Scrum Master

Ensuring processes are followed

The Scrum Master is responsible for:

• Ensuring Scrum is understood and followed
• Ensuring the delivery team follow the process
• Defining the technical practices needed to meet the “definition of done”
• Scheduling and facilitating Scrum Ceremonies
• Removing impediments
• Fosters self-organization within the team
• Monitoring and tracking the team’s progress towards their commitments
• Defends the team from influences that may impede their capacity to deliver
• Assisting the Product Owner in the preparation of the backlog
• Quality of the delivered solution
• Managing Scrum Information radiators

The ScrumMaster is a "servant leader" who helps the rest of the Scrum team follow the process. The ScrumMaster must have a good understanding of the Scrum framework and the ability to train others in its subtleties.

The ScrumMaster helps the product owner understand how to create and maintain the product backlog. He or she works with the entire Scrum team to evolve the Definition of Done. The ScrumMaster also works with the delivery team to find and implement the technical practices needed to get to Done at the end of each iteration.

Another responsibility of the ScrumMaster is to remove impediments to the team’s progress. These impediments may be external to the team (such as a lack of support from another team) or internal (such as the product owner not knowing how to properly prepare the product backlog). That said, the ScrumMaster fosters self-organization, meaning that the team itself should remove issues wherever possible.

The ScrumMaster may facilitate meetings and always acts as a coach for the Scrum team, helping it execute the Scrum process. He or she helps team members work together and learn the Scrum framework, and protects them from both internal and external distractions. The ScrumMaster keeps the Scrum team on track, productive, and growing in ability.

Ultimately, the ScrumMaster is responsible for ensuring that Scrum is understood and in place, inside the team and outside. He or she helps people outside the team understand the process and the kinds of interactions with the team that are helpful (and those that are not). The ScrumMaster helps everyone improve to make the Scrum team more productive and valuable.