Scrum is a modern framework for product development. Although many people accept Scrum as a project management methodology, it is not.
Scrum Master should explain to everyone in the company what exactly Scrum is and what are the roles and responsibilities of all its colleagues.
Scrum Master explains the roles to colleagues in the Scrum project
As you are already aware, Scrum is maintained by the Development Team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. These are the main roles in this model of work. One important thing to note is that the Development team can include people with different competencies, skills, and positions. Reference: “Why do you want to be a Scrum Master?“, https://ossalumni.org/why-do-you-want-to-be-a-scrum-master/
These can be programmers, designers, architects, engineers, quality control, business analysts, and anyone else who works on the project. Based on this information, I will answer each question individually:
Can I keep my current role as a project manager and not participate in Scrum roles? Samantha Adams, Project Manager
Scrum is maintained by the Development Team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. If the organization is too large and has many Scrum teams working on different projects, then your role as a project manager can be maintained. Reference: “Scrum and Kanban: similarities and differences“, https://www.policymatters.net/scrum-and-kanban-similarities-and-differences/
In this case, many other decisions need to be made over the day-to-day aspects of job management that Scrum teams traditionally do not address – such as hiring, firing, budgeting, job reviews, and mentoring from a business perspective.
Also, the connection between the business and the designated Scrum teams can be filled by you, as the Scrum Master is too busy to be responsible for the team and deal with side tasks from a business point of view. Reference: “Preparation for the Certified Scrum Master exam (PSM, CSM, BVOSM)“, https://mpmu.org/preparation-for-the-certified-scrum-master-exam-psm-csm-bvosm/
However, if the organization is small and has only one Scrum team and one product, then you must accept one of the assigned roles in the Scrum team and be actively involved. I recommend that you be part of the development team as a business analyst or Product Owner.
I don’t see Scrum supporting my role. What will this mean for my career in our company? Brian Jones, Technical Manager
As a technical manager, I assume you are actively working with developers and also on projects directly related to the product. In this case, you are part of the development team if the project is large and your knowledge contributes to product development. Reference: “Scrum Master instead of project manager“, https://60yearsnato.info/scrum-master-instead-of-project-manager/
The Technical Project Manager effectively and efficiently manages development sprints from planning to implementation to review in a flexible development environment. You can also develop into a management position in the company. I hope I have answered your question in detail.
Do I have to take part in the Scrum events in question? I’m a designer and I don’t see the point in attending meetings that don’t concern our design. Mariah Kara, graphic designer
To answer you specifically, I need to know more about the project and how your role contributes to the creation of the product. But, something important to note is that the Development team can include people with different competencies, skills, and positions, including designers like you. Reference: “The differences between Scrum and Kanban methods of working in Agile projects“, https://www.kievpress.info/differences-between-scrum-and-kanban-agile/
If you also play a role as a UX designer, you will work with the Product Owner and users to understand the requirements and maintenance of user stories. If you only work as a graphic designer, and you are connected to the technical team by creating things with the production of product features, then you will have to join the daily meetings of developers.
However, your design affects the work of developers, so you need to work together and discuss issues. I understand your concern and desire to work only on design and this will remain the case, but your design concerns the work of developers and it is important to discuss issues together. Reference: “Why apply Scrum to your company projects“, https://www.worldforgemagazine.com/why-apply-scrum-to-your-company-projects/
I do not understand exactly how Scrum will improve our work. Stephen Paulson, programmer
I understand that the whole model of Scrum work may sound confusing, so I will try to share with you some of the most effective solutions that you will contribute if you work on Scrum:
Faster launch of a usable product for consumers and customers. Scrum work is done by the development team simultaneously, not sequentially. Programmers code “on the go” and don’t wait until all the questions are answered and everything is crystal clear before they start programming. Reference: “Why do you want to be a Scrum Master?“, https://www.libraryofmu.org/why-want-to-be-scrum-master/
Everything is flexible and changeable during the project and even after it. The same goes for code testing, which is done continuously, not just at the end after all coding is complete.
Adaptability
With Scrum there is adaptability. The changes can be supported and integrated into an ongoing project. Under Scrum, the scope of the project (what needs to be done) is variable, but the time and cost are constant.
This is a major difference from the traditional approach, in which the scope is constant (no changes are allowed), but the time and cost are variable. Reference: “Working on projects with Scrum and Kanban“, https://eduwiki.me/projects-with-scrum-and-kanban-which-to-choose/
Prioritization
With Scrum, tasks are prioritized in order of importance, and this usually means that the tasks that need to be completed first are likely to affect the return on investment.
