Agile Coaches and project managers usually have very different roles. But what exactly do they look like?
There is also the question of whether the roles of Agile coach and project manager should be combined in one person. The dynamic between agility and traditional project management presents companies with the challenge of finding optimal structures.
Let's take a closer look in the following article!
Agile Coach vs. Project Manager
Differences: Agile Coaches vs. Project Managers
Agile Coach vs. Project Manager
Agile Coach vs. Project Manager Goals: Differences
To go a little deeper: What might the goals of scrum masters vs. project managers look like? Here are a few examples that are roughly in line with the SMART criteria.
Goals for a Agile Coach:
Conduct training courses:
- SMART goal: Within the next six weeks, the Agile coach conducts agile training, with at least 80% of the team members actively participating in the training.
Self-moderation and improvement:
- SMART goal: Over the next twelve weeks, the Agile coach encourages the team to moderate at least 20% of the retrospectives themselves and to implement at least ten specific suggestions for improvement.
Introduce "Agile Coffee Hour":
- SMART goal: Over the next eight weeks, the Agile Coach will introduce a weekly "Agile Coffee Hour" with a minimum attendance of 30% of the teams.
Goals for a Project Manager:
Successful implementation:
- SMART goal: Over the next twelve weeks, the project manager leads the team through the implementation of a new software module while staying within budget.
Active stakeholder participation:
- SMART goal: During the next release planning phase, the project manager ensures that all key stakeholders are actively represented and that their requirements are clearly defined.
Agile Coach vs. Project Manager
Agile Coach and Project Manager in one role?
The question of whether both roles, namely that of Agile coach and project manager, should be combined in one person could simply be answered with "no". Both roles are very time-consuming if you want to carry them out properly. Nevertheless, the financial reality in some companies does not allow for this.
A recommendation on this will depend on several factors, including the size of the project, the corporate culture and the specific needs of the organization. Here are some considerations:
Advantages of combining the role:
Efficiency: A person with skills of both a Agile coach and a project manager may be able to make communication and coordination more efficient as they understand the requirements of both roles.
Holistic approach: The integration of both perspectives enables a holistic approach to project implementation, taking into account both agile principles and traditional project management techniques.
Flexibility: In smaller organizations or projects with limited resources, the combination of both roles can help to manage tasks more effectively.
Challenges:
Conflicts in focus and principles: Agile Coaches and project managers often have different focuses and principles. Combining both roles in one person could lead to conflicts, especially if the principles of agility and traditional project management are at odds.
Excessive demands: The requirements of both roles can lead to an overload in larger or more complex projects, as the responsibilities and tasks can be extensive.
Lack of specialization: The lack of specialization in either role could lead to important aspects being neglected. For example, a specialized Agile coach can focus more deeply on the development of agile practices.
In many cases, it makes sense for Agile Coaches and Project Managers to work closely together in order to utilize their respective strengths. But combining both roles? Difficult. In any case, it is important to consider the specific needs of the organization and ensure that the chosen structure is effective and sustainable.
Incidentally, a specific tool can help you with this challenge.
Agile Coach vs. Project Manager
A tool for the dual role
We are talking about Echometer. If you don't have a dedicated Scrum Master in your agile teams, let alone a Agile coach, our tool has been developed for you.
Echometer is a digital tool that helps agile team leads with agile retrospectives and team Health Checks. Whether remote, hybrid or on-site: it makes team coaching measurable and professionalizes your work while saving you a lot of work. Just take a look at our website to find out more: www.echometerapp.com.
"If you also take on Agile coaching responsibilities as a project manager, communicate your respective roles very clearly to team members."
KALM (Keep Add Less More)
Conclusion - Agile Coach and Project Manager
The integration of both roles can be efficient, but requires a balanced consideration of agile principles and traditional management approaches – and is generally not recommended. Your decision should always reflect the specific needs and context of the organization to ensure successful project execution.
Finally, another quick hint: If you would like to know how it feels to develop your team with our tool: You can start an agile retrospective below without logging in, in this case the "Keep, Stop, Start" workshop.
Alternatively, simply forward our website to the responsible colleagues: www.echometerapp.com.
