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If you’ve ever thought about the different roles that contribute to software development, you’ve probably stumbled upon the project manager vs. Scrum Master dilemma.Just to be clear: these two roles are distinct and separate. For those who are new to agile, the Scrum Master role might sound like a project management position. But while they share many similarities, these two roles have entirely different aims. And it’s important to recognize these differences to understand where their tasks may overlap and see how they complement one another, especially during the development of large-scale projects. Read on to find out the key differences and similarities between a project manager and a Scrum Master. Who is a project manager?A project manager is a person in charge of the project timeline, scope, and resources. Their central responsibility is making sure that all these elements meet specified business requirements. Here are some typical responsibilities of project managers:
That definition is clear until we consider teams that move away from the traditional waterfall approach to software development and embrace the agile methodology. What does a project manager do within the agile framework? The project manager doesn’t just switch their title to the Scrum Master. That’s because the responsibilities of a typical project manager typically don’t directly translate over to a Scrum Master role. In fact, not all project managers have the skills required to act as Scrum Masters. When moving into agile, the responsibilities of the project manager are split between different team members: Product Owner, Scrum Master, and team members. Note that transitioning from waterfall to agile is a challenging process. Who is a Scrum Master?A Scrum Master is part of the Scrum Team, as defined by the agile methodology framework called Scrum. The Scrum Master is a servant-leader for the Scrum Team. He promotes and supports Scrum as it is defined in the Scrum Guide, and he helps the Team to understand the rules, values, and practices that are a part of this framework. His main goal is to maximize the values created by the Team. The project manager is responsible for meeting the project objectives; the Scrum Master doesn’t realize this role in the Scrum Team. This responsibility is closer to the Product Owner, whose focus lies on maximizing value from the product. The Scrum Master usually helps the Product Owner in backlog management and product planning — after all, the Scrum Master’s expertise is in the tools and techniques that help teams stay productive and well-organized. The Scrum Master also makes sure that the product domain, scope, and goals are clear to the team. Here are some of the most common responsibilities of a Scrum Master in a Scrum Team:
Note that in Scrum Teams, the development team organizes its work and doesn’t rely on anyone to indicate how to build a given product increment. The Scrum Master’s job is ensuring that the team performs the work in the best possible way, quickly removing blockers and motivating the team every day. Project manager vs. Scrum Master: the differencesProject manager vs. Scrum Master: even when their roles overlap a little, they’re divided by a large number of differences. Here are the most important between the two roles:
Project manager vs. Scrum Master: the similaritiesNaturally, the two roles sometimes overlap when it comes to their responsibilities. Here are the fundamental similarities between project managers and Scrum Masters:
ConclusionsProject managers play an essential role in large projects that are covered by multiple teams, often working together with dependent teams. This is when the skill set of a project manager comes in handy: they coordinate the work of numerous teams, collaborate on resource needs, outline dependent features, and combine timelines. The Scrum Master’s responsibilities aren’t directly aligned with a deliverable. That’s because the activities of the Scrum Master change every single day, depending on the team’s needs. Teams rely on the Scrum Master to help them get their work done and protect them against external forces or blockers. The idea here is that the Scrum Master supports the team to the finish line of a successful project. Are you looking for Scrum Teams led by experienced Scrum Masters and project managers who know how to build successful digital products? Get in touch with us; we help companies like yours get ahead of the competition with the help of innovative technologies. What similarities between a traditional Project Manager and a Scrum Master?The Similarities Between the Scrum Master and the Project Manager: The project manager and the Scrum Master are both responsible for coaching the organization and the team. They both aid the efficiency and effectiveness of the group. Both the SM and the PM are not accountable for the success of the project.
What is the difference between a Project Manager and a Scrum Master?While a Scrum master makes sure their team follows Scrum principles, project managers oversee the entirety of a project, including logistics like budget and risk.
What is the difference between Scrum and traditional project management?Traditional project management focuses on creating a fixed scope, cost and schedule for a project whereas Scrum encourages iterative decision making based on real-time data. If you are managing any project that deals with software, Scrum should always be high in your considerations for use.
What are the main differences and similarities between traditional and agile project management methodology?Agile methods differ from traditional methods in that they prioritize feedback and learning, promoting flexibility and collaboration. Instead of a set process, they allow room for a constantly revised and updated plan of action based on outcomes, customer feedback, and latest results.
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