Difference Between a Project Manager and a Scrum Master | How to Become a PM and a Scrum Master

A job search for Project Manager roles would bring out various roles including job openings with a Scrum Master job title. Some also have project manager/scrum master as the job title.
The scrum master role has become a highly requested job role, especially in product development and the Tech industry.
In this video, I would be answering the following questions:
1) Is the role of a project manager different from that of a scrum master or are they the same?
2) What are the pros and cons of both roles?
3) How can you position yourself to qualify and apply for both roles?
Watch, Enjoy, like, subscribe, leave a comment and most importantly, apply the learnings so that you can see the result.
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[@rachellerose969]

You are amazing! I’m able to retain all the information you’re providing in your videos. Thank you for taking your time to speak, simplifying your explanations to us. Do you offer 1-2-1 coaching/mentoring i am highly interested please!

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome. Thanks for your kind words. Yes, I do. Please check out: www.ogagajohnson.com/workwithme

[@nadzinbeyoutifull.2023]

How much is the training… can’t see the cost following the link you sent…

[@lgalli01]

I agree! I love the fact that she let you know that you need to know how to apply what you learned. Also love the her being Direct & Straight Forward.

[@adannanwachukwu1182]

This is such an insightful watch. Please do you offer internship options, am very much interested in that, I believe it will help me learn better while am getting my certification.

[@opeyemiiyasele1238]

​@@ogagajohnsonHello ogaga, I must commend your great work and how detailed you are in your videos. I have gone ahead to read your PM guide from your website. How can I get in touch with you as I am also transitioning into PM and I need your expertise and experience to go through it. I have also joined the telegram group. What next should I do. Thanks

[@indianapapi]

Finally, someone that truly knows the difference. Now if you could let IT department executives know! Great content!

[@ogagajohnson]

Hahaha. Your comment made me laugh. Thanks for watching

[@mylilpc]

I second that! I want her to explain every complex thing to me lol

[@Maryanny...]

Exactly. And the way she clearly explained!

[@steverogers7601]

IT executives won’t understand it because many companies still haven’t fully integrated scrum into their work cultures. It’s currently used as a buzzword to sound progressive and forward thinking but it isn’t used in practice.

[@balla2828]

What is the pay for a business analyst with Scrum certification?

[@matthoffman6962]

Hmm my view on it is this. A certified scrum master may not be a project manager but an agile project manager might be a scrum master. The agile project manager has knowledge on multiple methodologies like you said but the SM only knows scrum. So imo a project manager is a lot more valuable than someone who just knows scrum. With that said it depends on the company and what they’re trying to accomplish. Great video :)

[@MaryFlavour-eb6ly]

You're so so right. A SM cannot equate to a PM.

[@canitishjeste88]

Finally, someone who has clearly stated the concepts in the most concise manner!! Thanks for explaining the core difference which most people are not aware of.Kudos!

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tionne3543]

This was by far the best video explaining the two that I've watched. I've watched so many videos leaving still confused. Thanks for this!

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@uscuci]

Thank you for clarifying the hierachy of concepts, project mgmt, agile/waterfall, scrum roles.

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome

[@Organizedhuman]

Thank you so much for this. Having watched so many videos, I am left even more confused. But you explain things so well. God bless you Coach.

[@ogagajohnson]

Amen, you're welcome.

[@maureenosabo]

This was the clarity I wanted… thank you for this video. I got so many questions answered. ❤

[@oluwoleodetola1626]

The fact that you studied engineering and you are into project management is one of my greatest motivation 😂😂 I'm also an engineering graduate and I'm not sure if I should wholly give myself to project management even though it's something I like.......But seeing that you also studied engineering has convinced me and given me many reasons to fully pursue a career in that 😂. Thanks! I already sent a request to you on LinkedIn

[@nadzinbeyoutifull.2023]

Finally understood someone on PM and SM. I just subscribed to enjoy this 😊

[@ogagajohnson]

Yay! Thank you!

[@chinaa3621]

This was the best description I have heard so far

[@ogagajohnson]

I'm glad 🎉

[@Shona_thecatalyst]

Learnt a whole lot here! in this one video. Just subscribed. Thank you

[@ogagajohnson]

Awesome, thank you!