By putting “finished” parts of the priority work in the sprint, parts of your product are on the market faster than in traditional projects, where the finished work is released in total at the end of the project. Reference: “Scrum framework: Questions and Answers“, https://www.kosovatimes.net/scrum-framework-questions-and-answers/
Customers are more satisfied
Everything I have listed so far leads to happier customers, as you improve the system much faster than in the traditional way.
Risk reduction
Scrum helps reduce the risk of project failure – spending large amounts of time and money without a return on investment – by delivering a tangible product early and forcing scrum teams to fail early, if at all.
Developing in sprints provides a short time between the initial investment in the project and the rapid failure or validation that a product or approach will work.
As a simple example, I would give you the following: Would you invest USD 100,000 in an application that after a year of work you understand will not return your money because you have not validated it and no one is interested?
Or would you create little by little tasks each month that you can validate the market from the beginning and find out what your customers want and change your idea every month? That’s how Scrum works. Reference: “Sprint Review event in Scrum with examples“, https://medfd.org/sprint-review-event-in-scrum-with-examples/
I’m very excited about integrating Scrum into our work and I can’t wait to get started. Can anyone tell me what and how I will do exactly? Kate Liam, Senior Public Relations Expert
As a senior public relations expert, your role, I guess, is to work on the company’s communication and vision between the organization and the outside world, as well as in the company. This is a very important role both for the product itself and for the company.
As you are already aware, Scrum is maintained by the Development Team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. As your work is not directly related to the product and the project, your position is not part of Scrum. More about the Scrum framework
But that shouldn’t bother you, because your position and what you’re going to do stay the same. You simply will not be further involved in this project, as we use the Scrum way of working. Interestingly, when we have a new feature ready on the market, you will be able to communicate this successfully to our customers and stakeholders to understand what we have managed to contribute.
Therefore, your role will remain important for the organization, but will not be part of the project.
I read a bit about Scrum and would like to be appointed to the Product Owner position. Barbara Washington, Advertising Manager
I’m glad you’re interested in Scrum and want to start as a Product Owner. Product Owner is the role that represents the voice of stakeholders and is responsible for ensuring that the team delivers value to the business.
Also, the role prioritizes all items in the Product Backlog list by their “business value” for the product. For this purpose, it is important to be very familiar with the technical knowledge of the product. As an advertising manager, your job is to work on product and company advertising to present yourself in the best possible way to customers. More Agile project management articles.
This puts you in a position where you need to be aware of what the product is and can contribute to customers. But the technical part is different from having a basic knowledge of the product.
To be accepted as a Product Owner, you must have these technical qualities to be able to prioritize the tasks in the product backlog. If you prove that you have this knowledge, then your application may be considered, but if you have experience only as an advertising manager, then your application will not be considered.
I would like to participate in Scrum roles as Project Owner. I do not mind fulfilling all my current duties, as well as my new ones. Bill Roberts, Project Coordinator
I am glad that you are interested in starting work as a Project Owner. I don’t know if you are aware of Scrum, but Scrum is maintained by the Development team, Product Owner, and Scrum Master. Project Owner doesn’t match in Scrum, but I guess you mean Product Owner.
As a Project Coordinator, you have experience working on different projects, encountering communication between different parties, and making sure that the project is completed successfully by coordinating all teams.
This puts you in a position similar to the role of Product Owner. But to be part of the Scrum team, you will have to leave your current position and take on 100% as a Product Owner, as it requires a lot of attention, communication between stakeholders, developers, and the scrum master. It is also important to understand the technical part of the product so that you can prioritize the tasks in the backlog product.
It is good to meet with the developers in advance to understand the technical part and what they are facing. Of course, my task is directly related to you, so I will introduce you to Scrum. I hope this answers your question and if you decide to start as a Product Owner, I will be happy to work together.
I would like to join the Scrum team as a Quality Master or something. Kimberly Spring, head of quality control
I’m glad you want to get involved in the Scrum project. As a quality control manager, you already have experience with the technical part of the product. As such, your role will be part of the development team and your knowledge will contribute most to product testing.
You will also need to comment on the results with the Product Owner. You need to take the lead in planning, organizing, and involving the entire team in testing work and keep people motivated just as Scrum Master does.
As very few developers enjoy the test work, QA, together with Scrum Master, should make the vision and goals of the test visible to the whole team and help keep the team’s level of motivation high.