The Scrum Master is a servant leader and serves predominantly the scrum team and sometimes the wider organization. The Scrum Coach deals with multiple teams and the wider organization on a more frequent basis while possessing more advanced skills and experience than the Scrum Master. Given that the Scrum Coach is more of a "Master" of Scrum than the Scrum Master, the term "Master" is an oxymoron within the Scrum Team, and the term "Coach" would probably be more appealing to autonomous and self-organizing teams, shouldn't the role names be swapped? Saving Changes...
I prefer the terms "agile lead" (or "agile process lead") and "agile coach". First, unless a company is following 100% of the Scrum Guide, using a more generic term is advisable. Secondly, I hate to call anyone a "master" (unless they are a Jedi or Sith Lord :-) ).
Finally, by the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Coach is not defined. The Scrum Master themselves is supposed to coach both inside and outside of the team. Pragmatism has resulted in the creation of a distinct external-to-team coach role...
Kiron
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 11, 2018 3:41 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
Agile lead sounds good, but given that there is a Scum framework, the term "Scrum" will always remain in the role names I think. There seems to be a lot of overlap and confusion between Scrum Master and Scrum Coach.
Saving Changes...
Dinah YoungProject Manager / Software Asset Manager| Prince William CountySpringfield, Va, United States
I agree that the term Scrum Master is not the best choice. It implies that this is the top job in Scrum whereas their scope is rather limited.
But what can we do? It is now ingrained in the collective consciousness.
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 11, 2018 3:54 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
Yes indeed Dinah, it is now ingrained. I wonder why they even went with this name in the first place while talking about servant leader in the same sentence. But alas...
Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
The point is: do you will implement Scrum by the book? Then is nothing to debate. The roles are defined then understand them and implement Scrum.
...
1 reply by Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
Jan 11, 2018 3:59 PM
Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
I agree Sergio if we are to go strictly by the guide, then there is nothing to debate, But the Scrum Guide does make changes every now and then, and as Kiron points out, the Scrum Coach isn't even defined in the Scrum Guide, and yet the role is prevalent.
I prefer the terms "agile lead" (or "agile process lead") and "agile coach". First, unless a company is following 100% of the Scrum Guide, using a more generic term is advisable. Secondly, I hate to call anyone a "master" (unless they are a Jedi or Sith Lord :-) ).
Finally, by the Scrum Guide, a Scrum Coach is not defined. The Scrum Master themselves is supposed to coach both inside and outside of the team. Pragmatism has resulted in the creation of a distinct external-to-team coach role...
Kiron
Agile lead sounds good, but given that there is a Scum framework, the term "Scrum" will always remain in the role names I think. There seems to be a lot of overlap and confusion between Scrum Master and Scrum Coach.
...
1 reply by Kiron Bondale
Jan 11, 2018 3:49 PM
Kiron Bondale
...
Absolutely!
Here's the specifics from the Scrum Guide for the role of the Scrum Master in relation to the organization - you can see how much of an overlap there is with the Scrum/Agile Coach role as commonly implemented.
"The Scrum Master serves the organization in several ways, including:
Leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption;
Planning Scrum implementations within the organization;
Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact Scrum and empirical product development;
Causing change that increases the productivity of the Scrum Team; and,
Working with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of Scrum in the organization."
Agile lead sounds good, but given that there is a Scum framework, the term "Scrum" will always remain in the role names I think. There seems to be a lot of overlap and confusion between Scrum Master and Scrum Coach.
Absolutely!
Here's the specifics from the Scrum Guide for the role of the Scrum Master in relation to the organization - you can see how much of an overlap there is with the Scrum/Agile Coach role as commonly implemented.
"The Scrum Master serves the organization in several ways, including:
Leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption;
Planning Scrum implementations within the organization;
Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact Scrum and empirical product development;
Causing change that increases the productivity of the Scrum Team; and,
Working with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of Scrum in the organization."
I agree that the term Scrum Master is not the best choice. It implies that this is the top job in Scrum whereas their scope is rather limited.
But what can we do? It is now ingrained in the collective consciousness.
Yes indeed Dinah, it is now ingrained. I wonder why they even went with this name in the first place while talking about servant leader in the same sentence. But alas... Saving Changes...
The point is: do you will implement Scrum by the book? Then is nothing to debate. The roles are defined then understand them and implement Scrum.
I agree Sergio if we are to go strictly by the guide, then there is nothing to debate, But the Scrum Guide does make changes every now and then, and as Kiron points out, the Scrum Coach isn't even defined in the Scrum Guide, and yet the role is prevalent.
...
1 reply by Sergio Luis Conte
Jan 11, 2018 5:58 PM
Sergio Luis Conte
...
I know. Because I am in the group accountable for all related to method/process and practices we was trained by Mr. Sutherland about that. Ones again, if you will apply Scrum by the book and the role is not defined then the role does not exists at all. Mainly because the dirver for changes in the new version were role reviewing.
Here's the specifics from the Scrum Guide for the role of the Scrum Master in relation to the organization - you can see how much of an overlap there is with the Scrum/Agile Coach role as commonly implemented.
"The Scrum Master serves the organization in several ways, including:
Leading and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption;
Planning Scrum implementations within the organization;
Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact Scrum and empirical product development;
Causing change that increases the productivity of the Scrum Team; and,
Working with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of Scrum in the organization."
Kiron
Seems like a job add for a Scrum Coach ;-) Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
Jan 11, 2018 3:59 PM
Replying to Sante Delle-Vergini, PhD
...
I agree Sergio if we are to go strictly by the guide, then there is nothing to debate, But the Scrum Guide does make changes every now and then, and as Kiron points out, the Scrum Coach isn't even defined in the Scrum Guide, and yet the role is prevalent.
I know. Because I am in the group accountable for all related to method/process and practices we was trained by Mr. Sutherland about that. Ones again, if you will apply Scrum by the book and the role is not defined then the role does not exists at all. Mainly because the dirver for changes in the new version were role reviewing. Saving Changes...
Deepesh RammoorthyICT Project Manager ( PMP®AgilePM®Certified ScrumMaster® (CSM®))| Australian Red Cross Blood ServiceTarneit, Vic, Australia
Can I be bold and called anyone who has a Scrum Title as "Project Management Adversary " ! :)
