How do you manage a Scrum Master's role in a scaled Scrum project?

In a scaled Scrum project, managing the Scrum Master's role involves ensuring effective coordination across multiple teams. Key strategies include implementing regular Scrum of Scrums meetings for cross-team synchronization, facilitating collaboration between Scrum Masters, actively addressing cross-team impediments, aligning with Product Owners, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, and establishing efficient communication channels. This ensures a unified and smooth application of Scrum principles across the entire project.

Dans la gestion du rôle de Scrum Master dans un projet Scrum à grande échelle, je déploie une approche holistique pour favoriser la collaboration et la communication entre les différentes équipes Scrum. Mon rôle englobe la coordination des pratiques agiles à tous les niveaux, en veillant à ce que les valeurs et principes de Scrum soient appliqués de manière cohérente. La résolution proactive des impediments et la promotion d'une culture d'amélioration continue sont des aspects fondamentaux de ma mission, permettant de surmonter rapidement les obstacles et d'optimiser les performances à l'échelle du projet.

I'd add the Disciplined Agile (DA) and the Spotify model to the list Knowing the principles also lets us do a scaling based on frameworks' forks, e.g. add Kanban teams to a LeSS when sync-up cross-team cadencies

Common Scrum Scaling Frameworks: SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework): Scrum Masters work within larger constructs like Agile Release Trains (ARTs) and coordinate across teams during PI Planning. LeSS (Large-Scale Scrum): One Scrum Master may manage multiple teams, with a focus on keeping Scrum lightweight and consistent across all teams. Nexus: Scrum Masters facilitate interactions between multiple Scrum teams working on the same product, emphasizing dependency management. Scrum@Scale: Scrum Masters help synchronize work across multiple Scrum teams and facilitate alignment between teams and the Executive Action Team (EAT).

Imagine you're a coach of a large, diverse team, where each player has unique skills. As a Scrum Master in a scaled Scrum environment using Nexus, your role is to bring these talented players together, helping them collaborate and learn from each other, while keeping focused on the big game: successful product development. You're the mentor who understands the rules, promotes Scrum values, resolves conflicts, and keeps everyone on the path to victory as a unified team.

Algo que me ha resultado útil es que los Scrum Masters sean un equipo, que tambien se reune luego del daily a resolver dependencias, impedimentos, riesgos. De esta manera lo se puede resolver internamente se resolvería en esta instancia o se propagaría a los interesados correspodientes. Entre más proactivo, basado en métricas y evidencia es mejor, de forma que tanto Product Owners, lideres técnicos y otras partes interesadas, logren apoyar y avanzar con transparencia.

In a scaled Scrum project, consider forming a dedicated Scrum Master team or Scrum of Scrum Masters (SoSM) to coordinate and support multiple Scrum teams. This team of experienced Scrum Masters collaborates to address cross-team dependencies, facilitate alignment, and resolve impediments at the program or portfolio level.

For the sake of openness and support from technical leaders, product owners, and other stakeholders, it is best to be proactive, metrics-driven, and evidence-based. Scrum Masters are able to assist and mentor their teams in the spirit of cooperation and shared ownership. In order to enable Scrum Masters to concentrate on scaling problems and systemic enhancements during SoSM meetings, each Scrum Master should mentor their team to be self-sufficient in handling local concerns.

Managing a Scrum Master’s Role in a Scaled Scrum Project: A Scrum Master may support multiple teams, ensuring they adhere to Scrum principles while coordinating cross-team collaboration. Scrum Masters work to align team goals with the broader organizational objectives, coordinating with other Scrum Masters or a Release Train Engineer (RTE) in scaled frameworks. Beyond team-level, they tackle larger organizational impediments that affect multiple teams. They provide coaching to multiple teams, fostering an Agile mindset across the organization, not just within a single team. Facilitating cross-team events like Scrum of Scrums or PI (Program Increment) Planning, ensuring teams stay aligned and communicate effectively.

In a scaled Scrum project, the Scrum Master's role is pivotal. Acting as a servant-leader and change agent, they guide multiple Scrum teams, ensuring alignment with the Agile Release Train (ART) cadence and synchronization requirements. The Scrum Master/Team Coach plays a crucial part, teaching and coaching the team to achieve their goals within the framework. Adapting and extending their responsibilities, the Scrum Master fosters collaboration, tackles challenges, and facilitates effective dependency management. This role, akin to Scrum, demands a balance of leadership and service, embodying the principles of agility in the broader context of scaled Agile frameworks like SAFe.

In a scaled Scrum products, the Scrum Master oversees essential Scrum events across teams. Sprint Planning: Coordinating joint planning sessions for aligned goals. Daily Stand-ups: Facilitating cross-team stand-ups for improved communication. Sprint Review: Coordinating integrated reviews for a holistic product view. Sprint Retrospective: Organizing joint retrospectives for collective improvement. Backlog Refinement: Collaborating on refining backlogs for shared priorities. The Scrum Master ensures synchronized, collaborative activities, fostering efficiency in the scaled Scrum environment. Depending on the selected scaling framework, there are additional events.

Coordinate Scrum events at both the team and program levels to ensure synchronization and collaboration across multiple teams. Align sprint planning, daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives to accommodate dependencies and promote transparency and alignment among teams. Encourage participation from Scrum Masters and team members in cross-team events to foster communication and coordination.

