What happened to Project Managers in Scrum?
Interestingly, the Scrum Guide didn’t mention anything about the Project Manager role in Scrum. What does that mean? If I am a Project Manager, should I be scared now? What happened to Project Managers in Scrum? Well, let’s find out!
Scrum also requires management. Though, now all the responsibilities are spread across the three roles – Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development Team. To answer this question in more detail, it’s important to look at the value that a Project Manager can bring to a Scrum Team.
Project Managers in Product Ownership
Project Managers are the people who have built a huge knowledge base over the years while working on different projects in a domain. They are the people who have worked with the customers, aligning the projects with the organisation strategy, collaborating with stakeholders and managing ROI. If you are passionate about solving people’s problems by building awesome products, then you are the right person to bring value to a scrum team as a Product Owner.
Project Managers in Scrum Mastery
I have seen a lot of Project Managers, who naturally nurture their teams using the power of servant leadership. Instead of managing people, they help people to bring out their maximum potential. They facilitate difficult conversations and create a safe space for their people to learn and grow. They make sure that all the obstacles are removed from the way of the team so that the teams work proficiently. These Project Managers also foster self-organisation in the teams. If you are one of these Project Managers, then you are the right candidate to play the role of a Scrum Master.
Project Managers in Technical Coaching
Some Project managers are passionate about technical practices. They come from a strong technical background and they want to remain in the same space. They are passionate about coaching and empowering people in technology. If you are one of them, then you are the right candidate to become a stakeholder from a technology/architecture perspective. You can become a technical coach to guide the Scrum teams in advancing their usage of technical practices and tools.
So, if I am a project manager, should I be scared of scrum? The answer is – No.
Just choose a role that is inclined with your passion and advance your career by helping Scrum teams in building valuable products. Good luck with your agile journey.