Scrum masters and project managers can both be critical to the successful completion of a project. It’s not uncommon for scrum masters and project managers to work on projects together, but when you compare scrum master vs. project manager roles, there are clear differences.
Scrum master and project manager are both excellent career options. If you’re contemplating becoming a scrum master vs. project manager, make sure to keep a few things in mind. In this article, you’ll find information on how both roles are similar and how they differ.
What Is a Scrum Master?
A scrum master works with a scrum team to guide the teammates through creating large products in short cycles or iterations. This involves tackling tasks from a backlog of planned work, assessing each completed step and perfecting the work to reach set goals.
Scrum masters ensure that their scrum teams adhere to scrum principles to achieve the best results in product development.
Scrum Master Role and Responsibilities
Scrum masters work within the scrum framework, using agile methodologies to guide their teams toward specific goals. Below are a scrum master’s typical responsibilities.
-Keep a scrum team on task and ensure team members produce high-quality work while following scrum principles. Have a thorough understanding of scrum principles and agile methodology as they pertain to product development.
-Guide scrum teams as they work through sprint backlogs to reach each sprint’s goals.
-Facilitate daily scrum meetings to assess the progress the team has made toward the set goals, and make adjustments if needed.
-Maintain communication with product development teams to meet any challenges or problems head-on. Resolve any issues that could stall the product development process.
What Is a Project Manager?
Successful project managers assume leadership roles, handling important logistical elements of a project. Essential project management skills include planning, organizing, scheduling and ensuring that a project is completed successfully and on time.
Project managers stick with a project through its lifecycle, from beginning to end.
Project Manager Role and Responsibilities
Project managers manage activities through a project’s entire lifecycle, including the initiation, planning, execution and closure phases. Their responsibilities include the following.
-Handle the initial elements of a project, such as defining its scope and making plans for others working on the project to follow.
-Determine the cost of a project and make sure it stays within the allotted budget. This may include reallocating resources in the event of unanticipated expenses.
-Manage a project’s human resources, including interviewing and hiring team members and other staff.
-Monitor the progress of a project. This includes troubleshooting any problems, assessing risks and handling any aspects that could affect the quality of the project.
-Communicate with stakeholders to keep everyone informed about a project’s progress.
What Are the Similarities Between Scrum Master and Project Manager?
Scrum Masters and project managers both play important roles in project development. They are responsible for communicating with team members, developers and other stakeholders. They must be able to assess situations and adapt as they work with others to complete projects that align with previously established goals.
What Are the Differences Between Scrum Master and Project Manager?
Scrum Masters work within the Scrum framework by implementing Scrum principles. They ensure that each segment of a project is executed properly, and they make adaptations as necessary to reach set goals.
Project managers focus more on the logistical elements of a project’s lifecycle, including schedules, budgets, risk management and resource allocation. These professionals can work with any type of project, not only within the Scrum framework.
Which Role is Right for You?
Since Scrum Masters and project managers fill such different roles, there are many factors to consider as you determine whether you want to become a Scrum Master or project manager.
If you like the idea of guiding teams through individual increments of a project to reach a successful outcome, then a Scrum Master position might be the best option for you. If you prefer to manage a project’s logistical elements in their entirety—from the planning and implementation stages through completion—then working as a project manager may be a better fit for you.
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