Hiring a data scientist can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure how to set them up for success. If you’re wondering how to hire data scientists who will thrive in your organization, it starts with defining clear goals and aligning their expertise with your business needs. A well-versed Scrum Master can help make this process run more smoothly by establishing a solid foundation for your new hire’s work.

In this guide, we’ll cover the roles and responsibilities of Scrum Masters so you can better understand how they can help your team achieve innovative data management solutions.

Azulity’s provider credentialing services can help you reach your data goals faster. By taking on the time-consuming tasks associated with credentialing, we allow your team to focus on more important things, like improving your data processes. 

What is a Scrum Master

man on a computer - Scrum master roles and responsibilities

A scrum master is an agile development team’s team coach and process expert. The scrum master helps the team implement scrum and guides them to become more flexible and self-sufficient. They do this by organizing and facilitating scrum ceremonies, assisting the team in adhering to the scrum framework, and removing impediments that slow the team down. The scrum master also liaises between the team and any outside stakeholders. 

This allows the team to focus on their work and helps avoid disruptions derailing agile projects. If a team is like a sports team, the scrum master is like the coach. They help the players perform better and achieve their goals. But unlike a traditional sports coach, the scrum master doesn’t have authority over the team. 

Instead, they use their knowledge and experience to help the players become more effective at their jobs. The ultimate goal of a scrum master is to help the team improve their performance and become more efficient at delivering value to the business. 

How Does a Scrum Master Differ from a Project Manager?

There are some fundamental differences between scrum masters and project managers. Most importantly, project managers focus on the project itself. They are concerned with things like scope, budget, and timelines, and they manage any changes to the project as they arise. 

Scrum masters, however, focus on the people involved in the project. They help the scrum team adhere to the agile methodology and improve their workflows. The scrum master’s goal is to help the team deliver valuable results to the business, which may involve working with other teams or outside stakeholders to achieve this objective.

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Scrum Master Roles and Responsibilities

man typing - Scrum master roles and responsibilities

Daily Standups: A Scrum Master’s Call to Action  

Facilitating daily standups or scrums is one of the most critical responsibilities of the scrum master. These short meetings (typically 15 minutes) aim to get the team on the same page and allow them to address any roadblocks or obstacles quickly. The scrum master’s role is to help organize these meetings and ensure they happen regularly throughout the project.  

Planning Sprints: Keeping the Team Organized  

During sprint or iteration planning meetings, the scrum master plays a vital role. First, they protect the team from over-committing and scope creep. The scrum master helps the agile team organize the work that needs to be done, facilitating the estimation process and creating any sub-tasks.  

Sprint Reviews: Capturing Feedback  

In scrum methodology, sprint reviews are held at the end of each iteration to assess the work completed. The scrum master helps organize these meetings and captures any feedback for the team to use in the next iteration.  

Retrospectives: Finding Ways to Improve  

Retrospectives are critical for continuous improvement, so scrum masters take these meetings seriously. They help facilitate sprint retrospectives and note any areas for improvement, as well as action items for the next sprint.  

Board Administration: Keeping Information Up to Date  

The scrum master also acts as the administrator of the scrum board (which can be a physical board or, more commonly, a digital tool like Jira). They ensure that cards are current and the scrum tools work well for the team.  

1 on 1s: Helping Team Members Work Better Together  

While scrum teams should ideally be self-organizing, the scrum master helps the team reach this point. They do this by meeting individually with team members and stakeholders as needed. This may include ironing out team disagreements about processes and work styles. Many scrum practitioners oppose 1on1, believing these communications should happen during standups. 

However, new teams often prefer regular face-to-face interactions with specific team members. The scrum master may decide that these individual interactions are crucial for team development and getting to know one another.  

Internal Consulting: Helping Teams Work Better  

Scrum masters should consult with team members and internal stakeholders on how best to work with the scrum team. The goal is to help improve communications and facilitate smooth operations, so the team can focus on their work without distractions.  

Reporting: Keeping Stakeholders Informed  

Another key responsibility of the scrum master is reporting. This includes regular analysis of burndown charts and other portfolio planning tools to understand what gets built and at what cadence. The scrum master communicates their findings to the team and helps keep external stakeholders informed about the agile team’s progress.  

