How is a scrum master different than a project manager?
Scrum Master vs Project Manager
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Maybe you have experience in project management and looking to expand your skillset. Or perhaps someone asked you if you can do Scrum. Either way, you might be wondering.
What’s the difference between a Scrum Master and a project manager?
This is a really common question when leaders or organizations are considering Scrum. Sometimes it's a theoretical question from leadership trying to understand Scrum. Sometimes it's a very personal question from a project manager trying to discern if they would be a good Scrum Master.
Wherever you’re coming from, you’ll get a look at how a scrum master compares to a project manager. This article will cover five essentials regarding the relationship between a scrum master and project manager.
- What is a project manager?
- What is a scrum master?
- How are a scrum master and a project manager different?
- Where do the other project manager's responsibilities go in Scrum?
- What do a Scrum Master and project manager have in common?
What’s a project manager?
Let’s start with a brief description of a project manager, so we have the same point of reference. PMI describes the work of a project manager as “resolving complex, interdependent activities into tasks and sub-tasks that are documented, monitored and controlled.” At their core, project managers are process-oriented problem solvers.
If this describes you and you’re considering becoming a scrum master, the good news is that there are some very transferable skills. The challenge will be applying those skills in a new way to see the work get done.
What’s a Scrum Master?
The overly obvious answer is that they are a master of Scrum. While that may seem a bit simplistic, there is a clear difference from a project manager highlighted here. Scrum.org describes the work of a Scrum Master as “helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization.”
The Scrum Master is working from the assumption that if the team is functioning well, then the work will get done.
You’re probably already seeing the difference between a project manager and a scrum master emerge. Before we dive further into the differences, if you want to learn more, check out What is a Scrum Master? Or What does a Scrum Master do each day?
Related Guides
How are a scrum master and a project manager different?
Project managers and scrum masters differ in where they focus and what they emphasize.
Project managers focus on the work. Scrum Masters focus on the people.
The project manager is focused first on the work. Does the project have everything it needs to get done? The Scrum Master is focused first on the people. Are they the best team they can be to get projects done? It’s a subtle but significant shift.
The Scrum Master is working from the assumption that if the team is functioning well, then the work will get done. This focus on people is why the Scrum team doesn’t also need a manager over it. The team is self-organizing, deciding together how to work. But the Scrum master helps establish an environment where that team can thrive.
Scrum Masters are also helping the whole organization understand Scrum.
Cultivating an environment for growth is also how good managers lead teams. Good project managers also do this, but it’s usually not near the top of their job description or what dominates their calendar.
Project managers emphasize doing. Scrum Masters emphasize understanding.
For the Scrum Master, there is an emphasis on understanding and helping others understand, rather than doing and helping others do. Scrum Masters do a lot of teaching and coaching.
When a team is first learning Scrum, they are teaching the group the core concepts and instructing them on the practices of Scrum. As the team learns the basics, the Scrum Master works as a coach, helping them become excellent in the fundaments and grow to apply the framework to new situations.
Scrum Masters are also helping the whole organization understand Scrum. They host workshops, create slide decks or other educational materials, and have lots of conversations. Many of these conversations revolve around helping leaders across the organization understand what has changed since adopting Scrum.
Leaning Scrum for the first time can be a bit overwhelming. There are many new terms and concepts in Scrum.
Well we’re here to help.
Where do the other project manager's responsibilities go in Scrum?
You may be wondering if a Scrum Master focuses on helping others learn and practice Scrum, who does all the other stuff? In Scrum, the project manager's role splits into a few different positions. Let’s look at those.
Defining what needs to be done.
Project managers work with stakeholders to clarify the project's requirements, and they work with subject matter experts to develop the plan, budget and timeline.
In Scrum, the product owner engages with stakeholders to define what value the product needs to deliver. These stakeholders include both internal leadership and the external customer, and the product owner is responsible for balancing these two groups' needs and goals.
