For professional Project Managers seeking to transition into Professional Scrum Masters, the project management principle of being a diligent, respectful, and caring steward offers a valuable perspective. In Scrum, stewardship extends beyond traditional project management, emphasizing integrity, care, and trustworthiness within the realms of initiatives and products. This principle aligns seamlessly with Scrum's focus on the empiricism pillars of transparency, inspection, and adaptation, as well as the core values of commitment, focus, openness, respect, and courage.
Potential dangers for project managers, just picking out two from my experiences
A too narrow view of responsibility: project managers may be accustomed to a limited scope of stewardship, primarily focused on deliverables and deadlines.
In Scrum, stewardship involves a broader responsibility, including the social, technical, and environmental impacts of the product.Compliance over adaptation: while compliance with processes and standards is important, project managers transitioning to Scrum must balance it with the need for flexibility and adaptation, core to the Scrum framework.
Stewardship in a Scrum Environment
A holistic approach: in Scrum, stewardship means considering the social and environmental impacts of the product, aligning with the organization's goals and values.
Empirical process control: stewardship in Scrum involves practicing transparency, regular inspection, and adaptation. This ensures integrity and trustworthiness in delivering a product that meets quality standards (cfr the concept of Done) and stakeholder expectations.
Caring for the Scrum Team: beyond the product, stewardship in Scrum includes caring for the developers. This aligns with the Scrum values of respect and courage, ensuring the team is cross-functional, self-managing, and continuously growing in effectiveness.
Steps you can take as Project Manager to transition to a professional use of the Scrum framework:
Expand your view of responsibility: embrace a wider perspective of stewardship that includes not just compliance and integrity but also the well-being of your team and the broader impact of your work.
Balance compliance with flexibility: learn to balance the need for compliance with the flexibility required in Scrum. This involves adapting your approach based on feedback and changing requirements.
Foster a caring team environment: as a Scrum Master, focus on creating an environment where the team feels supported and valued. This means being a facilitator, coach, and mentor, and helping the team uphold the Scrum values and principles.
Conclusion
Transitioning from a Project Manager to a Scrum Master requires redefining stewardship. It's about embracing a broader responsibility that goes beyond compliance and deliverables, focusing on the holistic impact of your work and the growth and well-being of your team. This journey will transform not just your professional role but also your approach to leadership and team dynamics.
Next Steps
Begin your journey by reflecting on how you can broaden your stewardship as a Scrum Master. Engage in Scrum training and workshops to deepen your understanding and skills. Remember, your path to Scrum mastery is paved with continuous learning, adaptation, and a commitment to holistic stewardship. Let’s embark on this path together.
Exploring this project management aspect within Scrum reveals a complex relationship between project management skills and agile practices which we only just touched upon. Project Managers can bring valuable expertise to a Scrum team, but realizing its full potential only happens when the skills are adapted and applied to each unique Scrum Team’s context.
I hope you find value in these short articles and if you are looking for more clarifications, feel free to take contact.
If you want to take a deeper dive into the concepts we are covering in this blog series, then surely check out our Professional Scrum Mastery workshop. We have some scheduled in the coming period.
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Wishing you an inspiring read and a wonderful journey.
Scrum on.
Steven
