As a trained psychologist and Scrum Master, I know that understanding the responsibilities of agile roles is often a bit of a challenge. Also, when it comes to the Scrum Master role in the scaled Agilen framework SAFe, many questions arise. Today we will try to answer these questions and shed some light on the responsibilities.
SAFe Scrum Master role includes responsibility | Group
The SAFe Scrum Master role includes responsibilities to which other group?
Let's perhaps start by answering a question that is used in some SAFe online certification tests: The SAFe Scrum Master role includes responsibilities to which other group?
In short, the answer lies in collaboration with other agile teams on the Agile Release Train (ART). Because only through close cooperation can the objectives of the ART be achieved effectively.
This is also a good example of how a SAFe Scrum Master is different from a normal Scrum Master: We work at scale, in a Agilen release train, and in this respect we should also be more scaled.
Let's take a closer look at the responsibilities of a SAFE Scrum Master.
SAFe Scrum Master role includes responsibility | Group
5 areas of responsibility of a SAFe Scrum Master
Put simply, there are five areas of responsibility for a Scrum Master in the scaling agile framework SAFe:
- Improvement of ART performance (Agile Release Train)
- Support with PI planning
- Building effective teams
- Improvement of the workflow
- Support during the iterations
Let's take a closer look at all 5 areas.
The art of improvement
The first responsibility of the SAFe Scrum Master role is the continuous improvement of ART performance. Here our goal is to look for opportunities to optimize the Agile Release Train. The Agile Manifesto reminds us that continuous improvement is a key principle.
PI planning made easy
The moderation etc. of the PI Planning is the second responsibility. This is about ensuring the smooth running of the Program Increment (PI) Planning, which typically lasts 2 days. The Scrum Master is the facilitator who ensures that all voices are heard and that the team is on the same course.
Efficient teams
Creating high-performing teams is not just a buzzword, but a central task of the Scrum Master. To be honest, this responsibility, which is officially named by SAFe, certainly overlaps with the other responsibilities. But perhaps it draws attention to the fact that the individual team must not be forgotten in SAFe.
Improvement of the workflow
Improving workflow as an explicit responsibility is perhaps less obvious, but no less important a task. This work typically manifests itself in validly measuring Kanban board flow metrics and using them to improve WIP etc.
Successfully accompanying iterations
Finally, holistic support for iterations over time is of course crucial. This is where the principles of agile project management come into play – rapid adaptation and continuous delivery.
SAFe Scrum Master role in SAFe Agile
Become a better SAFe Scrum Master
If you want to take your work as a SAFe Scrum Master to a new level and deliver better results as a SAFe Scrum Master to make a positive impression on your manager, Echometer could be of interest to 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.
"The SAFe Scrum Master should interpret their own role more broadly than most do - namely to only be active in their own team."
SAFe Scrum Master role includes responsibility | Group
Conclusion - Scaled Agile Framework SAFe Scrum Master responsibility
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