[@michelles.7804]

This is phenomenal! Thank you so much for this explanation. Best explanation I’ve seen yet ❤

[@samapata]

Thank you Ogaga for sharing, You are a great teacher/communicator/speaker.

[@SD-wf9xq]

Clear, concise and to the point. Great video!

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@IniAkpan-e3z]

Thank you for breaking it down the way you did, i have been procrastinating to proceed with scrum even after a previous project management certificate, after watching videos hopefully ina few months i woyld have acquired my scrum certification

[@benjomoreno9136]

The project manager has accountability to the success and failure of the project, while the scrum master has NONE: pretending of taking the responsibility to the teams' "focus". That's the difference!

[@raphaelemeribe1137]

You understand the subject matter. Kudos!

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you

[@bentochukwuomeke326]

Thanks for the video Ogaga, brillant!

[@ogagajohnson]

My pleasure! Thank you

[@rich4363]

you are very knowledgable. thank you so much

[@marvinnjike5494]

Best breakdown I've seen on this so far!

[@Ivy_lovee]

Thank you , thank you , thank you! I am absolutely loving this journey. This is my first time seeing your videos and now I’m about to bing ! ❤

[@ogagajohnson]

Bing all the way 🥰

[@ogagajohnson]

Bing all the way 🙌

[@jetsetwithlynette]

Wow, I haven't hit subscribe that fast in a long time! You just seem like my vibe. ;) But, that's not why I subscribed - it's because you know what you're talking about and this is such valuable info for me. THANK YOU!

[@idowuiyabodemopelola7453]

Thanks for impacting and good delivery on the subject matter

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@saniasajid8549]

Finally .. the video I was looking for ... Thank you so much Ogaga .. you explained it perfectly ...

[@ogagajohnson]

Happy to hear that! You're welcome 😊

[@jamesnnadi1195]

YOU HAVE EARNED MY SUBSCRIPTION

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks for subbing

[@tolulopedada1122]

thank you for this, pls do you do have a video on the difference between product and project managers?

[@ogagajohnson]

Yes, I do. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6WqqXuJpZ6rapYsi=BWjRt2FsIPlfDv6G

[@Vaderir]

Stumbled on ur video accidentally. Love it

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you

[@valinciajohnson3506]

I’m a new subscriber, you you give wonderful insight on how to position yourself to become successful in the PM role. Thank you!

[@AdeAde-q7v]

This is for those who love talking and have coaching skills.

[@AgathaOkolie123]

Thanks baby, I've found what i have been looking for A new subscriber here ❤❤❤

[@lmoelleb]

"ensure they are constantly following the scrum process..." And that was when you stopped being agile. "Individuals and interactions over processes and tools". Adjust to the reality you are in. Scrum gives some default tools. Try them, then adjust them to fit.

[@seddystv8548]

You are just AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing this video 🙏🏿

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks for watching!

[@phebefolorunso861]

Happy new year 🎉 Thanks for coming into our lives in 2022

[@alexandermunoz1862]

What an amazing video, I've got everything you said.

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dandikridi705]

Thanks Ogaga, always coming through with the goodies....Fantastic stuff......Happy New year

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome. Happy New Year

[@somtoo24]

Good delivery. Big ups!

[@donjuannmbr2]

Loved the info and your energy. You got a new subscriber 🙌🏾

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks and welcome

[@a.k.williams9775]

I love this video! I'm subscribed!

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks for subbing!

[@preciousubah7541]

Amazing content as always. i am just about to start a career in PM , I would like to know more about your mentorship program.

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks for your kind words. Absolutely, please check out www.ogagajohnson.com/workwithme for the various ways we can work together

[@saraholaifa6158]

Amazing Ogaga! love your content!

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you very much. Glad you love it

[@rikechProperty]

Subscribed immediately. You’re doing a great one here. Thank you.

[@ogagajohnson]

Welcome aboard!

[@bihmildred8786]

I love u gurl. Learning so hard

[@tarunbhatt.1995]

Great video, nicely explained❤

[@Fumzzie]

Thank you very much for this content, Ogaga. Very helpful.

