Agile methods such as Scrum have long been an integral part of German companies. Scrum is particularly popular in a dynamic environment where rapid market maturity and continuous product improvements are crucial. Nevertheless, despite the high level of acceptance of the methodology, the role of the Scrum Master is constantly being scrutinised. Why is the Scrum Master often called into question?
The Scrum Master is one of the three central roles in the Scrum framework, alongside the Development Team and the Product Owner. While the necessity of these two roles is usually undisputed, the importance of the Scrum Master is often underestimated. In staffing processes, I see time and again that the role of the Scrum Master is reduced to organising and moderating meetings. In order to save costs, consideration is then given to whether these tasks could be taken on by another team member.
One reason for this is that the Scrum Master’s area of responsibility is difficult to grasp. Their work is mainly visible in the meetings, which they prepare, follow up and moderate intensively. However, what the Scrum Master does in the phases between meetings often remains hidden from outsiders. In fact, the planning, execution and follow-up of meetings only make up a fraction of their work. However, the entire spectrum of their tasks is far more extensive.
Process optimisation and increasing productivity – the core tasks of the Scrum Master
You often read that the Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that Scrum is implemented successfully. I fully agree with this. To understand this statement, you have to realise the basic idea of Scrum: The focus is on continuous improvement – not only of the product, but also of the processes and the team.
The importance of process and team development becomes particularly clear in the ever faster developing world and AI. Framework conditions in software development can change very quickly. Decisions that seem sensible today may be outdated tomorrow. To be successful in such a dynamic environment, efficient processes and a team that thinks flexibly and critically are essential. This is where the work of the Scrum Master comes in.
The Scrum Master creates a working environment in which the team can work independently and productively. They exemplify the agile principles, protect the team from external disruptions and motivate them to pursue new approaches and learn from mistakes. They also remove obstacles and promote open dialogue within the team. Through their work, they enable the team to continuously improve and thus lay the foundations for the success of the project.
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The role of the Scrum Master: not a part-time job
A common objection is that the Scrum Master no longer needs to be constantly present in experienced teams, as the team should organise itself at some point. But this idea falls short. People, even in scrum teams, tend to rest on their laurels when it comes to established processes. Without regular input from the Scrum Master, a team can fall into an inefficient rut.
Like clockwork that needs to be wound up again and again, a Scrum team also needs constant incentives to maintain its efficiency and openness. The Scrum Master reminds the team of the principles of Scrum, challenges habits and thus ensures that the team performs at its best. A Scrum team can only be successful as a unit – with a Scrum Master who provides continuous support and prevents operational blindness.
The importance of the Scrum Master for project success
As these considerations show, the Scrum Master is crucial to the success of a project or product. Their work may not always be obvious, but their impact is all the more so. It is astonishing how much responsibility there is in this role and how often its importance is nevertheless questioned.
In my view, this is a big mistake. The efficiency of a Scrum team can have a direct impact on a company’s business success. For example, if the launch of an online shop is delayed due to an inefficient scrum team, the lost revenue can far exceed the cost of a scrum master. Saving money here means saving at the wrong end.
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