Scrum Master Vs. Project Manager – what is the difference?

In Project management, two roles that often spark curiosity and even confusion are Scrum Master vs. Project Manager. Are they the same? Do they overlap? Or are they entirely different? If you’ve ever wondered these questions, you’re not alone. 

In this article, we will dive into project manager and scrum master roles, their responsibilities, characteristics, and how to get certification to become a successful project manager or scrum master. By the end, you will know how these two roles differ and which one you should choose for project management.  

So, let’s get started!

Scrum Master vs. Project Manager: What is the Difference?

Scrum Master and Project Manager are critical roles in project management and are responsible for the team’s collaboration and project success. However, many people confuse these roles as the same due to a few similarities in their duties. That’s why many companies that have adopted the Scrum framework have renamed the project manager to scrum master. 

While both roles have a similar goal to drive the team toward success, there is a significant difference in their approach, responsibilities, and framework. A scrum master is a servant leader, an expert in the scrum framework, and guides the team to become efficient and independent. On the other hand, a project manager is an authoritarian, works with a wide range of methodologies and manages all aspects of a project, including planning, resource allocation, and execution. 

Here is a comprehensive overview of the differences between these two roles and their approaches: 

Characteristics of Scrum Master 

A scrum master is a critical character in a scrum team that ensures the team’s adherence to scrum principles and values. He has a unique set of skills and attributes that enable him to promote collaboration, openness, and transparency within the scrum team. Here are some of the key characteristics of a good scrum master:

Coaching & Mentoring: A scrum master coaches the team on the scrum framework and ensures they efficiently adopt the scrum values, principles, and pillars. 

Agile Mindset: Since the main purpose of the scrum master is to implement the Scrum framework, he has a strong knowledge of agile principles, events, and ceremonies.

Problem-Solving Skills: A good scrum master possesses high analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and resolve issues before they become big problems. 

Facilitation: A scrum master facilitates all the scrum events and ensures that every team member actively participates in scrum ceremonies. He keeps the meeting time-boxed, aligned, and focused.  

Excellent Communication: Scrum Master acts as a bridge between the scrum team and stakeholders. He possesses efficient communication and negotiation skills to foster collaboration and transparency within the team. 

Adaptability: A scrum master should be highly flexible and ready to adapt new methods and approaches based on changing project requirements, challenges, and product goals. 

Characteristics of a Project Manager

A project manager is an organized, goal-oriented professional who plans, executes, and delivers the project from start to finish. He serves as a central point in the team who ensure coordination, collaboration, and resource allocation. He decides what the team will do and how to do it. Here are some of the important technical, business, and intrapersonal characteristics that a good project manager should have:

Strong Leadership Skills: A project manager is a leader who guides and leads the team to achieve the project goals. They are decisive, confident, and visionary, making decisions for the team and ensuring the project is moving forward in the right direction. 

Excellent Communication: Project Managers need strong communication skills to ensure stakeholders, team members, and clients are aligned with the project goals and progress. They communicate ideas, expectations, concerns, and risks to avoid misunderstanding and promote collaboration. 

Exceptional Organization Skills: Considering the project manager assigns tasks, allocates resources, and sets deadlines, he should have excellent organizational skills to ensure smooth project delivery. 

Flexibility: Similarly, Project managers should be highly flexible and not resistant to change. They should have the adaptability to change the processes when things don’t go as planned or requirements change over time. 

Problem-Solving: A project manager should have strong problem-solving skills to navigate the challenges and risks that arise during the project. They should stay strong and calm during the crisis and make suitable decisions to deal with crises. 

Accountability: Failures are expected in a project. Sometimes outcomes don’t come as planned. In such situations, a project manager needs to take responsibility for their mistakes and learn from them. 

What Does a Scrum Master Do?

A scrum master is responsible for facilitating, guiding, and equipping the scrum team to achieve the project goals and deliver high-quality increments. He coaches the team on scrum methodology, removes impediments, and enhances efficiency. 

They also organize the scrum events such as daily scrum, sprint planning, review, and retrospective, and help the team plan the sprint, review the completed work items, and identify opportunities for improvement. They foster Scrum values within the team and ensure transparency, openness, courage, commitment, and respect. 