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome. Glad you found it helpful

[@hemantgarud1256]

Finally someone is making sense ❤

[@Blitzkid82]

Very precise and well said, thank you!

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome

[@graceandmoore]

Great explanation!!!

[@arenaprojectsenterprises4869]

Well done. Very insightful. Thank you!

[@talagodlove9188]

Let me subscribe before i watch this video. i know you will tell me exactly what ive been searching on the net for a week now

[@ogagajohnson]

Welcome!!!

[@chukwumapatrice92]

Thanks Ogaga, i would like to join any PM forum for more interaction and knowledge, thanks

[@ogagajohnson]

Join my PM Community: bit.ly/PMCommunityOJ

[@Algorithm2Impact]

Love this video thank you making it so understandable!

[@ogagajohnson]

You're so welcome!

[@gidafenba]

That was clarifying. Thank you! 🙏🏼

[@dorcasorhomre6349]

Thanks Ogaga, this was so insightful

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome. Glad you found it insightful

[@temiloreo.4414]

New subbie! This was a really brilliant video, thank you so much for it 👌🏾💞

[@ogagajohnson]

Yaay! Glad to connect with you. You're welcome 😊

[@naturallynkasi1981]

This was really helpful! I have definitely subscribed!

[@ogagajohnson]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@aperson2020]

Beautifully explained ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks a lot 😊

[@NnennaMolokwu]

Love this video...thanks Ogaga

[@blackdiamond1293]

So clear and to the point!

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you

[@yenamandrakrishn3209]

Excellent video! Thank you!

[@bigfunluxury5658]

Also I learned that scrum master deals with specifics aas far as scrum framework is concern and report to product manager but the project manager deals with projects entirely and report directly to the stakeholders.

[@asheagbi7544]

Wonderful video, you teach so well

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you

[@Jhak963]

hey thank you very much this is a great video !

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome

[@bonnieanderson8312]

Well explained video thank you !

[@talkwithonyinye]

Definitely following you

[@ogagajohnson]

Let's do this!

[@tirumalacharikancharla4566]

Great explanation 👌👌👌

[@tajkhalid1775]

Awesome!!! you sensed my thought

[@Theafricanwhispers]

New Subbie 🎉. I just Found your video. Im in the nursing field. Thinking of Getting into something different

[@nneomamarygold]

Well detailed. Weldone ma'am.

[@bhawnamorwall6468]

I must say, you are amazing

[@ogungbemioluwasegun9412]

Very informative. Thank you

[@fatemehkafrashi319]

you are the best 😍❤️

[@jasminem5376]

Thank for this it was extremely helpful

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad it was helpful!

[@triplea2443]

Thank you❤

[@brownsugr111]

This was so helpful

[@ogagajohnson]

I'm glad it was

[@drewromeo8645]

This was an amazing video!!! Thank you! 🙏🏾

[@ogagajohnson]

Glad you liked it

[@stunnerkay9556]

I just passed my PMP exams. Had a couple of projects engagement merely based on Accounting but i really need advice and guidance on a well defined role in project management. I don't mind starting from scratch

[@chikwadocyril5940]

Hi Stunner, l am interested in getting mine. Can you help

[@ogagajohnson]

Congratulations!!! I'll be happy to help. Join my PM Community and reach out to me on there: bit.ly/PMCommunityOJ

[@elizabethoshokoya4519]

PM in it’s simplicity. Thank you for being so clear ma. I just got a job as a scrum master and I trust to do well with all your advice and consistently watching your videos. Please can I also join your community. I clicked on that link but it wasn’t opening. Is there another way to join your community?

[@dhananjay677]

Nice explanation..

[@ogagajohnson]

Thanks and welcome

[@christianabishung9412]

Thanks for this revelations.

[@ogagajohnson]

My pleasure

[@coachaceofmen]

Excellent explanation

[@gurpreetsinghtaluja4442]

Hi I work as a financial advisor and I have bachelors in commerce and also a ceritification from Humber, I am new to industry! What do you suggest me to grow in PM journey?

[@obioraezeh6857]

Great video!!! I got my CSM last year and have been struggling with understanding and translating the skills to my current job as a Service Advisor at a dealership, any advise would be greatly appreciated and valued!!!

