YDS: Does a Scrum Master Need Technical Skills?

[@elmiranormphotography4890]

Good video. What I'm finding lately, is that more companies are advertising for a Scrum Master, but what they are really looking for is a Project Manager. "Must have 8 years of PM experience". Right away that screams that their mgmt team knows very little about Agile, and the job is going to be an uphill battle.

[@itspiikaa]

I totally agree with Ryan that most of the job postings nowadays are looking for a "Technical scrum master" . It's unfortunate that many organizations do not value the role of a "real" scrum master. Thank you guys for sharing your scrum knowledge. Amazing Work so far ! So excited for the next episode.

[@michaels7159]

The idea of having a "scrum master" sounds pretty pointless already. What is the purpose of hiring one with no real skills?

[@dcn2376]

Great video. And thanks for the affirmation to quell my overthinking going into internal interviews to transition to being an SM. Taking a lifetime of knowing my people skills and empathetic leadership as my core skill and only realising this role needed that more than any other has motivated me more than anything.

[@aveenkhattat1669]

This is awesome! Congratulations Thinking about taking the same path going from marketing and taking my people skills into SM.. how is everything going on with you? Any advice?

[@dcn2376]

@@aveenkhattat1669 on the resume draw comparison of agile methods and habits like stand ups, facilitating , etc and use key words so auto scanning software doesn't bin your CV before a human can see it

[@carloscollaorubio4330]

Ryan and Todd, 1000 thanks for sharing it. Dev Manager + Project Manager are skills that some organizations require for the Scrum Master role and as you said, it's a red flag because the organization knows nothing about Scrum and roles.👍

[@Alfonzmusic]

Thank you so much. Some thing did resonate. I have an interview later for technical scrum master but I don’t have the Development skills that you guys touched on. Hearing this today made me feel more confident moving forward. This particular subject needs a part 2! Thanks #subcribed

[@DebDeLacy]

Spot on. Adaptability and the ability to add value to each project really helps. Talking the talk enhances communication. All additional learning gives you more tools in your toolbox.

[@ifeagboola4633]

It’s your honesty for me. Thank you

[@Kristblac]

“Having empathy for the role!” I love that.

[@saiaha7254]

How does scrum work in more operations related fields, say in HR, or sales/key-accounts? What is the 'increment' in these settings?

[@kahinab7589]

I préfère a scrum master with a technical background, they are more efficient than the one who does not understand their teams and it's frustrating 😑

[@JordiEilers]

I found this episode pretty interesting. Thanx for it. Soon I will start as a Scrum Master on the Management Team. The expertise they bring at the organizational level is something I can't obviously talk about. I was a bit worried about that. But, as just confirmed in your video is that I'll bring something that the MT doesn't have. My knowledge and expertise about the actual work process and sentiment in all dev.teams is so first-handed that this is a specific addition to the MT. Thanx.

[@AgileforHumans]

Sounds like you are going to enable the team to be more cross-functional 😊. Best of luck in your new role!

[@juanm555]

I would say that the best skillset for a Scrum Master would be being a good Scrum Master. That is their role, all else adds to the role and the person, but what you really need is to excel at the functions of your role

[@pymandragore]

Excellent video! I was browsing YT around this question, being SM myself for IT, but non development teams. And I am thinking about moving in a new environment which is pure dev. Your video really helped me. By the way, when the video started, I was surprised to recognise the 2 excellent trainers that gave me this great PSM2 training last year! Thanks again

[@AgileforHumans]

Glad it was helpful! Great that you're here. Thanks for your kind words about us and the PSM II!

[@starkarabil9260]

I liked a lot your honesty. IThis style is very helpful to understand the key points of Agile

[@turnipgreenqueen]

Hey there, this video is SO helpful! I love your podcasts and found this one from Stephan Wolper's emails. I am currently job hunting. I have been a scrum master with marketing orgs and have applied for jobs, many, with IT shops. I get recruiters calling me. They are very enthusiastic when I interview with them, then I never make it to the interview with the hiring mgr. I am assuming, after much head scratching, that they are actually looking for a Dev Mgr. If so, then I reckon I am glad to not be interviewed. But now I need to read job descriptions with a fresh eye. Thanks fellows!

