The world is digitally evolving, transforming, and outmatching the current technology with every passing second. With the advancement of automation, there is always a demand for better output combined with skills and this is where the role of a scrum master comes into play.
A scrum master, like glue, holds a team together and analyzes the development stages through sprints to bring out a viable product. However, recently there has been a buzz about the relevance of the scrum master’s role in the future – whether the organizations will still require scrum master or iterate a product or whether the importance of Scrum will diminish over time?
If you find yourself looking for answers, then here is something to make you feel better – Scrum masters will continue to be a sought-after role in the near and far future.
Indications are that a certified scrum master will be a future-proof career and will offer lucrative opportunities for a very, very long time.
The job of a scrum master goes beyond facilitation and teaching. Their role often includes identifying and implementing high technical skills, project management, and more.
Following which, is the most obvious question –
What is Scrum?
Scrum is an agile project management framework used to develop, deliver, and sustain the product. The role of Scrum is of utmost importance in engineering and software. It helps you build an agile practice, communication, and work in an agile way.
Through Scrum, you can build a series of iteration called sprints that breaks down complex projects into smaller pieces. Breaking down the project into bite-sized tasks makes the project manageable, flexible, and easy to monitor. Scrum offers a framework to get things done with a defined set of protocols, encompassing changes that fall under the requirements, situations, and goals. Additionally, it also helps minimize the risk, overcomes the mundane tasks, increases the speed to market, and offers quick feedback. All these ultimately help in delivering values to the customer.
People tend to confuse the terms Agile and Scrum, but these terms cannot be used interchangeably. While Scrum is a framework to get things done, agile is a set of values and principles and comes with significant changes. Scrum consists of three main pillars – a scrum master, a development team, and a product owner. A development team works together to develop and test incremental releases of the final product. The product owner is the bridge between the development team and the customers, ensuring the quality of the product.
Who is a Scrum Master?
As said previously, a Scrum Master is the glue that holds the team and the framework together. A Certified Scrum Master is an expert of scrum know-hows and drives the team towards a growth trajectory by maintaining agile principles and values while developing.
According to Atlassian,
“Scrum masters are the facilitators of Scrum, the lightweight, agile framework with a focus on sprints. As facilitators, scrum masters act as coaches to the rest of the team.”
In simpler terms, a Scrum Master or an agile coach knows-it-all about Scrum and its implementation, which leads the team in the right direction through a well-defined, meticulously planned Scrum framework.
What Does a Scrum Master do?
The importance of Scrum goes way back to the early 1990s. To deliver the best to the customer, businesses globally are continually enforcing new ways of working. They are trying to bring about agile changes and are modifying themselves to meet the ever-growing challenges of the market. The scrum masters’ role is to ensure timely delivery of the quality product by working closely with the product owner and the development team. The teams work with the right practices and tools under the supervision of a Scrum master.
Read Our Blog: Does a Scrum Master Need Development Skills?
Right from streamlining the process to bringing about the changes required at each step of the development, a scrum master also handles responsibilities like,
- Bringing the product owner and the development team into a cohesive environment where they can work and recognize each other’s needs.
- Identifying, changing, and eliminating the roadblocks to bring about a qualitative product at the end.
- Encouraging the team to follow the right scrum practices throughout the development process.
- Maximizing the productivity of the team by keeping the internal and external distractions at bay.
- Facilitating seamless communications between the team, the product owners, and the other collaborating teams.
- Addressing the teams’ progress and keeping an eye on the sprints to incorporate any change within the process.
A scrum professional is the master of all trades and they must follow all the responsibilities religiously.
Sounds exciting, right?
Well, it sure is.
The role of a scrum master is as important as ever while also being professionally rewarding and equally lucrative.
How is a day in the Life of a Scrum Master?
A scrum master wears many hats and has to juggle multiple roles. They are responsible for transforming the waterfall style of working to an agile framework like Scrum. They act as the missing pieces of the puzzle between the product owners and developers.
Every day in the life of a Scrum master looks like a challenge they need to overcome while maintaining the scrum principles.
However, one must not confuse the role of a scrum master with that of a project manager. A scrum master works on solving the teams’ problems and organizing the team at the same time. It’s not just about fixing the problem but it is also about fixing the problems, the scrum way. Just like any IT professional, the day for a scrum master starts by reading emails and responding to priority emails that include emails from the team, project manager, and product owner. Once mails have been responded to & reviewed and the tasks for the day have been set, the agile coach will spend some time checking with the team about the project. The project discussion will usually include progress, roadblocks, tools, and identifying any changes during the development. If required, they will also have a look at the Jira scrum board to see any patterns that need attention.
Based on the progress and design, the scrum masters can also modify the teams’ short-term goals to help in bringing about a better, bigger picture. After assigning the task, the scrum expert will move ahead to the meetings with the project manager, facilitate any communication and brainstorm any effective methods or approaches directed towards upgrading the project. Now, after all the mental exercises and bringing the team on the same page, a break is on the cards.