[@qwerty1994ize]

What does a service advisor do?

[@obioraezeh6857]

@@qwerty1994ize we listen to the vehicle owners complaints, understand it and translate it for the technician then understand the technicians diagnose and translate that back to customer, that's the main role. Other roles include interfacing with insurance companies, extended warranties, fleet management companies and on some level diagnosing and solving simple to medium problems for customers without getting the technician involved. I guess in a way the technicians are the developers on a team and we provide them the information to solve the customers problems but also keep them working and not distracted with dealing with approvals from customers or insurance or extended warranty. That would make the customer the client or the PO???

[@qwerty1994ize]

@@obioraezeh6857 That sounds like what a scrum master does. The PO is akin to the customer on an agile team. They basically represent the “business” or customer on the team. They deal with gathering the requirements for the devs to work on. If you wanted to break into tech , try looking project coordinator roles with the government. A friend just got hired.

[@Colour.Purple]

Great video Hi , Great video !!! I’m a finance Assistant looking for changing to an scrum master how could I do it ?

[@michealjustice1663]

Please what's the difference between project management and business management?

[@samsonvladislav4167]

Can you please share the link for the certifications?

[@babaijebu6462]

Well done. Clear and concise.

[@subanthini100]

Hi, Very good explanation, what's is your suggestion if someone needs to switch career from pharma quality control lab to project management stream. What's the basic knowledge n experience is required? Thanks 😊

[@sarahafreenmalik2679]

This was helpful!

[@fatoupraise8248]

Finally thank you

[@ogagajohnson]

hahaha! You're welcome

[@abdulazeezadesolatuyo9612]

Thank you for this important information. Please, can a project manager apply for a product manager role?

[@ogagajohnson]

That's a very good question. I think there are some additional skills the project manager would require to work successfully as a Product Manager. The Product Owner role is very closely related to the Product Manager role.

[@GLOWDY]

Thank you so much, Ogaga! I'm currently working as Project Coordinator (my company uses waterfall) and want to transition to IT to get experience in Agile and SDLC. My goal is to learn all the methodologies and work in a consulting company after. Do you think that getting a Scrum role is a smart move? I have never worked as PM directly and I'm worried that I won't be able to get a PM role in the future if I move to SM

[@ogagajohnson]

You're welcome. I don't like getting a SM role will limit your ability to get a PM role. I think it's great to have experience in both. Hope this helps 😀

[@teleighapeavy]

Being a Certified Scrum Master is a great move

[@raduconstantin9015]

Project Manager and Scrum Master in my professional experience are the same. When I mean the same, I mean they both have 0 knowledge of programming languages and generally anything technical about software development. Some of the Agile projects I've worked on had huge issues because Scrum Masters knew nothing about transforming user stories into technical jargon in order for us ( the scrum team ) to properly understand what the hell the PO ( Product Owner ) wants us to build. TIP: If you are an aspiring Scrum Master or Project Manager, at least bother learning the basics of software development in order to understand the SDLC ( Software Development Life Cycle ) so you can actually help the scrum team do their jobs properly, according to the SRS/BRS (Software Requirements Specifications and Business Requirements Specification ). Good scrum masters are in high demand, I concur with what she said in the video, I would personally love to see more competent scrum masters so I can spend less time refining user stories and get to doing my actual job, which is BUILDING THE DARN SOFTWARE !

[@PMWay]

⁹Hello. I.can see that you are highly cerebral in the IT Project Managemen and development industry. The issue you raised has been my greatest nightmare for the past six months. I currently study IP project manageme on a postgraduate level level in the UK and currently taking up a certificate in Scrum. However, I get worried and less confident calling my self IT Project Managemet without a S/W development skill.or language. I recently stumbled on Software Testing tutorials and believe acquiring such skill will.make me more confident and well grounded in the industry. What do you think?

[@raduconstantin9015]

@@PMWay Best thing you can do is go to the youtube channel freecodecamp and learn the basics of a programming language, learn what variables are, data types, functions, methods, object oriented programming, that way you know what the technical team is talking about when you are in a scrum meeting. Maybe you can even give them a hint if you know your stuff, what it all comes down to is, you all need to work together to build a piece of software. Also to answer your question, yes you can learn software testing too, it's a great way to understand what testers do and you will have testers in any scrum team. Good luck.

