Scrum Master

Business case templateScrum framework

Mastering ScrumGovernance and lifecycle usually requires training as a starting point. A great place to start mastering Scrum is the Scrum Essentials training courseFAQs

Here’s a general breakdown of the kind of things you would learn about the Scrum Master role if you studied DefinitionScrum training courseIn project and investment contexts, a business case is a documented rationale for undertaking a course of action. It typically sets out the :problem

• Scrum Masters coach team members in becoming cross-functional self-managing teams or
• Scrum Masters help create high-value iterations that meet the ‘Definition of Done’opportunity
• Scrum Masters remove any obstacles to development, in whatever form they may take, defines measurable objectives, evaluates
• Scrum Masters plan all Scrum events and take measures to ensure that they are tailored so they remain positive and productive.options analysis (alternatives)

The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways:, and recommends a preferred option supported by evidence. It is commonly used to obtain approval for resources and funding and to establish a baseline for

• Scrum Masters help find techniques for effective backlog managementbenefits realisation
• Scrum Masters help the Scrum Team understand the need for a clear and concise backlog and performance measurement using
• Scrum Masters help establish product planning in a complex environment based on empirical experiencekey performance indicators (KPIs)
• Scrum Masters can also help facilitate stakeholder collaboration as needed..

The Scrum Master also serves the organisation in several ways:For a general definition and background, see the reference overview of the concept of a business case on

• Scrum Masters act as a mentor coaching the organisation at large in the adoption of WikipediaScrum.
• Scrum Masters remove barriers inhibiting open communication between stakeholders and Scrum Teams.When to use a business case

What is a Scrum Master responsible for?: a project manager, product manager, business analyst, or subject matter expert drafts the business case with input from finance and operational teams.

The Scrum Master is not responsible for overseeing project development, that’s still the role of the Accountable ownerproject manager: the or executive sponsoragile project manager (often a senior stakeholder) is accountable for the case, ensuring it aligns with strategy and that benefits are owned.. Instead, the Scrum Master works with the Product Owner and developers to refine and improve Scrum processes. The Scrum processes help facilitate project development through communication, planning and group discussion.Reviewers

We’ve already outlined some duties of the Scrum Master above, but here’s what a Scrum Master can expect to do on a day-to-day basis.: finance teams validate costs and investment appraisal; risk and compliance functions challenge

Coaching and Mentoringrisks

The Scrum Master’s primary focus is to ensure that all team members are well trained in Agile processes and understand what is expected of them. This helps the development team and managers understand each part’s respective roles, imparts a sense of shared project ownership, and helps teams self-manage without excessive oversight. and controls; procurement validates supplier assumptions.

Host daily stand-up meetingsApprovers

Daily Scrum meetings last no longer than 15 minutes. Those involved simply answer the following questions as concisely as possible:: a steering group, investment committee, portfolio board, or senior leadership approves the recommended option and budget.

• What did you do yesterday?Clear stakeholder roles reduce rework and ensure that assumptions, constraints, and delivery responsibilities are agreed early.
• What will you do today?Key components of a business case
• What is impeding your progress?A well-structured business case is easy to scan and trace from problem to recommendation. Most high-performing cases include the following components:

It may seem simple, but this meeting helps individual team members understand where they fit into the big picture and helps break down traditional siloed work structures. Importantly, the Scrum Master can note any obstacles that may keep the team from completing tasks and use their own intuition to devise newer, better ways of working using the information given.Problem or opportunity

For example, if team members are being pulled into too many unimportant meetings, the Scrum Master can work with organisers to determine who needs to attend the meetings. Or, if a team member is being assigned tasks on multiple teams, the Scrum Master can work with stakeholders to redistribute the workload.: what is happening now, why it matters, and what will happen if nothing changes (the baseline).

Product backlog managementObjectives

The Scrum Master helps the Product Owner refine and maintain the product backlog using the information gathered from the daily stand-up meetings.: what success looks like, including measurable targets and timeframes.