The product owner will use the backlog refinement meeting to collaborate with the rest of the Scrum team to clarify the project’s work. It’s a group effort to ensure requirements are clear and the work is appropriately sized.
The product owner outlines the work by placing it in the backlog and prioritizes the work by ordering the backlog based on the value the work will deliver.
At the beginning of a sprint, the product owner will outline the goals for the sprint. Then the team will choose what they will select from the backlog for that sprint. There exists a tension and balance as the product owner considers how much value can be delivered in a sprint, and the development team considers how much capacity they have.
Deciding how to do the work.
Traditionally a project manager is expected to solve how the work gets done. They use tools like network diagrams and roadmaps to plan out the work. In Scrum, this is a collaborative process shared by members of the scrum team.
Each day, the development team updates each other on progress made, obstacles encountered and what to do next. The daily Scrum is an interactive replanning of how to do the work selected at the beginning of the sprint.
What do a Scrum Master and project manager have in common?
Most of this post has focused on the differences between a Scrum Master and a project manager, and there are two areas of overlap I want to highlight.
Scrum Masters and project managers both establish systems and processes.
For the work to be done effectively, the right system and processes need to be in place. A project manager may have more freedom to set up the systems. A Scrum Master will be looking at what processes support the practice of Scrum.
In this way, they both establish an environment or ecosystem that best enables doing the work.
Scrum Masters and project managers both remove obstacles.
No matter what framework or approach you use, there will be obstacles. These obstacles slow down the project or slow down the team. Project managers and Scrum masters work to identify and remove impediments.
Related Guides
Learning more about being a Scrum Master
I hope this article helped you understand some differences between a Scrum Master and a project manager. For a look into the everyday work of a Scrum Master, check out the posts below.
Action Plan
To learn more about Scrum, check out my What is Scrum? A Guide for Everyday People to Learn Scrum. If you have more questions, please feel free to reach out on LinkedIn.
Still not sure about your next step with Scrum? I offer a couple of free coaching sessions each month. You can signup for a free 30-minute coaching session, and we can work together to identify a good next step for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Scrum master role
What is a scrum master?
The Scrum Master is a master of process and an empowerer of people as they focus on maximizing the impact of the development team. They support the team by removing obstacles and representing Scrum to the rest of the organization.
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Why is a scrum master called a servant leader?
A servant leader puts others’ needs first. The Scrum Master provides the team with guidance and direction (where and why, but not what and how). This approach allows the team to work with a healthy level of autonomy and agency and ensures they have the mastery and purpose needed to do their work.
Explore what it means to be a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Why is a scrum master important?
They act as a mirror helping the team see where they are and how things are going. The scrum master protects the team’s health by balancing the product owner’s drive to complete the product with the team's long-term effectiveness.
Learn more about the role of a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Can scrum masters work remotely?
A scrum master can definitely be remote, but with a caveat. This situation works best when the whole team is distributed. The scrum master's effectiveness will decrease if the rest of the group is co-located and they are the only remote member.
Explore what it means to be a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Can one person be the Scrum Master for multiple teams?
This combo is possible, depending on the experience of the teams and the frequency of obstacles you need to help remove. I’ve been the scrum master for two brand new scrum teams simultaneously. It was a bit more work at first because so much teaching was going on, though it eventually leveled out once the teams learned their new rhythm.
Learn more about what to do if you don’t have all the roles for a scrum team. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Scrum master responsibilities
What does a scrum master do each day?
If you could look at their calendar, you would probably see things like
- The daily standup, maybe more than one.
- Meeting with other leaders to explain scrum.
Learn more about what it means to be a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How does a scrum master remove impediments?
The scrum master helps remove obstacles, such as
- The team does not have the tools or resources to do the necessary work.
- Functional managers are trying to assign extra responsibilities.
- Mix messages or a lack of clarity about a user story in the backlog.
- A lack of responsiveness from the Product Owner.
- Unrealistic expectations about how long the required work takes.