[@ishmaeljohnson6538]

What’s the best way to gain experience within project with no experience. I took a PMP prep course at my local university, but i need more hands on experience

[@wilbertvalcin4389]

Agree

[@Mark-sc4bu]

@Ogaga Johnson, I emphasise from the outset that the following is my opinion - I'm not portraying it as definitive fact, but rather as offering an alternative perspective on your definitions. Re the definition of Project Management, it may seem like semantics, but you shouldn't use the phrase your are trying to define within your definition - it's called circular reasoning. I do agree that being a generalist is important for PMs in terms of project delivery, and that's why, in my opinion, the methodology a PM employs is arguably largely irrelevant. I think you may have added unnecessary complication in answering your main question in this way, and I don't think you properly defined what a project manager *is* before sub-categorising a Scrum Master as a subset of Project Management. I'll admit I found it confusing to hear you use a methodology to attempt to describe the project manager function - although I'll concede that talking about the Scrum Master function in this way does make some sense because in practice it is an Agile-specific function (albeit it relates to a specific type of Agile). Here's an alternative definition for a PM: "An IT PM is primarily a leadership function, and ultimately accountable for the successful delivery of a required business product/products. En route to successful delivery, the PM is solely accountable for leading the project team, and also acts as the main liaison between the business and the various project teams. The PM is accountable to the Project Sponsor/Project Board/business for effective planning, clear communication, efficient development, and successful delivery of the final product into the Live/Product environment. The PM may delegate responsibility for various deliverables (to BAs, SMEs, PMO, Test Team, Development Team etc. etc.) but he cannot delegate accountability for successful delivery of any project artefact or the final product itself." This definition is methodology agnostic. Also, this highlights the fundamental difference between a PM and a Scrum Master - the Scrum Master is NOT responsible/accountable for project deliverables - this falls to the Product Owner in the Scrum environment. I think the skillsets for PMs and Scrum Masters are very different, and there is a considerable body of evidence that shows dissatisfaction with the Scrum Master function - this is not because the Scrum Master can't be successful or doesn't work, but because the skills of a Scrum Master are incredibly difficult to acquire and apply properly in a fast-paced project environment - particularly the Teaching function - talking about teaching and actually doing it are two very different things. Having a piece of paper that says you are a qualified Scrum Master doesn't make you an effective Scrum Master, but that's a different issue! I also have to disagree with your statement that a PM will look at project deliverables and project objectives and decide what methodology will be employed on a project. My main objection allies to Agile as a methodology: unless the organisations fully buys into Agile and the whole way Agile actually works, then to be frank it doesn't matter what the PM decrees in terms of saying Project X will use Agile and Project Y will use Waterfall etc, the business simply will ignore it if they are used to working in a Waterfall approach - and the Development Teams will certainly ignore any such decree if they are not geared up to work in an Agile way!! Most organisations have a stated project approach, and at best it tends to be Wagifall or Wagile - the project approach tends to be pre-defined at organisational level, and the vast majority of PMs simply do not have the authority to impose a methodology either on the project, or the organisation - and even if by some miracle they were given such authority, I believe the probability of success would be very low indeed. Now I fully accept that your experience is probably completely different to mine, and that you have experience of the approaches as you've outlined in your video. I've worked in a range of project environments too, and mine are clearly different to yours 🙂. Mine is just a different opinion and perspective. I'd be interested to get your feedback on what I've posted as I'm genuinely interested in your opinion.

[@Oleg-m5u]

Scrum Master is asked to know also Kanban, Lean, XP

[@healthtalk5223]

Nice 🎉

[@ogagajohnson]

🥳

[@afolabifaithii]

Well said... For some one looking to transit from a career to another like broadcasting to IT mgt what would you advise??

[@ogagajohnson]

Thank you for watching. The first thing to do is a skills audit to identify skill gaps and implement a plan to upskill.

[@balla2828]

What is the pay for a business analyst with Scrum certification?

[@LuliZs]

Hi! I want to start career as a PM, where do you suggest I start?

[@ogagajohnson]

Hi hi, check out www.ogagajohnson.com/pmaccelerator