Who is the Scrum Master

Introduction The Scrum Master is the Ambassador for Scrum and responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum in the organisation as defined in the Scrum Guide [1]. The Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.
The Scrum Master is a facilitator-leader for the Scrum Team. The Scrum Master helps those outside the Scrum Team understand which of their interactions with the Scrum Team are helpful and which aren’t. The Scrum Master helps everyone change these interactions to maximize the value created by the Scrum Team.
What Task do the Scrum Master have?

Task Description of task(s)
Support to the Product Owner This task is actually a number of different task – all related to the Product Owner:

  • Finding techniques for effective Product Backlog management.
  • Helping the Product Owner understand the need for clear and concise Product Backlog items;
  • Understanding product planning in an empirical environment.
  • Ensuring the Product Owner knows how to arrange the Product Backlog to maximize value.
  • Understanding and practising agility.
  • Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed.
Support to the Development Team This task is actually a number of different task – all related to the Development Team:

  • Coaching the Development Team in self-organization and cross-functionality.
  • Helping the Development Team to create high-value products.
  • Removing impediments to the Development Team’s progress.
  • Facilitating as requested or needed Scrum events .
  • Coaching the Development Team in organisational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted and understood.
Support to the Organisation This task is actually a number of different task – all related to the Organisation and its many stakeholders:

  • Leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption.
  • Planning Scrum implementations within the organization.
  • Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact Scrum and empirical product development.
  • Causing change that increases the productivity of the Scrum Team.
  • Working with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of Scrum in the organization.

Hints and References [1] The Definitive Guide to Scrum: The Rules of the Game; November 2017; https://www.scrumguides.org/docs/scrumguide/v2017/2017-Scrum-Guide-US.pdf

Essential Scrum; A Practical Guide to the Most Popular Agile Process; Kenneth S. Rubin; Addison-Wesley; ISBN-13: 978-0-13-704329-3; ISBN-10: 0-13-704329-3.