Everything You Need to Know About Scrum Masters

Do you need a scrum master for your project? Are you the scrum master for the project? Should you be? Well, these are questions that you might be thinking about if you’ve suddenly come across this term in your research on creating and executing effective projects. So, we’re going to take a little closer look at just what it means and how you should be going about making the right decisions with the position. So, let’s start by looking at just what a scrum master is, and then we’ll dive into whether or not you need one, and how they can execute their job functions.

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The Scrum Master


First up, a scrum master is responsible for making sure that the scrum process takes place properly throughout the project that you’re working on. They make sure that the framework is there and they follow that up by facilitating the entire process for everyone involved, including the product owner, the organization, or company as a whole and the scrum team in particular. They’re there to make sure that the project is executed well and that everyone who is involved is able to deliver the end result that’s desired.


With a scrum master, you have someone who is responsible for the process. That’s all they do. They make sure that the process is being followed by the way that it should be. They’re not responsible for any of the people involved or acting as a team leader or even making any decisions. All they have to do is make sure that everyone knows how to follow the scrum process. And that means they need to understand the scrum process fully. They should be an experienced practitioner and an expert in the field.


This individual takes on the role of somewhat of a servant leader. That means they’re going to be there to help others within the process, but they’re not there to tell people what to do. They’re in the role they are because they help to encourage the team to work together and to follow along with a process. But they should make sure that they are not getting too nitpicky about the things that are being done and whether they’re following scrum exactly right. After all, there are plenty of ways to adjust scrum to work for the team at hand.

Specific Roles


The specific roles of the scrum master are to serve the product owner by keeping everyone informed about the goals, scope, and product domain. This means that everyone who is involved with the project or product needs to know each of these things completely.
They are also responsible for making sure that everyone knows how to manage the backlog for the product, including different tips or techniques that can be used. Not only that but they help the team to understand that the backlog needs to be cleared out as much as possible.


This individual should also be responsible for product planning, but only in an empirical environment. They are the ones that need to be able to make quick changes whenever necessary and they know how to be agile throughout the process. They also know how to keep everyone apprised of the process in the best way possible.

They’re responsible for being a coach and helping everyone within the scrum team to do what needs to be done. Rather than telling everyone what to do and how to do it, they help the team to organize themselves and to work in different ways. Not only that but they help get rid of obstacles along the way.


When it comes to the organization or the company the scrum master is responsible for coaching and leading everyone. After all, the transition to a scrum framework can be complicated and without someone to help with facilitating the process, it can be even more so.
When it comes to the stakeholders they’re also responsible for even more. This person should be providing further information to the stakeholders at all times. They need to let these people know where the process is going and how well it’s going, which can be done through artifacts of the scrum.

Should You Use a Scrum Framework?


You might be wondering if the scrum framework is even something that you should be thinking about or worrying about. But the truth is that it’s an efficient and effective process that really does seem to work. It has a whole lot of great benefits, including the fact that it’s been a chief choice for agile users and beyond. The truth of the matter is that this type of framework is definitely a great way to go and it’s going to help you achieve success with your projects, as long as you have a scrum master who knows their job role.

Becoming a Scrum Master


Are you interested in becoming a scrum master for your organization or company? If you are then you need to know just how to go about it and what it is going to mean for you. The good news is that it’s actually quite simple for you to go through the process and be ready to become a scrum master in no time. All you need to do is go through the certification process, and that’s actually going to help you learn what you need to know.


The certification process is done through the Scrum Alliance and it’s called Certified ScrumMaster. With this certification, you’re going to learn how to work with scrum teams and how to make sure that they’re operating at the level they need to be in order to be successful. This is extremely important for your overall success, but it’s not the only thing that you’re going to learn when you take on the certification program. You’re also going to look at all of the different aspects of the scrum framework and what it means.


You’ll learn about the fundamentals of this framework as well as just what each of the team members' roles is and the role of the team as a whole. You’ll learn about different events, artifacts, and rules as well as all of the procedures that go along with scrum. Not only that but you’re going to learn about the different terminology that’s used throughout this process so you can better understand how it’s going to work for your team or for your organization. After all, you want to make sure that you’re executing the process properly and that you’re actually the best person for this type of role.


If you’re looking to take this program or course then you need to know what the requirements are to start as well. The truth is, it’s simple. You can take this program or training at any time and with any level of experience. You’re going to learn a great deal even in the short class that you’re going to be taking, which is great for those who really want to help out their team but don’t yet have the training or expertise to do it. You don’t have to take a lot of time in order to get where you need to be.


The course itself is actually only 2 days and takes 16 hours total. That means you can get it done on a weekend and you get it all taught by a Certified Scrum Trainer. That means they can fill you in on all of the details and answer any questions that you might have. This is important because you’re going through the process with a goal of helping your organization. If you don’t get a full understanding of the course you’re definitely not going to be off on the right track when it comes time to take on the role.


Once you complete the course you’re going to take an exam. With the exam, you’ll need to prove what you’ve learned and then you’ll become a Certified ScrumMaster. You’ll also be a member of the Scrum Alliance for two years. At least, if you take their exam you will be. If you want to work with a different organization or you don’t want to be part of the Scrum Alliance you can choose to take your exam through other areas and avenues as well, which means you have options.

All About the ScrumMaster Certification Exam


The exam is actually going to take it easy on you more than you might think. There are only 35 questions and all of them are multiple-choice. Not only that but you only need to get 24 of the questions correct in order to pass the exam. You even get to take up to 90 days to complete the test and can pause whenever you want. Plus, you can use any notes and handouts that you want to answer the questions. That means you’ll have plenty of time and plenty of information to use so that you can pass the exam.


You’ll answer questions about product backlogs, planning releases, scalability, scrum roles, potential problems, sprints, daily scrum meetings, reports, team organization, and tasks. All of this is categorized under things like the history of the scrum and the different pieces of the process. If you feel comfortable with these things or if you have some good notes you shouldn’t have a problem passing the exam. And with so much time to take it, you can always look up more information while you’re working on the exam. That’s going to make it even easier for you to understand what you’re doing and how it works.


Once you finish the exam you’ll know immediately whether you’ve passed or not. That means you don’t have to worry about sitting around and waiting to get the results before you can start working with your team or even applying for jobs with your new role. If you pass you’ll be able to see all of the wrong answers that you had as well as what the correct answer was. If you don’t pass you’ll be able to see which of your answers were wrong, but you’ll have to do your own research to figure out what the correct answer was. Not only that but you get a free retake.

ScrumMaster Salaries


Though the salary for a ScrumMaster varies based on where you are and what organizations you’re working with, most will make between $70,000 and $100,000 a year. That means you’re potentially looking at a good salary boost if you do decide to complete this certification and start working within the field. It’s going to make you a better candidate for different positions, including positions that work with a lot of projects and teams. It’s also going to prove additional skills besides just an understanding of scrum.

What You Need


If you’re looking at becoming a ScrumMaster or if you are already one you’ll want to make sure that you’re looking for roles that let you exercise this skill. And you’re going to want to make sure that you work with your team properly. Using Gantt charts is one way that you can make sure you’re helping your team keep track of everything that they need to know. Not only that but it can help you to set up a framework and make sure everyone in the team can see it. All you need is the right software to help you along, like Instagantt.
With Instagantt you can create your Gantt charts or Kanban boards with no problem. And that will help your entire team make the right decisions every step of the way. All it takes is a little bit of assistance from your training and you’ll be on the right track.

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