The product backlog is a live document that changes based on the current status and development needs. The Scrum Master can assist with the product backlog by scheduling meetings and writing Scope and constraintsuser stories: what is included and excluded, plus constraints such as time, budget, technical limitations, and regulatory requirements..Stakeholders

Agile Scrum Masters: who is affected, who must contribute, and who will own benefits.

My team uses agile to organise their day-to-day work, do I need a Scrum Master?Options analysis (alternatives)

A Scrum team must have a Scrum Master. Without one, you are doing something just shy of true Scrum, often called ‘Scrum-but.’: a shortlist of credible options, including a do-nothing or do-minimum baseline where appropriate.

A general misunderstanding of the Scrum Master role often leads existing agile managers to assume it is their role. To better understand why this can be a problem, let’s compare the Scrum Master to non-Scrum agile roles you may already have in your organisation, and why it’s important to keep the role separate.Recommended option

Scrum master vs. product manager: which option is proposed and why it is preferred.

It is generally encouraged for the product manager to involve themselves as much as possible in the BenefitsScrum Development: quantified and non-quantified benefits, and how they support strategy. Team’s activities. A Product Owner should champion customer needs.Costs

Whereas a Product Owner answers the question of ‘why?’, Scrum Masters are tasked with answering the question of ‘how?’: one-off and ongoing costs (capital and operational), including training, support, and change management.

When the involvement blurs into tasking the Product Owner to solve questions of ‘how’ for a team, it tends to result in defects, hand-offs, and unknowns. When impediments to development are discovered or changes arise, a clear division between process management and product direction is required.Investment appraisal

A good Scrum Master empowers the team to decide how to best accomplish goals through self-organisation.: methods such as

Scrum Master vs. agile project managerreturn on investment (ROI)

The Scrum Master’s non-technical counterpart is the , project managernet present value (NPV). Both these roles focus on the ‘how’ of development. So, do you need both? Opinions differ, with some camps insisting on the need for agile project managers. Others see the roles as interchangeable. As with all things agile, there are ‘increments of agility’, and each organisation must decide how agile they should be.,

Both the project manager and Scrum Master are responsible for helping their teams get work done, but their approaches are vastly different. The project manager sets timeframes and milestones, progress reports, and coordinates team communication. However, they work in a more traditional management role. Project managers sit above the development teams and act as oversight.internal rate of return (IRR)

The Scrum Master, on the other hand, works as another member of a Scrum team. The best Scrum teams are self-organising and don’t react well to top-down management. However, this is not universally applicable, and different , and projectspayback period .canRisks benefit from both. In cases where both an : key risks, mitigations, and residual risk.agile project managerAssumptions and dependencies and Scrum Master work in collaboration to achieve a goal, clearly delineated roles and open communication are a : what must be true for the case to succeed and what it relies on (for example, data quality or supplier delivery).mustImplementation plan.: phases, milestones, resourcing approach, and indicative timeline.

Must-have skills for any aspiring Scrum MasterRun financial appraisal

A successful Scrum Master is expected to motivate the team members and streamline development. For this, the Scrum Master requires certain soft-skills in addition to whichever hard-skills are required by the industry, project, or organisation:: calculate ROI, NPV, IRR, and payback period; document discount rate and major assumptions.

Intuition and observationAssess risks, assumptions, and dependencies

Scrum Masters observe the activities of team members daily. They must use their skills of observation and a little rational thinking to figure out how development can be improved and share this information via workshops, and meetings.: rate likelihood and impact, define mitigations, and identify decision-critical unknowns.

Communication and listening skillsRecommend the preferred option

On a closely related note, Scrum Masters must be experts in communication in order to provide clear and concise instructions to stakeholders and developers. Because sharing ideas is an important part of a Scrum Masters’ role, it’s important to listen to other points of view too!: provide a clear recommendation and explain trade-offs (value, risk, feasibility, timing).

FlexibilityOutline the implementation plan and governance

A great Scrum Master know when they are needed and when they are not. Scrum Masters support the growth team members in such a way that, as time goes on, the input of a Scrum Master should be needed less and less. The role of the Scrum Master usually progresses from a daily mentor to a periodical advisor. Knowing how and when to take a step back is an important skill!: include timeline, milestones, responsibilities, and a post-implementation review to validate outcomes.