The Scrum Master advocates for the team's needs and works to resolve the obstacles so the team can focus on producing the highest value possible.
Learn more about how the scrum master removes obstacles. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How does a scrum master coach the team?
The scrum master doesn’t tell the team what to do. Nor do they solve the problems assigned to the Scrum team. But they play a critical role in helping the team identify the problem and create solutions. A scrum master does this through facilitation and practices.
Find out how a scrum master is a coach. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How does a scrum master motivate the team?
They act as a mirror helping the team see where they are and how things are going, and they cultivate a space for the team to adjust based on what they see.
They help the team remove obstacles such as unclear requirements, interpersonal conflict, organizational impediments, and dependencies on other teams. This support allows the team to work with a healthy level of autonomy and agency and ensures they have the mastery and purpose needed to do their work.
Learn more about the role of a scrum master. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Scrum master certifications
How to get certified as a scrum master?
The most common certifications for a scrum master are:
- CSM Certified Scrum Master from Scrum Alliance.
- PSM Professional Scrum Master from Scrum.org.
The CSM is more common than the PSM but also more expensive. Both offer multiple levels of certification.
You are required to take a class by a certified instructor for the CSM, which will cost you around $1,000. The CSM course includes the test cost and is comparable in difficulty with the PSM test.
The PSM recommends but doesn’t require a course. So you can take the self-study route and then take a cheaper test ($200). This level of affordability can make the scrum.org certifications a more attractive first step for people exploring scrum certifications.
Here is my experience with certifications as a path to growth.
Also be sure to check out the essential Scrum glossary.
Why become a Certified Scrum Master (CSM)?
The best way to learn to be a scrum master is through practice. However, earning a certificate can provide helpful instruction, and some companies list it as a requirement for scrum master roles.
If you're entering the world of scrum or trying to transfer your skills from one domain to another, having a certification like the CSM can help you get in the door.
Here is my experience with certifications as a path to growth.
Want to learn the essential Scrum terms.
How quickly can I become a scrum master?
Unlike the PMP (Project Management Professional), most scrum certifications don’t require experience. There are pros and cons, though. It makes earning the certifications easier but also makes them a little less valuable.
A typical CSM course will last between 3 and 5 days, depending on how much instruction is done each day. The PSM doesn’t require a course, so if you already have a solid understanding of scrum, you can just take the test today.
To really be a Scrum Master your'e going to need practice.
Here is my experience with certifications as a path to growth.
Also be sure to check out the essential Scrum glossary.
Scrum master and product owner
Can the scrum master also be the product owner?
The two roles balance each other, thus placing you in tension with yourself. You you hold both roles, you must be mindful of how you communicate with the development team. Holding both positions can also impact how much agency the dev team feels they have.
Learn more about playing both roles of scrum master and product owner. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How does the scrum master help the product owner?
They help remove obstacles such as unclear requirements, interpersonal conflict, organizational impediments, and dependencies on other teams.
Find out more about how the roles on a scrum team work together. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How does the product owner help the scrum master?
The product owner works with the scrum master to look ahead to future sprints, evaluating significant milestones to ensure they deliver critical features on time. They also check to see if the work needed to get there matches the capacity or velocity of the team.
Find out more about how the roles on a scrum team work together. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
How is the product owner different from the scrum master?
The product owner products the product vision by balancing the needs of both the business and the customer. The scrum master protects the team’s health by balancing the product owner’s drive to complete the product with the team's long-term effectiveness.
Keep exploring the relationship between the product owner and the scrum master or you can look over the role of the product owner and the role of the scrum master.
Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
Are the scrum master and the product owner part of the scrum team?
The scrum team includes the following roles
- scrum master
- product owner
- development team
Either the scrum master or the product owner can also be part of the development team. However, it’s not recommended for the scrum master and product owner to be the same person.
Learn more about the roles and responsibilities of a scrum team. Then browse the most common terms in a Scrum glossary and learn what is Scrum.