[@AgileforHumans]

Best of luck in your search! We do have on our backlog to talk about Scrum Master job descriptions that we see. Most of them do not sound like a Scrum Master at all to us :)

[@turnipgreenqueen]

@@AgileforHumans Thanks! I thought so too but thought I was missing something somewhere.........

[@wanderers05]

We need to be Liam Neeson from 'Taken' excluding assassin's skills 😂. Loved your podcast #subscribed

[@supergirls3985]

I agree. And it is also matching what the new Scrum Guide says " beyond software development".

[@stevekingdon]

Great video. Subscribed!! My opinion is, while it would be definitely useful, I'd put other skills way ahead e.g. people and facilitation skills, being able to seek out people in the organisation to help remove impediments - as pointed out in the video. Not being afraid of asking dumb questions to get an understanding and context of what's going on in the business so you can help your teams deliver customer value in non Agile and siloed environments. I have more of a project/product background, currently upskilling with an InfoSys Diploma so I can get a better understanding of the different domains in technology environments. You never stop learning with this role :)

[@rolandakor861]

Inspiring.Simply the best.

[@lololima5533]

Can you guys make a video on how to read or interpret burndown and burndup charts? And the major difference between the two

[@AgileforHumans]

Yes! Great suggestion. Keep an eye out for agile metrics and charts on a future episode. 👍

[@lololima5533]

Good job,guys! You both rock!!!

[@widowspider]

YES great request!

[@Anuj1987ful]

That’s a great video and being not having developing skills I think i should think about it. Question- what is the most important scrum event according to you? This is more like an ‘interview question’ and I have always responded with ‘the sprint’ itself being the most important but would like to know

[@udob4939]

Simple answer - NOPE I feel like it gets in the way but to have it is not a bad thing either

[@mikewilliams6760]

This prompted the following question. Is there an age limit to starting on the scrum master path? A tension between experience that could be brought to the role, and preference for younger people in the software world?

[@xuarqork]

"preference for younger people in the software world" - don't you mean "irrational bias against older people in the software world" :)

[@jayman9388]

So after hearing all this I have my CSM and being that I’m a transition service member I’ll be getting paid to get a college degree. Should I go with a Bachelors in , IT, Business Administration- MIS, or Business Administration-MIS? I’m coming from a health care environment in the military that translate to a agile project management role with a strong background in the scrum framework . Thank you!

[@HoSae]

How do you think does Scrum work for an mixed marketing & IT departement?

[@Brett5ive]

Powerlifter coach & agile coach here

[@SuperSrinath007]

Heyy there.. lovely video. Question : Can we have 3 Sprints each for Business Analyst, Development Team and Quality Control ... ?

[@AgileforHumans]

You cannot as there are no specialized Sprints in Scrum. We did a video on this and hope it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5Czha2ZnM6amKc

[@ashleydickson62]

@@AgileforHumans irony filter off haha

[@ramanjitsingh9337]

Awesome insight... not relevant here but you guys quoted - 5 books for a Scrum Master - which one??

[@AgileforHumans]

We grabbed some books off of our shelves add gave a brief on them a video episodes ago. Perhaps that episode will answer your question: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pYnPmah4bryiqqM

[@ramanjitsingh9337]

@@AgileforHumans yeah i saw this video after requesting the list

[@rajadas6432]

Scrum guide is silent on it. And that’s expected. IMO, based on context, SM can or can’t be technical. If we consider, software development projects which are solving really complex challenges , having non technical SM is an impediment for them. Without technical knowledge (functional level), SMs fail to facilitate effective discussion or remove impediment. If the nature of the work is not tech heavy or complex, having non technical SM is absolutely fine.

[@turnipgreenqueen]

I think you may be right here or at least the perception is spot on. And perception is reality.

[@amreenfirdos2212]

I agree with your statement if you don’t have technical knowledge in the meetings you won’t know what exactly you should talk about and what questions to be asked, especially in daily stand up meetings.

[@taerikee]

Okay, so maybe you don’t need to be technical, per se, but you need to know enough to speak the language. Good facilitation skills will only get you so far if you can’t decipher what your team is actually talking about

[@turnipgreenqueen]

I agree. I am not a "tech" person but have taken some classes so I can at least know their vocabulary. If working in HR, learn about HR, if tech, learn about tech.