Scrum is a framework which addresses problems and develops products creatively andproductively with the highest value. A scrum team consists of a development team, a product owner and a scrum master. A scrum master plays an important role in the team. He leads the project team with agile project management tools and techniques. A scrum master facilitates smooth coordination and communication between the leadership and the project scrum team.

Let us understand who is a scrum master!

A scrum master is a person who ensures that the scrum framework is understood and implemented. He is the person who ensures that the scrum team sticks to the scrum theory, practices and regulations. A scrum master is also accountable for the scrum team"s performance and effectiveness. He ensures that all the scrum events are unfolded in the right sequence.

How does the scrum master serve the organization?           

1. Serving the scrum team (Development team)

• Scrum master coaches the scrum master in self-management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Scrum master removes impediments and helps the scrum team to progress in the project.
• Scrum master helps the scrum team to deliver high-value increments.
• A scrum master ensures all the scrum events take place in a sequence and within the time frame.

2. Serving the product owner

• A scrum master helps the product owner to understand the product backlogs with a clear explanation
• A scrum master also helps the product owner with a clear and concise understanding of product planning.
• A scrum master helps the product owner by placing his vision before the development team
• A scrum master helps the product owner to define the product goal in the best possible manner with scrum framework and agile techniques.
• A scrum master collaborates with the product owner for backlog refinement
• A Scrum master helps the product owner to understand agility

3. Serving the organization

• A scrum master leads, coaches and trains the entire organization in the scrum implementation
• A scrum master plans and implements a scrum framework in the organization
• A scrum master removes the blockers between the stakeholders and the scrum team

SAFe team

A scrum master ensures a smooth flow of agile release rain and facilitates continuous improvement. He creates an environment that supports excellent team collaboration and positive team dynamics.

Desired qualities in a scrum master

• Courage: A scrum master should be courageous and should speak up for the team and act as a servant leader. They should work alongside the team. A scrum master should be bold to voice a dissenting opinion and encourage a conflict which adds to the productivity of the team. A scrum master should encourage the team to be courageous to ask what they don’t know and admit their ignorance. A scrum master should be courageous to deliver the project under pressure and be transparent about the project"s progress with the product owner.
• Openness: A scrum master should be open which will ultimately translate into trust in the team. It will create positive working relations with the product owner, stakeholders, and developers. Lack of openness may lead to poor communication, lack of transparency, and lack of trust. Openness will let all the stakeholders know about the progress of the project.
• Collaboration: Collaboration in a scrum team is facilitated by the scrum master. Collaboration in a scrum team means working together to achieve the project goals by validating the project deliverables. For a productive collaboration between individuals, the scrum master has to follow the core dimensions of the collaborative work as per the scrum guide which is awareness, articulation, and appropriation.
• Awareness: All the team members should be aware of each other’s work for effective collaboration.
• Articulation: The scrum master must divide the work between the scrum/development team and ensure that a single piece of final work is delivered to the client.
• Appropriation: A scrum master should also adapt the team to the appropriate process, tools and technology for the best value outcome of the project.
• Empathy:A scrum master should empathize with the development team, understand their problems and remove their impediments. He should conduct the scrum calls daily and understands their challenges and blockers.

Role of a scrum master

• Implement project management practices: A scrum master should create and onboard competitive teams. He should provide a clear vision of the product and drive the team to achieve the results.
• Track progress: A scrum master has the responsibility of tracking the progress of the development team and removing impediments. He has to report the progress to the relevant stakeholders and ensure the project meets the deadlines.
• Introduce agile practices: A scrum master is responsible for driving an agile culture in the organization. A scrum master should use the best suitable agile techniques to add value and deliver the project. Techniques like extreme programming, scrum, and Kanban to effectively deliver the projects.
• Coach team members: A scrum master should work like a servant leader and works with the development team. He acts as a coach and teaches agile methodologies and practices. A scrum master ensures that the teams become self-managed and improve performance and productivity.
• Conduct scrum meetings/ daily stand-up calls: The scrum master organizes the team by conducting the daily stand-up meeting. A scrum master discusses the tea accomplishments, and bottlenecks faced. This helps the scrum master to understand the team personally and interact with everyone on a daily basis. The project"s progress also can be monitored closely.
• Help the product owner: The scrum master helps the product owner refine the product backlog. A product backlog has the list of the tasks the team needs to do and the product owner owned it. A scrum master provides updated information regarding the development team. Scrum Master helps the product owner to prioritize the user stories.
• Removal of blockers: A scrum master helps the development to stay focused on the user stories assigned in a specific iteration. A scrum master can help the team to attend the meetings that are only necessary and avoid unnecessary meetings which eat away time.
• Conclusion: A scrum master plays a crucial role in agile teams and ensures that the agile and scrum principles are followed. He is primarily responsible for coaching and facilitating the development team and the product owner. He should religiously follow the three pillars of the scrum which are Transparency, adaptability and inspection. A scrum master should be modest, collaborative, empathetic, and influential in the team. He should be knowledgeable and should be able to support the team. To become an expert in the Scrum Master role, immerse yourself in the best practices of your industry, gain practical experience in leading Agile projects, and continuously develop your leadership and facilitation skills.