Post the break; the scrum facilitator addresses and reviews a backlog leading up to Sprint planning. They can also call for a Sprint review or demo to ensure that the development team is on the right path. The experts can then meet with testing experts or the DevSecOps team for further insight into the project. Testing is the most crucial part of any product development, which requires a lot of attention to intricate details.
The day might end by organizing a team-building workshop and updating the teams’ Scrum journal. Additionally, it is beneficial to complete the task at hand and update the to-do list for the next day so that the teams know what to do before switching on their desktop or laptop screens.
In short, every day in the life of a scrum master includes addressing the daily Scrum, participating in Sprint planning, and calling for the Sprint review.
Being a Scrum Master is challenging yet exciting and fulfilling. Despite being stressful, the result is worth it as it allows you to face your fears and grow in a conducive environment.
A certified scrum master knows what they are signing up for and where this opportunity will land them in the forthcoming years.
How has a Scrum Masters’ Role Evolved Over the Years?
Would you believe if we told you that the role of a scrum master was not always this challenging and interesting?
The scrum master’s role in project development has evolved over the years. It has become more rewarding, exciting, and compelling.
“The New Product Development Game” in a Harvard Business Review article by Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka introduced the basis for the Scrum framework in 1986, where they described two approaches to manage any product development.
The two differentiated the companies as runners in the relay race and rugby players. The runners in a relay race pass the baton along as they work in a straight line, unlike the players in rugby who participate in a single game, work for a single goal and pass the things back and forth, as and when required for the win.
While citing the same example, Takeuchi and Nonaka concluded that the relay-race approach was outdated, and the rugby approach was the new way of achieving better goals, innovative working, and an extra edge in the multinational market.
Thus, the relay race is a traditional method of product development, and the rugby approach is all about involving the Scrum Master.
It was nearly ten years ago that Steve Danning wrote in Forbes about Scrum, “If there was a Nobel Prize for management, and if there was any justice in the world, I believe that the prize would be awarded, among others, to Jeff Sutherland, Ken Schwaber and Mike Cohn for their contributions to the invention of Scrum.”
In 1993, Jeff Sutherland, John Scumniotales, and Jeff McKenna tried Scrum software development at Easel Corp, following which Ken Schwaber and Sutherland, in 1995 along with McKenna and Scumniotales presented the paper titled ‘SCRUM Development Process.’
The result of introducing Scrum made the developers question the effectiveness of their traditional working methodology and rusted software development model.
Ever since 1995, the software industry regarded Scrum as an essential component of product development.
While some companies recognize the role and understand the value of a Scrum master, some companies are trying to combine the jobs of a manager with a scrum expert.
However, the scenario is now changing.
Digital.ai’s 15th State of Agile Report states that Scrum is the most popular agile methodology today, which is helping companies achieve more than ever.
Moreover, the global development community survey found that Scrum was a chosen technology by 66% of respondents, and 15% said they used a Scrum derivative. The Scrum masters are now managing the whole product development with their scrum expertise. As the demand for Scrum Masters increased, their role became more diverse.
However, there are no defined levels of skills for the scrum masters. There are some different levels of experience for the Scrum experts like,
- Rotatory Scrum Master – where every member of the team distributes the role of a scrum master amongst each other on a sprint basis.
- Part-time Scrum Master – where one member of the team takes on Scrum Master responsibilities along with the other responsibilities in the same team.
- Full-time dedicated Scrum Master – where one individual is a scrum master for one time.
Just like the full-time dedicated scrum master, there can be a full-time Scrum Master with more than one team. In this model, the individual’s job is to be a scrum master, but they’ll work with more than one team
- Agile Coach – where the individual does not have a specified team but works with several teams only on specific needs.
Right from meeting the product owner and understanding their requirements to organizing and testing the final product before rolling out, the Scrum master is a vital part of any business that aims to deliver flawless products.
It will not be an exaggeration to say that Scrum will continue to evolve beyond 2021, and the role of Scrum Master will see exponential growth in the upcoming years.
Whether the Scrum and Scrum Masters are Here to Stay?
We say, YES!
There is a whole world of opportunities waiting for the Scrum Masters to engage.
As more and more businesses are turning to agile methodologies to meet the competitive pressures, they are looking forward to the Scrum Masters to help them through the development with the right framework, tools, and teams.
The Scrum Masters will still be relevant in 2022 and beyond as the organizations will not turn back to being the players of a relay race but will look forward to becoming rugby players.
And what do the businesses with rugby-style of working require?
A Certified Scrum Master!
While many believe that the Scrum Master’s job is nothing more than a manager, we believe that a Certified Scrum Master is a game-changer and their role is as relevant as that of a doctor in a hospital. Scrum masters are here to stay and so is their importance in the IT world.
