Project Manager vs. Scrum Master

Both positions are essential to driving a project to success, but …

Gökrem Tekir, PMP
Project Management Knowledge
4 min readApr 3, 2023

--

Photo by Campaign Creators on Unsplash

When it comes to project management, there are two roles that often get confused with one another: Scrum Master (SM) and Project Manager (PM). While both positions are essential to driving a project to success, they have different responsibilities and priorities. In this article, we will discuss the differences between a Scrum Master and a Project Manager.

Scrum Master

The Scrum Master is a role in the Agile methodology, which is a framework for managing and completing complex projects. The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that the team is following the Agile process and removing any obstacles that are preventing the team from completing their tasks. They facilitate meetings, such as daily stand-ups, retrospectives, and sprint planning, to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. The Scrum Master also acts as a coach for the team, helping them to continuously improve and optimize their work.

Project Manager

The Project Manager, on the other hand, is responsible for the overall success of the project. They manage the budget, schedule, and scope of the project and ensure that it is completed on time, within budget, and meets the client’s requirements. The Project Manager is also responsible for managing the team, ensuring that they have the resources and tools they need to complete their tasks, and communicating with stakeholders about the progress of the project.

Differences

The main difference between a Scrum Master and a Project Manager is their focus. The Scrum Master is focused on the team and the Agile process, while the Project Manager is focused on the project as a whole. The Scrum Master is responsible for ensuring that the team is following the Agile process and that they are continuously improving, while the Project Manager is responsible for ensuring that the project is completed successfully and meets the client’s requirements.

Another difference between the two roles is their approach to managing the team. The Scrum Master is more of a facilitator and coach, helping the team to work together and continuously improve. They do not have direct authority over the team members, but rather work collaboratively with them. The Project Manager, on the other hand, has direct authority over the team members and is responsible for managing their performance and ensuring that they are meeting their goals.

In conclusion, while the Scrum Master and Project Manager have different responsibilities and priorities, they are both essential to the success of a project. The Scrum Master ensures that the team is following the Agile process and continuously improving, while the Project Manager ensures that the project is completed successfully and meets the client’s requirements. Understanding the differences between these two roles is crucial for anyone involved in project management.

Can Scrum Master and project manager work together?

Yes, Scrum Masters and project managers can work together in a collaborative environment. While their roles and responsibilities may differ, they share the common goal of ensuring the successful delivery of projects. Scrum Masters focus on facilitating the Scrum process and enabling the team to work efficiently, while project managers focus on planning, executing, and closing projects. When working together, these roles can complement each other and contribute to a more effective project management approach.

Why is there no project manager in scrum?

In Scrum, the traditional role of a project manager is not present. Instead, the Scrum framework defines three roles: the Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Development Team. The Product Owner is responsible for the product backlog and defining the work that needs to be done. The Scrum Master is responsible for facilitating the Scrum process and ensuring the team follows the Scrum framework. The Development Team is responsible for delivering the product increment at the end of each sprint. While some of the responsibilities of a project manager may be fulfilled by these roles, the overall project management approach in Scrum is different from traditional project management methodologies.

Are PMP and SM Certifications same?

The PMP and PSM certifications have different focuses and are granted by different organizations.

The PMP certification is based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) and is granted by the Project Management Institute (PMI). It focuses on the best practices for project management, including the five process groups and ten knowledge areas.

On the other hand, the PSM certification is based on the Scrum Guide and is granted by Scrum.org. It focuses on the principles and values of the Scrum framework, which is an Agile methodology used for project management.

In summary, the main differences between PMP and PSM certifications lie in their focus and the organization that grants them. PMP focuses on project management best practices while PSM focuses on the principles and values of the Scrum framework. PMP is granted by PMI while PSM is granted by Scrum.org. It is important to understand these differences in order to determine which certification is most appropriate for your career goals and aspirations.

--

--