Blockers: Removing Obstacles to Help the Team Succeed  

The scrum master aids the team by eliminating external blockers and managing internal roadblocks through process or workflow improvements. If issues outside the team’s control hinder performance, the scrum master will help remove these obstacles.  

Busy Work: Taking Care of the Small Stuff  

If the scrum team isn’t functioning as well as it could be, that’s the scrum master problem. That could mean fixing broken computers, moving desks around, or adjusting the thermostat. Scrum masters should be comfortable doing just about anything to help their team and should not shy away from grabbing coffee, providing snacks, or adjusting the thermostat if that’s what the team needs.  

Scrum Skills  

Beyond their defined roles and responsibilities, scrum masters need specific skills or a scrum master personality, if you will. These skills help them perform their job effectively so the agile team can succeed.  

Leadership  

Scrum masters must exhibit leadership qualities without being authoritative. They lead by serving the team and facilitating their self-organization.  

Effective Communication  

Clear and transparent communication is crucial. Scrum masters ensure all team members and stakeholders understand the project’s status, goals, and obstacles.  

Empathy  

It is essential to understand and empathize with the team’s challenges. Scrum masters need to support and motivate team members during difficulties.  

Problem-Solving  

Scrum masters often deal with impediments and conflicts. They must be adept at problem-solving and finding solutions to keep the team on track.  

Adaptability  

Scrum masters should be adaptable and open to change. They need to adjust to the evolving needs of the team and the project.  

Facilitation Skills  

The ability to effectively facilitate meetings and scrum ceremonies is vital. Scrum masters ensure these events run smoothly and focus on the intended outcomes.  

Coaching and Mentoring  

Scrum masters coach and mentor team members in agile and scrum principles, helping them continually improve.  

Technical Knowledge  

While not mandatory, having a technical background can be beneficial, especially when working with development teams. It allows scrum masters to understand the team’s technical challenges better.  

Time Management  

Scrum masters must manage time effectively to keep the team on schedule and meet sprint goals.

Where to Find a Scrum Master

woman looking at a laptop - Scrum master roles and responsibilities

1. Azulity: Where Healthcare Meets Scrum Masters 

Azulity focuses on healthcare master data management and provider credentialing services. They help build data solutions and eliminate fragmented systems with their comprehensive platform. Azulity can help you find Scrum Masters experienced in healthcare who can help your organization equip data for improved patient outcomes. 

2. Professional Networking Platforms

LinkedIn

Use advanced search filters to find Scrum Masters with specific certifications or experience in your industry.

AngelList

AngelList is a great platform for startups to find Scrum Masters open to innovative, fast-paced environments.

3. Job Boards and Career Websites 

General Job Boards

Post job listings on platforms like Indeed, Glassdoor, or Monster.

Specialized Agile Job Boards

4. Freelancing Platforms

Upwork

Find Scrum Masters open to short-term contracts or project-based roles.

Toptal

Access a curated pool of top-tier Scrum professionals.

Fiverr

For smaller, specific Scrum-related tasks.

5. Certifying Organizations

Scrum Alliance

Search their directory of Certified Scrum Masters (CSMs).

Scrum.org

Connect with professionals certified as Professional Scrum Masters (PSMs).

Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe)

Locate Scrum Masters experienced in scaled Agile practices.

6. Community Meetups and Events 

Attend Agile meetups or conferences (e.g., Agile Alliance, Global Scrum Gatherings) to network with Scrum professionals. Explore local tech or Agile groups on platforms like Meetup.com.

7. Agile Consulting Firms 

Engage firms specializing in Agile transformations or Scrum coaching. Many offer Scrum Master placement services.

8. Internal Recruitment and Employee Referrals 

Promote from within by training employees to become certified Scrum Masters. Encourage current team members to refer qualified professionals from their networks.

9. Universities and Training Institutes 

Partner with institutions offering Agile or Scrum certification programs to access new graduates. Look for recent graduates from Agile-focused boot camps.

10. Online Communities and Forums 

Agile-related subreddits (e.g., r/scrum or r/agile). Slack channels for Agile professionals. Platforms like Stack Overflow are used to find individuals with Scrum and technical knowledge.

