Scrum Master vs Project Manager: Which One Is best?

Project Manager Vs Scrum Master? are both same? Which role is correct? Whom to choose? There is a lot of confusion and misconception around all these questions. Some think it's the same, some argue they are not, and people tend to get confused with both roles. The answer is simple. In Agile, there is no role of a Project Manager. There are only 3 roles in Agile namely, Scrum Team, Scrum Master and Product Owner. But nowadays, Firms who are shifting their focus to Agile, who are amidst the evolution or Firms who follow a mix of both methodologies, have a Project Manager who acts as a Scrum Master and vice versa. But let’s be clear, both are not the same, and both have their own set of role-playing and tasks. Further in this blog, let’s dive deep into Scrum Master vs Project Manager.

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What is a Scrum Master

The scrum master is in charge of ensuring that the scrum framework is followed properly. Scrum contains a set of rules and practices, it's the duty of a scrum master to make sure that must be followed by the entire team. The Scrum Master guides and coaches the team through the scrum framework while working with the whole team. The Scrum Master also helps in facilitating communication and cooperation between the leadership and the rest of the team to ensure a successful outcome.

Also Read: How Scrum masters drive Agile change in US Realestate

What does a Scrum Master do?

The Scrum Master does a lot of things, but first, we need to understand that scrum is an agile development methodology used to create large projects, usually software. Sprints, short development cycles used in the Agile project management technique, lead to continuous product or service improvement. There are numerous Agile frameworks, and Scrum is a well-liked choice for projects that move quickly. The Scrum Master's competence determines the process's outcomes, which depend on the methodology's high degree of collaboration and requirement for effective processes.

Also Read: kpIs vs okrs choosing the right framework for success

Agile approaches may have originated in IT firms, but Scrum Master positions are available globally in a wide range of industries and for a wide range of organisations. Using Agile project management, a Scrum Master's job is to support teams, projects, and team members. Your duties and responsibilities may change because Scrum Masters can work in many different contexts. You might be acting as a facilitator, coach, or project manager, depending on where you work. Your responsibilities will frequently change from day to day but mainly you will be:

Leading daily stand-up meetings, reviews, demos, and other project-related gatherings.
Assistance with team members' tasks.
Teaching the team the fundamentals of and best practices for Scrum.
promoting open dialogue and conflict resolution.
proactive in identifying and resolving problems.
Activity updating in a project management tracking tool.

What is a Project Manager?

Project Manager is an expert who organises, plans, and manages projects while adhering to constraints like budgets and timetables is known as a project manager. Project managers oversee the work of entire teams, establish the objectives of a project, consult with stakeholders, and see it through to completion. The project manager is accountable for the success or failure of the project, regardless of whether they are managing a marketing campaign, building a structure, creating a computer system, or launching a new product.

Almost every industry has a demand for project managers. Let's examine the Project Manager in more detail.

What does a Project Manager do?

The phases of a project are often broken down into four groups: initiation, planning, execution, and closure. The project manager is accountable for the following duties:

defining the project's scope.
maintaining a timetable.
estimating project costs and staying within a budget.
the control of project resources (including teams and workers).
Keeping track of the project's development.
interacting with the parties involved.
evaluating hazards.
Troubleshooting hurdles.
outstanding quality control.

Scrum Master vs Project Manager

The key difference between a scrum master and a project manager lies in the course of action and their focus, The Project manager focuses on the timeline, the final outcomes, available and required resources, and communication whereas a Scrum Master focuses on ensuring that all the scrum practices are followed, there is proper established communication between the team leaders and the rest of the team on the ground, and ensure the success of the team as a whole and also each individual team member.

