Stelian ROMANProject Manager| MicroSafetyCarlingford, New South Wales, Australia
The concept of 'Scrum Project' or using Scrum as a Project Management framework is widely spread in software companies.
Ina 'traditional' project the PM is responsible for financial management, signing timesheets and Invoices, tracking costs etc. The Scrum Guide doesn't mention who puts the money on the table. It the PO responsible to manage money or the SM? Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Jan 31, 2019 12:03 AM
Replying to Stelian ROMAN
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It's good to read the Scrum Guide. I am not aware of the Mickey Mouse framework.
If you meet a real SM ask him to explain you what Scrum is about. It is one of his responsibilities,
'The Scrum Master is responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.
"Scrum’s roles, events, artifacts, and rules are immutable and although implementing only parts of Scrum is possible, the result is not Scrum."
I really value a person who delivers successful projects , engages with stakeholders effectively , builds relationships, satisfies customers.
If it's a Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse and they have delivered successful projects , I don't mind if they have done it using Waterfall , Agile, Scrum, SaFe, DSDM, XP or "invent your own PM method" or "mix and match method".
I also don't mind using scrum practices and not certainly do not like to be very rigid or by-the-book.
I also would not be opposed if asked to manage finances when I am running a typical "Scrum " project.
Financial management is a good skill to have for anyone , not just a PM or a Scrum Master. Saving Changes...
Stelian ROMANProject Manager| MicroSafetyCarlingford, New South Wales, Australia
Jan 31, 2019 12:03 AM
Replying to Stelian ROMAN
...
It's good to read the Scrum Guide. I am not aware of the Mickey Mouse framework.
If you meet a real SM ask him to explain you what Scrum is about. It is one of his responsibilities,
'The Scrum Master is responsible for promoting and supporting Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. Scrum Masters do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory, practices, rules, and values.
"Scrum’s roles, events, artifacts, and rules are immutable and although implementing only parts of Scrum is possible, the result is not Scrum."
Deepesh, I have to tell you that the question was deliberately misleading. (apologies to the others who got it). There is no such thing as a Scrum Project. That's why it is in quotes. A project is defined by scope, time and budget. Scrum is a (good) product development framework that manages the scope only. ('Scrum is a framework for developing, delivering, and sustaining complex products'). As I said it is very useful to read the Scrum Guide to get an idea about what Scrum is.
What you describe it's called in the PM professional community a cowboy. It is a 'hero' that saves the day by 'engaging with stakeholders effectively , building relationships, and satisfying customers'. A professional PM is managing the project and the project team.
A project is delivered by a team, not by the PM and real projects are always delivered adhering to a framework.
Interesting enough you mentioned only software product delivery frameworks, one of them (DSDM) being extinct for many years. It was a failed experiment that was revived to make money from training courses and certifications. An experienced PM will start with PMBoK and PRINCE2, frameworks developed to manage projects (scope, budget and time) and not limited to software development.
Maybe you didn't know but the 'Mickey Mouse' project concept is pretty old. It means a Change Request elevated to the project status.
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I am afraid that you also missed the point that my previous quotes are from the Scrum Guide, Scrum being the focus of my question. The second one means that you can do whatever you want, including the cowboy approach but you should not call it Scrum. As part of my Scrum Master duties I have to mention that the framework is called Scrum with capital S and without quotes. Saving Changes...
Just for curiosity: Could someone elaborate what the 'Mickey Mouse Project Concept' is about? Saving Changes...
Stelian ROMANProject Manager| MicroSafetyCarlingford, New South Wales, Australia
@Mirko. As I mentioned before a Mickey Mouse project is a Change Request elevated at a project level where a 'nice guy' that knows how to manage up is masquerading as a Project Manager. It is very common in software development where adding/changing web pages or creation/modification of a report is sometimes treated as a project. Although it can be defined by scope, time and sometimes budget the 'project team' doesn't need any direction because they know what needs to be done. It's like bringing a PM to fix a leaking or paint a room.
Scientifically this is called the 'halo effect' when a 'nice' person is perceived as smarter and more experienced than someone who is not nice. Because it is 'nice guy' it gets 'promoted' to a Project Manager label and Mickey Mouse projects are created adnd assigned to him/her. In my opinion a real Project Manager Manager is rarely nice. Where there is a need for a real PM there are problems to be solved and challenges. Saving Changes...
"Life is but a walking shadow,
a poor player that struts and
frets his hour upon the stage
and then is heard of no more.
It is a tale told by an idiot,
full of sound and fury,
signifying nothing."