The Scrum Master accountability remains: how to make the teams more effective. Not do the work for them. Challenge your teams how they can align their planning. Typically there will first be a cross-team planning where teams agree which team takes on which Product Backlog Items, followed by individual teams getting into their specific Sprint Planning. Facilitate that this happens, don't do it yourself as Scrum Master. There is one Sprint Review - this is very important. Ensure as Scrum Master the teams work towards one single integrated increment that can be used by users during the Sprint Review. In scaling this is a big attention point. Big room planning - not convinced. Too much upfront decisions for unknown work.

In addition to facilitating my team's Scrum events, I participate in SAFe-specific events like PI Planning, System Demos, and Inspect & Adapt workshops. I help coordinate Scrum of Scrums meetings, where representatives from each team (often Scrum Masters) sync up on cross-team issues. During these scaled events, I ensure my team's voice is heard and that we're aligned with the ART's goals

1 Product = 1 Product Backlog = 1 Integrated Increment each Sprint. Plain and simple. 1 Product Backlog can be worked on by 1 or multiple teams. In scaling clearly muliptle. 1 Team = 1 Sprint Backlog. Plain and simple. So there you have it. The 3 Scrum artifacts in scaling 1 Product Backlog for all teams 1 Increment by all teams 1 Sprint Backlog per team The Scrum Master(s) ensure this is the case to make the teams more effective.

Ensure consistency and alignment in the use of Scrum artifacts, such as the product backlog, sprint backlog, and increment, across all teams within the scaled environment. Establish clear guidelines for managing dependencies, conducting backlog refinement, and maintaining transparency in backlog prioritization and progress tracking.

Scrum artifacts play a pivotal role in scaled Scrum projects, ensuring effective collaboration and transparency. Product Backlog, a dynamic list of features, is curated collaboratively by the team and stakeholders, guiding development. Sprint Backlog, a subset of the Product Backlog, details tasks for the upcoming Sprint. Increment, the sum of all completed Sprint tasks, ensures a potentially shippable product. In a scaled Scrum context, these artifacts facilitate alignment among multiple teams, crucial for achieving project goals. They provide a shared understanding of work, fostering collaboration and adaptability. Scrum Masters play a key role in coaching teams on artifact utilization, enhancing overall project efficiency and success.

In our scaled environment, we use SAFe-specific artifacts alongside traditional Scrum artifacts. I help my team maintain their team backlog while ensuring it aligns with the Program Backlog. We use the Program Board during PI Planning to visualize dependencies with other teams. I also assist in creating and updating the PI Objectives for my team, linking them to the overall ART objectives ..

Reinforce the Scrum values of commitment, courage, focus, openness, and respect across all teams and levels within the organization. Encourage Scrum Masters to embody these values in their interactions with team members, stakeholders, and other Scrum Masters. Foster a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and shared ownership of project success.

Scrum Values in a Scaled Environment: Commitment: Scrum Masters ensure that all teams stay committed to their goals while supporting the overall project vision. Courage: Encouraging teams to experiment, take on challenges, and face obstacles head-on, even in a larger, more complex environment. Focus: Scrum Masters help teams stay focused on their sprint goals while ensuring alignment with the broader project goals. Openness: Promoting transparency across teams by encouraging open communication and the sharing of progress and challenges. Respect: Scrum Masters foster a culture of respect among all team members, ensuring that contributions are valued, and collaboration is smooth across multiple teams.

Scrum values play a crucial role in scaled Scrum projects, fostering collaboration, openness, and commitment. In a larger framework like SAFe, Scrum Masters act as servant-leaders and change agents, guiding teams to align with the Agile Release Train (ART) cadence. They coach teams on SAFe Scrum practices, emphasizing adaptability and extension of traditional Scrum roles. The Scrum Master's role involves addressing challenges in synchronization, dependency management, and facilitating alignment within the ART. Successful scaling requires embracing Scrum values as guiding principles for collaboration and continuous improvement, ensuring teams remain agile in the face of complexity.

Upholding Scrum values becomes even more critical in a scaled environment. I work to foster these values not just within my team, but across the ART. This includes promoting transparency through clear communication channels, encouraging courage in raising impediments that affect multiple teams, and building respect across team boundaries /..

- Develop communication channels and collaboration platforms to facilitate information sharing and coordination among Scrum Masters and teams. - Provide ongoing training, mentoring, and support to Scrum Masters to enhance their skills in managing scaled Scrum projects effectively. - Foster a culture of experimentation and adaptation, where Scrum Masters are empowered to innovate and tailor Agile practices to suit the unique needs and challenges of the scaled environment. - Encourage regular retrospectives and feedback sessions at both the team and program levels to identify opportunities for improvement and address any issues or bottlenecks hindering progress.

Once upon a project, the Scrum Master's role in a scaled Scrum setting proved pivotal. Picture this: a large-scale initiative with multiple Scrum teams, each focusing on a specific aspect. The Scrum Master, acting as a servant-leader and change agent, facilitated seamless collaboration. Challenges arose, but the Scrum Master, armed with SAFe principles, adapted and extended their role. They embraced teaching and coaching, ensuring each team synchronized within the cadence of the Agile Release Train. Dependency management became an art, aligning the teams effortlessly. This real-world scenario showcased the Scrum Master not just as a guide but as a vital force driving the project's success.

As a Certified SAFe Agilist and a Scrum Master currently working in an Agile Release Train (ART) with SAFe, i want to add that the Scrum Master's role expands beyond the individual team to consider the entire ART and solution. It's about balancing the needs of the team with the broader organizational goals, always striving to improve flow, reduce waste, and deliver value at scale.