Khushboo SinghProject Manager| Envestnet|YodleeBangalore, Karnataka, India
I have been working as Technical Project Manager/Technical Delivery Manager for the last 1.5 years. Now I am looking for a new job opportunity in other organizations with better career options. I am receiving calls for Scrum Master role.
I understand industries and companies are moving to Agile and hence we have this role of Scrum Master created.
From a career and work perspective, is it advisable to move to Scrum Master role after working as Project Manager?
What are the impacts?
Does that hamper further career improvements?
Or would it add value to my profile? Saving Changes...
Khushboo SinghProject Manager| Envestnet|YodleeBangalore, Karnataka, India
I have been working as Technical Project Manager/Technical Delivery Manager for the last 1.5 years. Now I am looking for a new job opportunity in other organizations with better career options.
Does the market look bleak for PMs/TPMs in India?
I have been reading that up-skilling yourself is the best way to deal with it.
What skills do we as PMs need to keep ourselves up in the competition?
Do we see a threat to PM role with the onset of Automation, Big Data, Cloud Computing, IoT, etc? Saving Changes...
From career and work perspective, it is not advisable to move to Scrum Master role after working as Project Manager.
Learning Scrum framework is definitely added advantage for your profile, so learn it. Most of the IT companies are going for Agile methodology, so definitely earning Agile or Scrum master certification would add value to your profile. Saving Changes...
I would also agree with Sonali on learning about Agile and the Scrum Framework in particular. As a "pure" Scrum Master, you no longer have access to budget. The Product Owner may have access to budget and deal with the "triple constraint"; but this may depend on the organization. Your role is now to work with the development team and remove impediments, as well as, ensuring the team is delivering value to the organization. Saving Changes...
Khushboo SinghProject Manager| Envestnet|YodleeBangalore, Karnataka, India
Thanks a lot for your comments!
I am now clear on the roles and the future prospect with each. Saving Changes...
Deepa KalangiManager, Program Management, Author, Trainer| CVS HealthCharlotte, NC, United States
hi Khushboo,
Going to be an agile scrum master from being a PM, is definitely a huge shift, because like Demetrius said you won't have access to budget/you will not manage cost etc. It becomes shared responsibility, in one way it is good, but in another way, you may take the time to get accustomed to the new kind of servant leadership role. Being a PM, you still have some authority, it depends on how you want to exercise it, to what extent and when and where. That makes you an efficient PM.
Now coming to the job market, maybe Sonali is right with respect to Indian market but in the US, as far as I have seen, the volume of opportunities increase for a scrum master as more companies are going agile, but also there are roles that say "agile scrum PM", you may be fine with both the roles. I have seen several of my colleagues with PM/Scrum Master profiles and they are doing perfectly fine here. Like others mentioned, having agile is always good on your profile being a PM, but from a growth perspective, unable to speak from Indian Market. Saving Changes...
Project Manager role is indeed sound but I would advise you to move your career as a scrum master because as much you keep yourself on modern practices that much better it is for your future, currently most of the modern structure companies are moving toward agile methodologies which can enhance your exposure to current business management methodologies. Saving Changes...
Prashant SonwaneSr. Program Manager| Winjit Technologies Pvt LtdNashik, Maharashtra, India
If you already have an experience working as PM so can you further explore it to the next level? If yes then go for it but if you feel that you are now at stagnancy level then explore the new opportunity in Scrum.
Your learning of new methodology will not go in waste and in future, you could get better opportunities in the current company or in the new company. Saving Changes...
Ramachandran SwaminathanRegional Delivery Manager| Oracle Consulting IndiaBangalore, Karnataka, India
I would also agree with Sonali's advice on moving from PM to Scrum Master. And again allude to Demetrius, Scrum Master has very minimal/no decision making power where as PM has that. So you would find yourself kind of crippled in this role at least initially.
Assuming that you are currently working in a Product/Captive Company in India, you can try moving to a consulting organization as a PM, as it would add a different flavor to your career(To see things from a vendor's perspective) and it would also be challenging role. This is entirely based on my assumption as I dont know you current role/company etc. Happy to help if you need any further direction Saving Changes...
