Agile myth 2 who needs a pm
- 1. PMO Tip: Myth #2 Agile means “No PM” or “The Scrum Master is the PM” “PMs are the most creative pros in the world; we have to figure out everything that could go wrong, before it does” --Fredrik Haren The Project Manager and the Scrum Master play different, but complimentary roles in Agile development. Let’s look at some common misconceptions and the realty of both roles. The Myth: Agile is a Project Management Methodology Our Reality: Agile is a development methodology, not a project management methodology. When Agile is chosen as the development methodology this impacts the way the project is planned, resourced, executed and controlled but Agile itself is not ‘project management’. The Myth: Because Agile teams are ‘self-managed’ there is no need for a Project Manager. Our Reality: As a development methodology, Agile helps mitigate some of the risks that are inherent to the traditional waterfall process, but Agile is not a silver bullet for project success. As with any project the Project Manager is responsible for the planning, execution, monitoring, control and closure of the project. Because Agile teams are ‘self-managed’, the Project Manager is a servant-leader. The leader serves the people they lead. They coach and encourage, facilitate personal development and help to build a sense of joint ownership. There is no place for command and control type management in an Agile project. The Myth: The role of the Scrum Master and the role of the PM are exactly the same. Our Reality: While both the scrum master and the PM must have a vision of the final product, they play complementary roles within the Agile project to realize that vision. The scrum master is accountable to the delivery team and provides a bridge between the technical delivery and the business requirements. They can also articulate the needs of the delivery team in non-technical terms. A key part of the Scrum Master’s role is to protect the team and to keep them focused. A Scrum Master ensures that the Scrum process is used as intended and is accountable for removing impediments to the ability of the team to deliver the sprint deliverables. The Scrum Master is not the team’s manager, but is accountable for leading the team towards self-organization. Agile Myths
- 2. PMO Tip: Myth #2 Agile means “No PM” or “The Scrum Master is the PM” In contrast, the Project Manager has responsibility to the team and to the organization. The Project Manager is the person responsible for accomplishing the project objectives within the constraints of the project. They apply knowledge, skills and techniques to execute projects effectively and efficiently. Project planning, risk management, project budgeting, stakeholder management, etc. are all essential elements of both Agile and traditional methods of software development. James Mills, Lead Architect, CGI Calgary Tracy Gosse, Project Manager, CGI Calgary Sundar Krishnamurthy, Manager, Application Development Services, CGI Calgary Agile Myths