A Scrum Master is a servant leader and facilitator for an agile development team. They ensure the Scrum framework is followed, enabling the team to maximise its efficiency and effectiveness. Scrum Masters coach the team on Agile principles and practices, helping them to self-organise and make decisions collaboratively.
Personal Story: I have been a Scrum Master for several teams. One thing I love is educating people new to the Scrum framework. One method I use involves the office kitchen. Imagine the product backlog as four different drinks: a cup of tea, a latte, a glass of water, and a long black. Sounds simple, right? However, without acceptance criteria, the team quickly learns that the drinks made aren't what the end user wanted! The first tea made: "Why is there a tea bag in my tea?" The first latte: "I wanted oat milk!" This hands-on experience helps illustrate the importance of clear acceptance criteria and continuous learning.
Interesting Fact: The Scrum framework was formalised in the early 1990s, drawing inspiration from empirical process control theory and lean manufacturing principles. It was visually likened to a rugby scrum, with the team moving as one down the field.
