Migrating to the cloud changed the way businesses work. But the introduction of cloud computing was not the first technological revolution to hit in the past few decades. Before cloud transformation and digital transformation, there was agile transformation.
Agile is an umbrella term for an iterative approach to delivering work to a client. Instead of planning everything in advance, you now plan and deliver the work in pieces of value.
What is Scrum?
"Scrum" is a term used for a type of agile methodology. Scrum originated as a framework to help organizations deliver complex software projects, but has since been adopted by non-software development teams. The essence of scrum is a self-organizing team delivering customer value in a time-boxed period, called a sprint.
There are three main roles in Scrum:
- The product owner
- The Scrum Master
- The team
This article dives into the role of the Scrum Master and how this servant leader can be a truly influential force in a digital transformation.
Scrum Master Definition
Scrum.org defines the Scrum Master as "responsible for the effectiveness of the Scrum Team". They do this by enabling the Scrum team to improve their practices within the Scrum framework."
Because the Scrum Master is responsible for protecting the Scrum team from external and internal constraints, they are often empathetic servant leaders who enjoy helping others.
What is the difference between Scrum Master vs Project Manager?
Scrum Master is agile delivery to waterfall delivery as a project manager.
There are differences in the specifics of how work is planned and executed, but a Scrum Master and Project Manager can be treated as the same job family.
A Scrum Master is more appropriate when there are many unknowns in delivering a project. A project manager is useful for fixed dates and repeatable projects.
What is a Scrum Master’s role in a cloud transformation?
Similar to educating your team on agile principles and holding them to high-performing team standards, a Scrum Master can help lead the change management needed in the cloud. When engineers are asked to start working in the cloud, they have to go through a very real transformation curve. The change curve is inevitable, the question is how long does it take for the team to grow.
It's hard to be asked to work in an entirely new model, but it's nothing new for Scrum Masters. Scrum masters hold teams accountable to agile standards as part of their job. The soft skills needed to lead change management are perfect for helping engineers learn how to work in their new cloud environment.
What can a Scrum Master do to help move a team to cloud?
Incorporating training into each sprint turns something big and intimidating like "learn to the cloud" into a SMART goal.
One cloud guru recommends using industry certifications like AWS Certified Solution Architect and Microsoft Azure Administrator to make this learning more specific and timeboxed.
In truly transformed organizations, each Sprint Scrum Masters is providing a training course to their engineers. At the end of the sprint, Agile teams come together to discuss what they learned through training and their company's specific approach to that lesson.
For example, in a sprint the team learns about cloud storage options. At the end of the sprint, the team comes together to talk about which storage options will work best for their application and why. This continuous, iterative approach to learning is the foundation of a culture of innovation.
If you are a Scrum Master interested in learning more about cloud computing, I recommend studying for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and/or Azure Microsoft Fundamentals Certification. No computer science background is required to pass these exams, and they will give you the confidence you need to learn the language of your scrum team.
What is scrum?
"Scrum" is a term used for a type of agile methodology. Scrum originated as a framework to help organizations deliver complex software projects, but has since been adopted by non-software development teams.
What is a Scrum Master?
The scrum master is responsible for protecting the scrum team from outside and inside constraints, they are often empathetic servant leaders who enjoy helping others.
What is the difference between Scrum Master vs Project Manager?
Scrum Master and Project Manager can be considered in the same job family. A Scrum Master is more appropriate when there are many unknowns in delivering a project. A project manager is useful for fixed dates and repeatable projects.
What is a Scrum Master’s role in a cloud transformation?
The Scrum Master can help lead the change management needed in the cloud. When engineers are asked to start working in the cloud, they have to go through a very real transformation curve. The change curve is inevitable, the question is how long does it take for the team to grow.
What can a Scrum Master do to help move a team to cloud?
Incorporating training into each sprint turns into something big and intimidating such as "learn from the cloud" into a SMART goal. In truly transformed organizations, each sprint scrum masters are offering their engineers a training course. At the end of the sprint, Agile teams come together to discuss what they learned through training and their company's specific approach to that lesson.
