Mastering Scrum: An IT Professional's Guide to Agile Success

Introduction 

As an IT professional with over 16 years of experience, I have worked at Accenture, IBM, Cognizant, and Appirio/Wipro, leading to my current position as Project Manager at Sierra Cloud in Melbourne, Australia. 

This breadth of experience has equipped me with a profound understanding of agile methodologies, particularly in the role of a Scrum Master.

If you're considering a career as a Scrum Master or seeking to expand your knowledge in this fast-growing domain, you've come to the right place. This article is my dedicated effort to share the insights and expertise I've garnered through years of practice and hard work, aiming to enlighten and support those on a similar professional path.

‍

My project management journey

‍A significant turning point in my career occurred at Appirio/Wipro in 2017 when my mentors and managers led me into project management and scrum-mastering roles. Their insightful introduction ignited my passion for these roles, setting me on a path toward excellence in all of these capacities.

Over the last six years, I have spearheaded numerous projects across various sectors, serving in both Project Management and Scrum Master capacities. Currently, I am leading a challenging digital transformation programme in the higher education sector, acting as the Program Scrum Master and leading multiple agile delivery teams.

Project Manager Vs Scrum Master

Before delving into the intricacies of the Scrum Master role, it is crucial to address and clarify a widespread misconception around the roles of Project Manager and Scrum Master, which are sometimes referred interchangeably. Let's begin by distinguishing between these two positions to understand their unique contributions.

According to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK), a project manager's core responsibilities encompass the ten knowledge areas: Cost Management, Schedule Management , Time Management, Quality Management, Resource Management, Communication Management, Risk Management, Procurement Management, Stakeholder Management, and Integration Management.

In contrast, a Scrum Master focuses on ensuring iterative timely delivery from the overall product backlog defined by a product owner, utilizing a sprint mindset and collaborating with the delivery teams within an agile framework.

Scrum Master is a professional who leads and mentors the team within an agile framework to deliver successful outcomes in a timely manner(sprints) through facilitating communication & collaboration between leadership & team members. A scrum master works closely with the Product owner who owns/defines the overall product backlog.

Sometimes, a scrum master role is confused with an Iteration Manager role who is also primarily responsible for delivering the product backlog within an agile framework but not mandatory to be applying scrum delivery mindset.

‍

Dispelling myths about a scrum master’s role & responsibilities:‍

Roles and responsibilities of a scrum master 

Stakeholder management 

‍

• Work closely with product owner on assisting/refining/prioritizing overall product backlog from overall release/sprints perspective 
• Work with PO/PM for commitment of work each sprint as per team’s capacity 
• Share standard scrum metrics(burnup / burndown / velocity / sprint report) to the stakeholders 
• Be adaptable & flexible to changes in the project's scope, but do not alter the current sprint's scope without a product owner's approval 
• Ask project sponsors for necessary support/guidance on program/project decision making, when required
• Lead/Participate in program conversation outside scrum team and be the voice for the team in those forums 
• Dependency management between different scrum teams

‍

‍Scrum Guide/Mentor 

‍

• Lead and make decisions for the team to keep the scrum team on track towards their sprint goal 
• Mentor and coach team members/organization on scrum principles and processes 
• Ensure everyone in the team is aligned on their roles and responsibilities and the expected outcome for each scrum ceremony/deliverable as per definition of done(DoD) agreed for the team to increase accuracy of estimates & deliverables
• Provide a safe space where team members may voice any issues or concerns that need to be resolved right away in order for them to move forward

‍

‍Coordination & Collaboration 

‍

• Help the team in defining definition of done for scrum team’s ceremonies & deliverables (if one does not already exist) to bring them in alignment which includes information about each team member, leaves, work location, standard responsibilities for each role, team-related helpful links, scrum ceremonies, definitions of done, estimation strategy, reports like sprint velocity, sprint burn up/down, defect density etc.)
• Facilitate various scrum ceremonies agreed as a team 
• Keep the scrum team organized and effective by acting as a bridge between product management & development (inclusive of build, test, process, change)
• Help in resolving impediments for team members and protecting the team from possible distractions 
• Keep open lines of communication among team members regarding sprint tickets to guarantee that the progress of all committed items is transparent

‍

Below are some best practices that I recommend for successful delivery of responsibilities as Scrum Master

‍

How to grow in this role and beyond …‍

Some qualities that are desirable for someone looking to transition into this role

• Be a Certified Scrum Master
• Ability to have a managerial view of how things should be done
• Ability to be firm and hold the flag for scrum processes/ceremonies with minor tweaks for the team to ensure the delivery engine is always churning for the project 
• Possess below skills:
  • Planning and Organising 
  • Team Leadership /Mentoring 
  • Assertive communication
  • Collaborative ways of working
  • Time Box approach to execution

You can explore scrum master course track through various available portals for e.g. https://www.scrumalliance.org/get-certified/scrum-master-track/certified-scrummaster - 

Some certifications and trainings that I would recommend to explore, if you decide to go down this path, are :

• Certified Scrum Master(CSM), Advanced Certified Scrum Master(ACSM),Certified Scrum Professional Scrum Master(CSP-SM)
• Scaling Agile – SAFe is probably the best place to start as most organizations in Australia have based their scaled agile delivery on SAFe and the Spotify Model (even if they don't call it SAFe)
• Explore certifications like SAFe Scrum Master(SSM), SAFe Advanced Scrum Master(SASM), Leading SAFe(SA - SAFe Agilist), SAFe Program Consultant (SPC) 
• Kanban courses offer a different perspective to thinking about work and change, that can be well aligned with agile ways of working. Can start with Kanban System Design, then Kanban System Improvement, then Kanban Maturity Model etc. 
• Management and agile coach roles and certifications

‍

Bringing it all together‍

The journey to mastering Scrum as an IT professional is not merely about adopting a methodology, but about embracing a mindset of continuous improvement and team collaboration. From my experiences at leading companies such as Accenture, IBM, and Sierra Cloud, I've learned that the role of a Scrum Master is pivotal in bridging gaps between teams, guiding the agile processes, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality solutions within the constraints of time and scope.

As we have seen, distinguishing the roles of a Scrum Master from a Project Manager is crucial for the effective implementation of agile practices. Each role has distinct responsibilities and requires a unique skill set to ensure that both the project's goals and the team's dynamics are optimally managed. 

For those aspiring to excel in this role, it is essential to continually seek knowledge, remembering that the path of a Scrum Master is one of leadership, mentorship, and perpetual learning. By fostering an environment of transparency, flexibility, and continuous feedback, you can lead your projects to successful outcomes while contributing significantly to your professional growth and the strategic goals of your organization.

‍