Professional Scrum Master I (PSM I)Scrum Master StancesMedium
A Development Team is consistently struggling with external dependencies on another department, causing frequent delays and missed Sprint Goals. The other department operates under a traditional waterfall model and is unresponsive to the Development Team's requests. Which Scrum Master stance is MOST appropriate to address this organizational impediment?
- ATeacher, by explaining the benefits of Scrum to the other department.
- BImpediment Remover, by actively engaging with the other department's management to resolve the dependency issues.
- CCoach, by helping the Development Team adapt their Sprint Planning to account for the delays.
- DFacilitator, by mediating a meeting between the Development Team and the other department's operational staff.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Impediment Remover, by actively engaging with the other department's management to resolve the dependency issues.
When an impediment is external to the Scrum Team and beyond their direct control, the Scrum Master takes on the role of an Impediment Remover, actively working to resolve the obstacle, often by engaging with relevant stakeholders or management outside the team.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. While teaching might be part of a broader change effort, it doesn't directly remove the immediate, blocking dependency.
- C. Coaching the team to adapt is a coping mechanism, not a solution to the underlying impediment itself.
- D. Facilitating a meeting with operational staff might be a start, but the problem lies higher up with the department's unresponsive structure, requiring a more active impediment removal stance, potentially involving management.
Impediment Remover (Organizational)
The Scrum Master acts as an Impediment Remover by addressing obstacles that are beyond the Scrum Team's self-organizing capabilities, often involving external departments or organizational structures.
- Actively works to eliminate obstacles.
- Focuses on impediments the team cannot resolve.
- Often involves engaging with external stakeholders or management.
Memory trick: Impediments Block, SM Unblocks.