Difference Between Scrum Master and Project Manager

Parameter	Scrum Master	Project Manager
Objectives	The main focus of a scrum master is whether the team members have received proper training about how to apply Agile principles. Additionally, Scrum Master coaches the Scrum teams and discusses the project completion schedule.	Project managers have very specific and well-defined goals like the deadlines of the task, the budget, resources, scope, outcome and a lot more.
Team Size	Scrum Masters usually work in small efficient teams, they act as a primary source of contact between the leadership and the team on the ground.	Project managers lead the project from head to toe, they work with all kinds of teams big and small depending on the project, but usually, the team size is bigger than the scrum masters.
Job Description	A Scrum Master removes obstacles and manages the Scrum procedures. educating a team about Scrum and Agile to produce successfully. makes the Scrum ceremonies easier. uses the tools to make sure a project is functioning smoothly. carries out the Product Backlog tasks in accordance with Product Owner priority. resolves team disputes through effective communication inspires the team keeps an eye on the Scrum procedures to maximise efficiency.	Planning, budget creation, and preparation of relevant documentation To assure the project's scope and direction, the PM must collaborate with higher management. In case of an emergency, the PM must collaborate with another department. Sometimes, have to put in their own time and effort or provide the team instructions to complete a task.
Role	They play the supporting role for the team members, by working meticulously with the team and promising that they are following Agile principles, values and processes efficiently and correctly.	Project Managers play the management and lead role, they plan for implementation.

Scrum Master or Project Manager: Which one is best?

This is a question which haunts almost everyone in an Organization. Whom to choose? Who is apt? Who will play a better role? Who will do justice to the role? So, If the Company or a Project is following the Traditional waterfall model, then the Project Manager is the correct role. If the company or Project is following Agile, then Scrum Master is apt. But as I have mentioned in the introductory paragraph, not all the companies have completely transited into Agile, they are somewhere in the middle of a transition from Waterfall to Agile. In such cases, the Project Manager takes over the role of Scrum Master and yet handles both responsibilities. There is no harm in doing so. There is no set of rules to be followed or practised in a certain way in agile or Scrum. For e.g., in Scrum, there are stand-up calls, Sprint Planning, Retrospective meetings and Sprint Review defined in the framework. But if you feel, arranging an extra technical discussion call will add VALUE to your Project, then you can definitely include that. The bottom line is if some process is adding value then go ahead with it. Similarly, whichever role suits your project, call it Project Manager or Scrum Master, you are free to choose. A project Manager playing Scrum Master and vice versa is possible. However, both roles are not the same. Both Project Manager and Scrum Master are different.

Also Read: Scrum Master vs PMP

Conclusion

Both the Scrum Master and the Project Manager have lots of responsibilities and both are very respected professions in the industry. It is difficult to choose between the Scrum Master certification and the Project Management certification, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages that must be carefully considered. As a project manager, it is crucial for you to acquire a Project Management Professional certification. In the end, it is demonstrated that a Scrum Master's function is a "deciding element" of successful projects. Both the Scrum Master and the project manager have certain responsibilities. To do the work, you'll need the right person with the necessary skill sets.

Also Read: Project Manager Qualification

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What do scrum masters and project managers do?

The project managers are mainly involved with administrative tasks like project initiation, meeting deadlines, budgeting management and several others while scrum masters make sure that the scrum framework is followed properly, whether the team has received appropriate training or not.

Difference Between Scrum Master and a Project Manager?

The major difference lies in their job role. The project manager is a leader who is responsible for the entire project whereas the scrum master trains the teams and makes sure the scrum framework is followed.

Relation between Scrum Master and Project Manager?

A project manager is a leader and a scrum master is a coach. Both scrum masters and project managers are very important roles in any organisation and are interrelated in one or the other way the project manager leads the project and the scrum master makes sure that the scrum framework is followed.

Which is better for you scrum master or a project manager?

Well, both are very good choices, it totally depends on an individual what kind of role he finds appropriate. If you want to be in an administrative, leadership, manager or any other such kind of role then go for a project manager but if you want to lead your own team, guide them, make them work towards a common goal and make sure the Scrum framework is followed, then go for Scrum Master.

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