We will explore the role of Scrum Master in the context of the changing agile landscape and how this role is likely to evolve in the future. Agile teams have sprung up in many organizations; large and small. Scrum – a framework for developing and sustaining complex products – has evolved as the framework of choice for a majority of these agile teams. Samir Penkar embarked on a journey to understand the changing nature of the Scrum Master role from multiple perspectives – career, responsibilities, the skills required, measures of success for a Scrum Master, and the future of the role. His research data included over 350 responses from an online survey, observations and a host of in depth interviews. Join Samir to explore future of the Scrum Master role. Samir Penkar is the COO of Simulation Powered Learning, a company that uses real-life simulations to turn knowledge into performance. An early adopter of agile principles & practices, Samir has coached numerous teams in adopting and growing the agile mindset. He is the author of the program management book From Projects to Programs. He loves dogs, kites and is a curious student of health and lifespan. www.simulationpl.com

1. Samir Penkar
Future of the Scrum Master Role

2. We turn knowledge into skills through exciting and challenging simulations
Project Management | Agile | Scaled Agile Framework | Leadership
Our clients
What makes us different
● Hands on experiential learning through simulations
● Experienced and practicing instructors
● PMI charter R.E.P program partner
● Mindset of continuous improvement

4. Three pronged research strategy
1. Survey
2. In-depth interviews
3. Observations and social media research

5. Respondent Demographics

6. Hands on experience

7. Full time or part-time role?

8. Before they became a Scrum Master...

9. Top challenges
● Management not understanding agile mindset
● Coordination outside the team, imposed delivery dates, technical
disagreements
● Org culture, org structure, lack of mandate
● Dealing with non-agile part of the organization
● Creating T-shaped people
● Getting people to really work as a team
● Leadership expects reporting in a waterfall fashion
● Doing something useful on the team in addition to the scrum master role

10. How do you measure the success of a Scrum Master?
● They succeed if the team succeeds
● Delivery of product from the team
● Team’s satisfaction
● The same way you measure the success of a sports coach
● We don’t measure Scrum Master success
● We should never measure individual roles
● Happiness Index from team and business
● On the maturity of the team
● We don’t see Scrum as a job, just a role

11. Career path for a Scrum Master
● Depends on the company
● There is no need to grow further - Scrum Master role covers individuals,
teams and organization
● There’s no such thing
● Agile Coach
● Become a RTE (Release Train Engineer)
● A Scrum Master stays a Scrum Master

12. What I should have asked in the survey?
● How should CEO and Executive Leadership value a Scrum Master?
● Do you think a Scrum Master needs to have a technical background?
● Is Scrum a modern panacea or snake oil?
● How will the role stay relevant?
● What are the top three benefits of Scrum you’ve experienced?
● Is Scrum the only way to be agile?
● How should the Scrum Master progress in their career?
● Do teams always need a Scrum Master or is it a temporary role?
● Why did you become a Scrum Master?

13. In-depth interviews
https://futureofprojectmanagement.com/category/future-of-scrum-master/

14. Insights

15. Insights and guidance
● Understand business drivers and/or technology
● More and more junior folks are becoming Scrum Masters
● Facilitation is the a key skill for a Scrum Master to “master”
● Be a Scrum Master for at least two teams simultaneously
● Part time Scrum Master role is here to stay in some orgs
● Seek out additional responsibilities beyond a Scrum Master role
● Get familiar with DevOps
● Guard against confirmation bias

16. “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Abraham Lincoln

17. Q&A

18. Thank You