A good scrum master protects the team from external pressure and keeps the team focused on the work. They create a cohesive and collaborative working environment for the scrum team so they can work efficiently. Additionally, they communicate with stakeholders and product owners to set realistic expectations so the team doesn’t feel overwhelmed. 

Here are some of the critical duties of the scrum master: 

• Facilitate scrum events: Daily Scrum, sprint planning, review, and retrospectives.
• Monitor team performance and use the reports to drive important insights. 
• Remove impediments, solve problems, and mitigate risks.
• Help the team understand and implement the Scrum framework efficiently.
• Promote contentious improvement.

In a nutshell, the role of a scrum master revolves around supporting and empowering the team to reach its potential and deliver high-quality products. 

What Does a Project Manager Do?

Project Managers are team leaders who ensure a project meets its objective within the specific timeline, scope, and budget. They are accountable for the project planning, execution, and delivery. Here are some of the important responsibilities of the project manager:

• Planning, cost, scope, and timeline of the project.
• Identify the key deliverables in the project and plan the tasks that must be completed. 
• Constantly document project requirements and other related information throughout the project. 
• Assign tasks to the team members and set deadlines.
• Monitor the progress of the project and manage the budget
• Protect the team from distractions and mitigate the risks.
• Manage the stakeholders, including clients, team members, executives, and other relevant parties.
• Monitor team velocity and adjust the processes to enhance the team’s efficiency. 

In project management, the project manager is the key player who initiates, plans, executes, monitors, and closes the project. 

Scrum Master vs. Project Manager: Certification

Both the Project Manager and the Scrum Master require different certifications due to the difference in their roles, responsibilities, and methodologies. 

Here are the important certifications for a scrum master:

Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)

This certification is offered by Scrum Alliance. It provides a comprehensive understanding of Scrum principles, roles, and practices. To earn the CSM, candidates must attend a two-day course and pass an exam.

Professional Scrum Master (PSM)

This Certification is awarded by Scrum.org and focuses on the practical knowledge of the Scrum framework. There are three different levels of this certification (PSM I, PSM II, and PSM III). Additionally, it doesn’t require any training to take the exam. 

While it is true that Project Managers can work without certification, having a certification is often highly beneficial. Unlike Scrum Master certifications, Project Manager certifications are generally more comprehensive and cover a wide range of project management tools and techniques. 

Here are some famous certifications for Project Managers:

Project Management Professional (PMP)

PMP is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized certifications for project managers. It is offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and covers a wide range of project management knowledge areas, including planning, risk management, cost control, and stakeholder management. Additionally, candidates need +3 years of project management experience to be eligible. 

Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Certification

This certification is also offered by the Project Management Institute  (PMI), However, it covers only the fundamentals of project management. Besides, candidates also need a high school diploma and must complete 23 hours of training to be eligible for the exam. 

Can a Project Manager also be a Scrum Master and Vice Versa?

Yes, a project manager can also be a scrum master, but it is important to note that both role requires different skills and have different responsibilities. A scrum master can transform himself into a project by learning those skills and knowledge that a good project manager should have. Similarly, a project manager can also become a scrum master by understanding the Scrum framework and learning relevant skills. 

However, it is challenging for a person to hold both positions as a scrum master and a project manager have to play different roles. It may overwhelm the person, and he may fail to perform the duties of both. 

Scrum Master Vs. Project Manager at a Glance

Conclusion

There might be a significant difference in the approach and duties of a scrum master and a project manager, but both play essential roles in ensuring the success of a project. While the former is a facilitator and servant leader, the latter is an authoritarian and directive.

Ultimately, the success of either role depends on the ability to understand and execute its responsibilities effectively. A good project management software like Scrum Slate can help project managers and scrum masters to efficiently plan, execute, and deliver high-quality projects. It comes with an advanced feature that allows the team to efficiently plan their work, monitor progress, and stay on track. 

Sign up today to start your free trial on Scrum Slate and enjoy unlimited access to the premium features for free.