11. Recruitment Agencies 

Work with agencies specializing in tech or Agile roles. Examples include TEKsystems, Robert Half, or specialized Agile staffing firms.

7 Tips for Hiring Scrum Masters

employees on a laptop - Scrum master roles and responsibilities

1. You’re Not Alone in This Journey  

Finding the right Scrum Master doesn’t mean you must do it alone. There are plenty of agilists online who can help. Start by looking on LinkedIn, Twitter, and other platforms. Ask them what their favorite Scrum Master job description looked like, and you’ll get much help. You might even find someone who would make a great first Scrum Master to help you write the job description and interview the candidates. 

2. Look for a Scrum Master with People Skills  

When hiring your first Scrum Master, you must find someone who understands Scrum and people. Technical skills can be learned, and the developers on the team will have the proper industry knowledge, so they’ll be OK. The Scrum Master’s job is to enable the team to perform at their best. Look for someone who understands the role of servant leadership and can coach and guide the team from the sidelines. 

In interview responses, look for terms like “It depends” and “I’d take it to the team” as a positive sign. You don’t want a Scrum Master who has all the answers themselves. You want a Scrum Master who can enable the rest of the Scrum team to come up with the answers. A great Scrum Master is always trying to make themselves redundant from the team. 

3. There Are No Best Practices for Scrum  

While there are good practices in how you adopt Scrum, your Scrum Master needs to understand that what worked elsewhere might not work here. The context and people differ from the last organization they were at. You cannot successfully copy and paste someone else’s Scrum implementation. Your first Scrum Master needs to be adaptable and resilient. 

Applying Scrum at each organization is a complex undertaking and is always different. Find people who can handle that with grace and elegance. Find people who are okay with getting things wrong and learning from mistakes rather than projecting that they always get things right the first time every time. Scrum is a framework that relies on constant experimentation, and if you’re doing it well, then experiments turn up negative as often as they turn up positive. 

4. Don’t Skimp on Salary  

This is your most important hire in the next decade. The first Scrum Master will set the tone for Scrum adoption in the organization. They will be involved at all levels of your organization, not just the Scrum Team. You want the best you can find, not the cheapest. There is a common saying about monkeys and peanuts. Paying more doesn’t always equate to getting better, but spending less and settling isn’t usually cheap. 

5. Don’t Forget About The Product Owner  

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you only need to hire a Scrum Master to start with Scrum. The Product Owner is probably the most overlooked team member when organizations adopt Scrum. Ensure you are hiring or training that person well, as a great Scrum Team needs great Developers, a great Scrum Master, and a great Product Owner. 

Unlike the Scrum Master, they need industry and even organization knowledge, so it often makes sense to train an existing person rather than hire them. But in that case, guess who has a lot of additional work helping them learn and understand their new role…the first Scrum Master, of course. 

6. Read the Scrum Guide  

If you want to hire a Scrum Master successfully, then it would certainly help if you understand a little Scrum yourself. It’s only 12 pages long, and it’s free at ScrumGuides.org. Feel free to take the (free) Scrum Open Assessment at Scrum.Org to test your understanding and help you learn. The more you understand Scrum, the more likely you are to hire the right kind of person to form the vanguard of your Scrum implementation. 

7. Repeat As Necessary  

Great Scrum Masters tend not to work in isolation and need a support network of peers to lean on when things get complicated. Be prepared to hire Scrum Master number two soon after number one. The good news is that now you will have a Scrum Master to help you do it. 

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Book a Call to Learn More About Our Provider Credentialing Services

Azulity specializes in healthcare master data management and provider credentialing services, bringing proven expertise in implementing healthcare data solutions and credentialing across the US. Our comprehensive platform ensures consistent patient, provider, location, and claims data synchronization across all systems and departments. 

Key features include healthcare MDM, provider MDM, reference data management, credentialing, and provider enrollment. We serve healthcare technology leaders – from CIOs and CDOs to VPs of data platforms and credentialing – helping them eliminate the costly problems of fragmented data systems. Book a call to learn more about our healthcare master data management services today!

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