What does a ScrumMaster do?
Dr. German Sakaryan CSP, CSM
As a ScrumMaster, I was asked this question many times. Sometimes I had enough time to explain, sometimes not. But every time it was challenging to provide a clear picture of what a ScrumMaster really does.
To help myself and other ScrumMasters, I have started to write down general activities, which characterize the role of the ScrumMaster (see below).
The priority of activities varies by company.
- Keeps Scrum process running
- Ensures a proper power balance between PO, Team, Management
- Protects the Team
- Moderates in the Team
- Helps to organize (e.g., Meetings)
- Helps to keep the Team focused on the current Sprint
- Helps to achieve Sprint goals
- Works with PO
- Educates PO, Team, Management and Organization
- Solves impediments
- Encourages and helps to achieve transparency
- Strives to develop a Team into a High Performance Team
- Encourages and protects self-organization
- Educates and focuses a Team toward business-driven development
- Supports Team building and Team development by utilizing the abilities and skills of individuals, and fostering a Feedback culture
- Helps to self-help
- Ensures and supports Empowerment of the Team
- Addresses needs efficiently and effectively
- Detects hidden problems and strives to solve them
- Helps Team to learn from its experiences
Hints for management:
ScrumMaster is a very challenging job. If you are hiring someone for the position, consider which skills the ideal candidate would have.
In my opinion, the job profile is strongly oriented towards leadership and soft skills including moderation, facilitation, presentation, communication and conflict management, and less technically-oriented.
