Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Master StancesHard
An organization is adopting Scrum, but middle managers are resistant, viewing it as a threat to their authority and control. They frequently demand detailed status reports and micro-manage Development Teams, undermining Scrum's principles of self-management and transparency. What is the most crucial Scrum Master stance to address this organizational challenge?
- ACoach, by individually coaching managers on how to adapt their leadership style to support agile teams.
- BChange Agent, by working with senior leadership to redefine managerial roles and organizational structures to support Scrum adoption.
- CTeacher, by providing training sessions to these managers on the benefits of self-managing teams and servant leadership.
- DFacilitator, by organizing workshops between managers and teams to discuss their concerns and find common ground.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Change Agent, by working with senior leadership to redefine managerial roles and organizational structures to support Scrum adoption.
Managerial resistance and attempts to micro-manage represent a significant organizational impediment to Scrum adoption. The Scrum Master as a Change Agent must work at the systemic level, influencing senior leadership to redefine roles and structures, rather than just educating or coaching individual managers.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Individual coaching can help, but it may not be enough to overcome systematic resistance or change organizational norms.
- C. Teaching is valuable but often insufficient for deeply ingrained behavioral and structural issues at an organizational level.
- D. Facilitating discussions is helpful, but it's a tactic that needs to be supported by a broader change strategy to be effective against systemic resistance.
Scrum Master as Organizational Change Agent
The Scrum Master champions Scrum adoption across the entire organization, addressing cultural, structural, and political barriers that impede agility.
- Works with all levels of the organization.
- Identifies and overcomes organizational resistance.
- Drives systemic improvements for agility.
Memory trick: An ORG CHANGE AGENT 'RE-WIRES' the whole company for agility.