It is no wonder that many organizations have been turning to the scrum framework to improve product performance and effectiveness. With agile methods quickly becoming the industry standard, having a scrum master as part of the team is essential. But what exactly does a scrum master do? Let’s take a closer look.
A Closer Look at the Role of a Scrum Master
A scrum master is a certified professional who is responsible for facilitating and guiding project management. They are responsible for ensuring the team is working efficiently and ensuring that the scrum project management framework is being followed correctly and consistently. They act as a link between the management, team members, and stakeholders, guiding and promoting agile principles within the organization.
The main role of a scrum master is to help the team work together to tackle tasks. They support the squad by ensuring they complete their work in the most efficient way possible, teaching the use of scrum tools and techniques. To do this effectively, the scrum master will monitor the team and make sure daily progress is within the sprint goal for delivery.
So, What Does a Scrum Master Do?
Here is a more specific look at the tasks of a scrum master, including:
● Facilitate daily scrum meetings: The scrum master will facilitate daily scrum meetings or stand-ups, ensuring progress is discussed and team members are on task and remain productive.
● Coach the team: The scrum master will coach the team and help them develop the skills they need to succeed in the project.
● Create sprint plans: Create sprint plans, set sprint goals to measure common agile metrics, and help prioritize tasks that are important to the project’s success.
● Identify and monitor risks: Identify risks to the project and ensure they are addressed, monitored and managed.
● Remove project impediments: Help remove any project impediments and ensure the team is working efficiently.
● Help with retrospection: Assist the team in analyzing and reflecting on the project’s successes and failures and how to move forward and improve.
● Report on goals: Report on progress and performance for each sprint goal.
Clearly, this is a wide-ranging role that requires a person with strong technical, communication, and organizational skills. Alongside these skills, scrum masters must have a sound knowledge of agile methodology and practices, understand the process and be able to adjust it to the team’s needs.
In conclusion, the scrum master is a key member of any agile team and an integral part of their success in meeting project goals. They ensure the team is working efficiently and productively and create an environment where knowledge is shared, collaboration is encouraged and the team can work toward their release goals.