I was layed off from a compay with the explanation "We are using SCRUM so will no longer be using Project Management." What do you think of this statement?
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Michael WellesManaging Director| EdWel Project and Risk Management TrainingChicago, Il, United States
Wow. I couldn't disagree with that statement more. It would be the same as saying, "we no longer do quality management because we are now doing kaizen."
Scrum is a technique. Granted, it is not a project management framework like the PMBOK per se however its root is in the field of project management.
Now I think the more appropriate question is do you have the project management skills and acumen to be a scrum master. The skills of a scrum master and a project manager are identical in my opinion. Only the tool has changed.
A project manager like a scrum master manages the work flow. It requires the ability to prioritize and drive results. This is one of the problems over-reliance on so many of the "techniques" out there.
Whatever the technique, it comes down to decision-making. We use the tools of the PMBOK, CMMI, Scrum, Six Sigma (reliability engineering), and even my own risk management model Range Forward to improve communication, coordination, and decision-making.
Of course each new model improves upon the last, but the goal remains the same - improve decision-making throughout an enterprise.
Best of luck and you will bounce back from this setback!
Joe MooneySenior Technology Project Manager| Independent ConsultantOviedo, Fl, United States
With an attitude that a new methodology will eliminate their need for project management they will be laying off more people in the future. They cannot be successful with that sort of thought process.
Good luck in the job search and pave the way for your former coworkers who may soon be joining you..... Saving Changes...
Shawn BellingChief Technology Officer and Adjunct Faculty| Geno.Me/University of WisconsinFitchburg, Wi, United States
This may sound harsh, but consider yourself lucky to be seperated from this company - they are obviously ill-informed and short-sighted. SCRUM, Agile, et al do not eliminate the need for project management, they merely change the role and the way PM is used. It is as important as ever. Saving Changes...
While I agree with the earlier comment that Project Managers and Scrum Masters have a lot in common, not all Project Managers see themselves as facilitators, which is the primary role of the Scrum Master during the sprint. But that is a separate conversation.
In your case, I hesitate to offer an opinion without greater insight into the situation. Do you feel the company was being completely forthcoming? Were you the only Project Manager that was laid off? Have they already hired CSMs or brought in a Certified Scrum Trainer, or other consultant, to provide training on making the transition to using Scrum?
Of the companies that I have heard that have adopted Scrum, there is a common theme of challenges getting everyone to adopt it, and with determining which projects to use Scrum on and which to follow more traditional practices on.
I am curious to know what steps the company has taken to adopt Scrum and why they feel they no longer need Project Managers. Saving Changes...
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