certified you need to renew it every 2-years to maintain it. This can be done by earning and logging in 20 Scrum Education Units® and paying a fee of $100.

Top Qualities of a Successful Scrum Master

A Scrum Master, after all, has been hired for skills in Scrum. A good Scrum Master will become successful by ensuring that Scrum and Agile are properly adhered to and implemented in the course of the project.

A successful Scrum master is a coach and motivator par excellence.

Having soft skills such as the ability to communicate, smoothen conflicts and facilitate processes can make you a successful Scrum Master.

Brush up your technical skills. Stay on par with the latest technologies to understand what your development team wants and needs.

To be successful, let go of your title and invest your energies in the adoption and facilitation of Scrum. Scaling Scrum from the team to the enterprise will speak volumes of your success and talent as a Scrum Master.

Conclusion

Everyone cannot be a servant leader. It takes a special resource, namely the Scrum Master who can be a servant leader and drive project success through the adoption of Scrum.

A Certified ScrumMaster is the certification that will help you become a successful Scrum Master and imbibe the core values of Scrum which are commitment, focus, openness, respect and courage.

Do you have what it takes to be a successful Scrum Master? Take the first step on what could be an immensely satisfying career path, by visiting our CSM page! 

Agile
Scrum

Susan May

Writer, Developer, Explorer

Susan is a gamer, internet scholar and an entrepreneur, specialising in Big Data, Hadoop, Web Development and many other technologies. She is the author of several articles published on Zeolearn and KnowledgeHut blogs. She has gained a lot of experience by working as a freelancer and is now working as a trainer. As a developer, she has spoken at various international tech conferences around the globe about Big Data.