Role of Scrum Master and Future of Scrum in 2022 and Beyond
Even before the organizations started to realize the potential of Scrum masters and using the scrum framework, the world knew that Scrum was the way forward.
Scrum masters can help the companies succeed in their initiatives of aligning with the modern technologies and ever-growing tech-savvy market. Certified Scrum Masters are continuously helping the business in bridging the gap between product owners and the scrum development team. They help in bringing their ideas of seamless product development to reality.
Since Scrum has traveled so far and has evolved with each passing year, we can’t ignore the possibilities of how Scrum will be in the next 10 or 15 years and what are the possibilities of certified scrum masters in the future and beyond 2022.
Future of Scrum
Scrum framework is an agile methodology that is all about continuous learning and adapting to change. In a few years,
- Scrum will continue to evolve towards better functions and upgraded functionality.
- The businesses will witness new frameworks that will combine Scrum, Kanban, and other software for software product development, innovation, etc.
- With the scrum framework, the business will become robust, deliver better and faster products and come up with scalable product development.
Now that we know the Scrum is here to stay in the future, how about we take a look at the
Future of Scrum Masters Beyond 2022
The demand for the Certified Scrum Masters will see a quantum jump in the next few years. Whereas the role of Scrum Master in the upcoming years will revolve around more than one scrum development team, scrum masters will be in demand more than ever.
The future for a scrum master will hold various options in the software and engineering field where they can
- Take up the role of a Mentor
Scrum masters can follow their passion for being agile coaches and enjoy the process of product development. This role allows the scrum experts to create flawless products with the Scrum framework.
A Certified Scrum Master can also be an agile coach to help aspiring scrum learners in overcoming the challenges and create better product development methodologies.
Become a Product Owner
Unlike the mentor, if the scrum masters are interested in managing the team and recognizing their collective effort, then becoming the product owner is the perfect choice in the long run. A Certified Scrum Master is an excellent candidate for taking up the role of a product owner.
The role of the product owner goes beyond the responsibilities of a scrum master. They can learn about the product, target customers, build processes, and much more.
However, most product ownership roles require certification, and being a certified scrum master is the stepping stone.
Work as a Development Manager
Where the scrum masters can lead teams and guide while working closely with the team managers. This role requires technical expertise and management skills to master the role of a development manager.
Be a Financial or Marketing Services Consultant
Where owing to the agile expertise and management skills, a certified scrum master can be a consultant at a financial or marketing firm. The scrum expert can also work upon increasing productivity and enhancing the overall quality.
While being a financial consultant, they can even facilitate cooperation between the teams, execute plans, identify the scope of work, identify issues and resolve them and guide the team towards better software development practices. However, the role of Scrum master resembles a professional athlete that can only be perfected over time.
Scrum masters have endless opportunities, and the future holds numerous options for certified scrum experts.
Companies will recognize the potential of a scrum master, rely on their services for better business, and can even handle the most complex development processes with ease with a scrum master at their end. Moreover, the abilities of a scrum master will come in handy for multiple roles across various sectors while always leaving room for more in the future. The Scrum Masters would become more significant when the businesses recognize the importance of scrum teams and will work towards organizing and managing themselves.
While the role of a Scrum Master is undeniably impactful, they will continue to be relevant in 2022 and beyond!
Lead agile development methods with scrum master certification training!
A scrum master plays an important role in agile development. With this methodology and agile principles, the teams can self-organize and make quick changes to manage the process of information flow.
If you’re looking forward to making a career in project management, reap benefits from online certified scrum master training. CSM is a designation offered by Scrum Alliance to learners who have completed a Certified Scrum Master course & demonstrated their knowledge via the CSM test.
As a Certified Scrum Master, you can perform the following functions:
- Help your project teams in using Scrum effectively
- Provide your expertise above that of a project manager
- Act as a ‘servant leader’ & help your team with collaboration and framework
- Protect your team from internal & external distractions
With companies adopting agile practices, the demand for Scrum Masters has significantly increased. This is why the CSM certification course is a highly sought-after. Therefore, you are highly recommended to get a scrum master certification online.
Get enrolled in certified scrum master certification online, with Cognixia – the world’s leading digital talent transformation company.
We are committed to helping learners shape their careers & future in this competitive world, by providing them with thoroughly insightful training and certifications in digital technologies. We are here to provide each aspirant with the best online learning experience, enhance their knowledge with engaging training sessions, and add value to their skillset. Cognixia caters to both the individuals & the organization workforce via highly interactive instructor-led courses.
Under this online Certified Scrum Master training, you will cover the following –
- General knowledge
- Scrum Roles
- Scrum Meetings
- Scrum Artifacts
- Scaling Scrum
Prerequisites
This CSM course is mainly for –
- Members of Scrum teams – developers, Scrum Masters, and product owners
- Managers of Scrum teams
- Teams transitioning to Scrum
- Professionals intending to pursue the Professional ScrumMaster certification
