Scrum Roles (Scrum Master, Product owner, Development Team) and collaboration between each other

1.               What is one service a Scrum Master provides to the Product Owner?

The Scrum Master is Scrum Framework expert and responsible for its adherence in creating a successful product. As an expert, he is the coach for both product owner and development team.  Now if we talk about service a Scrum Master provides to the product owner - a product owner gets coaching from the Scrum Master especially for:

•          In choosing the right product management techniques and tools

•          In making product-related decisions

•          In determining product management practices.

2.               Who can order the items in the Product Backlog?

As per Scrum Guide, - The Product backlog is an ordered list of everything that is known to be needed in the product. It is the single source of requirements for any changes to be made to the product. The Product Owner is responsible for the Product Backlog, including its content, availability, and ordering. 

The Product Owner owns the Product Backlog, and he is the sole responsible person to take final call for any decision-related to it. For the Product Backlog management, he mainly involves:

•      Clearly articulating and communicating Product Backlog items.

•      Ordering Product Backlog items to best achieve the product vision

•      Maximizing and optimizing Development Team's work by clearly illustrating product vision

•      Ensuring that Product Backlog is visible, clear, and transparent

•      Make sure his availability to Development Team whenever they need him to understand Product Backlog items.

3.               What is required when a Scrum Team says a Product Backlog item is “Done”?

Scrum Team includes three roles: Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Development Team

For Definition of Done, all above roles come together and collaborate to define it. Definition of Done represent the shared understanding of the Scrum team as follows:

•          Development Team explores what completion criteria’s are needed from the development point of view, Scrum Master can facilitate to explore these criteria

•          Product Owner can communicate his expectations for overall Product Backlog and/or for specific product backlog items.

As per Scrum Guide,  - At the end of a Sprint, the new Increment must be “Done,” which means it must be in useable condition and meet the Scrum Team’s definition of “Done.”

Scrum Roles

4.               When a Scrum Master encounters resistance from outside of the Development Team, what should the Scrum Master do?

Scrum Master also serves the organization in many ways:

•     Lead and coach in Scrum Framework adoption

•     Plan effective ways to implement Scrum within the organization

•     Helping Stakeholders for empirical product development

•     Work with other Scrum Masters to increase the effectiveness of the application of the Scrum in the organization

•     Work to improve transparency at all levels of the organization’s Scrum Team’s work

When there is a resistance from outside of the Development Team, in that case, the best way is to work with other Scrum Master’s to understand that resistance and to improve the effectiveness of Scrum.

Escalating the issue and not intervening in the business are examples of withdrawing from the situation. Also, status report is not a solution for a better future, as it does not include action items to improve the situation.

5.               What is one service a Scrum Master provides to the Development Team?

The Scrum Master is Scrum Framework expert and responsible for its adherence in creating a successful product. As an expert, he is the coach for both product owner and development team.  Now if we talk about service a Scrum Master provides to the Development Team - a Development Team gets support from the Scrum Master especially for:

•     In locating roadblocks

•     In removing those roadblocks

•     Facilitate the Development Team’s work and improve communication

•     Explore areas of improvement and suggest changes.

•     As per Scrum Guide, – The Scrum Master serves the Development Team in several ways, including:

•     Coaching the Development Team in self-organization and cross-functionality;

•     Helping the Development Team to create high-value products;

•     Removing impediments to the Development Team’s progress;

•     Facilitating Scrum events as requested or needed; and,

•     Coaching the Development Team in organizational environments in which Scrum is not yet fully adopted and understood.

Scrum Roles Duties