In this presentation, we explore the concept of “process authority” as it relates to Scrum Masters and consider the various directions it takes us. To do that, this discussion goes far beyond a typical “the role of a Scrum Master” presentation; It explores… • What it should (and should not) mean when/if “process authority” is used to describe the Scrum Master role • How the responsibility and expectations of a Scrum Master are different than that of team members • How different leadership styles play into understanding the role of the Scrum Master • The importance of trust in a Scrum Master/team relationship

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Authority and Trust:
Finding the Scrum Master Balance
Mark Grove
Managing Consultant | Agile Coach
/in/mkgrov/

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This presentation is interactive!
22-333
markgrove290

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“A good Scrum Master is always on the verge of being fired…”
Ken Schwaber

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“A ScrumMaster acts as a process authority …”
- Essential Scrum, Chapter 10, Ken Rubin
“A Scrum Master has no formal authority within an organization...but has ultimate
authority when it comes to the scrum process and how it’s being applied.”
- Scrum: Novice to Ninja, M. David Green
“The seeming contradiction disappears when we realize that although the Scrum
Master has no authority over Scrum team members, the Scrum Master does have
authority over the process.”
- The ScrumMaster, Mike Cohn

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So what is this “Process Authority,” anyway?
Before we get to that, let’s back up a little…

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The Scrum Master is a member of the team
set apart by knowledge, responsibilities, and expectations.
Not rank.

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Quick review: three roles of Scrum
Scrum Master:
A team member who acts as a coach guiding the team to ever-
higher levels of cohesiveness, self-organization, continuous
improvement, and high-performance by actively creating and
fostering a safe and trusting environment.
The Delivery Team:
A team that has everything and everyone they need
to deliver a working increment of tested, documented,
deployable software at the end of each sprint.
Product Owner:
The person ultimately responsible for the return
on investment (ROI) of the product
development effort

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Let’s talk purpose/expectations
Business
Analyst

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Let’s talk purpose/expectations
Software
Developer

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Let’s talk purpose/expectations
UX
Designer

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Let’s talk purpose/expectations
Scrum
Master

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What would you say the purpose/expectation is for the…?
To produce a working increment of tested,
documented, deployable software at the
end of each sprint.
Business
Analyst
Software
Developer
UX
Designer
Scrum
Master
To coach and guide the team to ever-higher
levels of cohesiveness, self-organization,
continuous improvement, and high-
performance by actively creating and
fostering a safe and trusting environment.

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If the expectations are different, then what are they?
Impediment Remover

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Agile Champion
Scrum Masters are champions of agile and Scrum.
You should/could expect a Scrum Master to…
• Understand Scrum
• Continuously educate themselves by…
• Going to agile meetups; reading agile books and blogs; attend agile and
Scrum Master COPs, and agile trainings.
• Hold team accountable to their own decisions, policies, and action items
• Monitor and measure the workflow
• Teach and educate agile concepts
• Work with POs and the team to create value-based PBIs

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Impediment Remover
Scrum Masters are responsible for creating an optimal working
environment for the team and then maintaining it.
You should/could expect a Scrum Master to…
• Take ownership of tasks to remove blockers
• Work towards understanding why the blocker exists.
• Address conflict between team members
• Get help for team members
• Identify missing skill sets or roles
• Educate stakeholders who do not respect the process
• Help obtain missing hardware or software for team

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Coach
Coaching is a skill to help teams discover its potential using various tools and
techniques to guide the team through areas of discovery and exploration with
the intent of pinpointing actions that lead the team closer to realizing its goals.
You should/could expect a Scrum Master to use…
• Effective listening
• Powerful questions
• Metaphors and analogies
• Experiential learning exercises, simulations, games
• Retrospectives and action items

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Process Authority
Scrum Masters are responsible for the Scrum process, its correct and continuous
implementation, and the maximization of its benefits.
Don’t take word “authority” too literally. Think process referee, guide, steward, or shepherd.
You should/could expect the Scrum Master to…
• Hold the team accountable to the process
• Evangelize the process
• Challenge the team with new ideas and suggestions
• Call “process fouls" when the team or the organization doesn't follow the principles of
Scrum
• Educate the team and the organization about Scrum
• Update process metrics and share with team

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Let’s think about this…
Scenario
The Scrum team has been working on a complex feature. At the end of
the sprint, the team did not finish all of the stories planned. In fact, this
is the second sprint in a row this happened. In the retrospective, the
team comes up with some concrete action items for improvement.
Everyone is happy with that outcome.
The next day before sprint planning the Scrum Master says:
Scrum
Master

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Let’s think about this…
• Does the Scrum Master have the authority to suggest this?
• Does the Scrum Master have the authority to enforce this?
• If so, who gives the Scrum Master this authority?
Scrum
Master
I’ve been thinking about the past couple sprints. We
missed a couple key opportunities where our
coordination could have been better.
I’m thinking that given the complexity of these
features and the tight deadline we have to finish
the remaining stories, I think it would be a good
idea if we have two standups each day until we
finish the remaining stories.
Let’s start that tomorrow. What time in the afternoon would
you like the second standup to be?”

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Process Authority: Authority types
Type Definition
Positional
Leadership/Result-based
Referent
Knowledge
Authority given/granted by a higher
authority. Sometimes called Legitimate
Authority or Legitimate Power.
Authority as a result of gaining
respect from peers.
Authority due to a follower’s loyalty,
respect, friendship or admiration.
Authority due to expertise or
significant knowledge.

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From which authority type do you think your
Scrum Master acts?
Type Definition
A. Positional Authority
given/granted by a
higher authority.
B. Leadership/
Result-based
Authority as a
result of gaining
respect from
peers.
C. Referent Authority due to a
follower’s loyalty,
respect, friendship
or admiration.
D. Knowledge Authority due to
expertise or
significant
knowledge.

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From which authority type do you think your
Scrum Master thinks s/he acts?
Type Definition
A. Positional Authority
given/granted by a
higher authority.
B. Leadership/
Result-based
Authority as a
result of gaining
respect from
peers.
C. Referent Authority due to a
follower’s loyalty,
respect, friendship
or admiration.
D. Knowledge Authority due to
expertise or
significant
knowledge.

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Prior Data: Scrum Master authority type results
22%
17%
9%
52%
13%
19%
13%
55%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Positional Leadership Referent Knowledge
What You Think What You Think SM Thinks

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Back to our scenario…
Does the SM have the authority to suggest this?
Scrum
Master
I think it would be a good idea if we
have two standups each day until we
finish the remaining stories.
Let’s start that tomorrow. What time in
the afternoon would you like the
second standup to be?”
Does the SM have the authority to enforce this?
Yes
No

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Who gives the Scrum Master this process authority?
Scrum
Master
The Team!

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Why would they?
Scrum
Master
Earn Team Trust

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Tony

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Let’s review…
A Scrum Master…
Is a member of the team but with a different set of responsibilities
…who acts as a coach guiding the team to ever-higher levels of
cohesiveness, self-organization, continuous improvement, and high-
performance by actively creating and fostering a safe and trusting
environment
…and works continuously to build and earn team trust
…so that s/he can fulfill the role of an Agile Champion, Impediment
Remover, Coach/Servant Leader, and Process Authority
Scrum
Master

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Thank You!!

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Mark Grove
Managing Consultant | Agile Coach
/in/mkgrov/