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Chief Scrum Master

A Chief Scrum Master is the servant-leader who coordinates multiple Scrum Teams, facilitates Scrum of Scrums, and removes impediments that span teams. This role aligns practices, manages cross-team dependencies, and fosters collaboration at the program or large-project level.

Key Points

  • Servant-leader coordinating multiple Scrum Teams in large or complex initiatives.
  • Facilitates Scrum of Scrums and manages cross-team impediments and dependencies.
  • Aligns teams on practices such as Definition of Done and integration standards.
  • Partners with the Chief Product Owner and Product Owners on release and dependency planning.
  • Acts as an output of scaling setup (e.g., Form Scrum of Scrums) and an input to coordination processes.
  • Focuses on enabling teams rather than directing their work or prioritizing backlog items.

Purpose

The primary purpose is to ensure teams can deliver integrated increments by resolving cross-team impediments quickly and transparently. The role provides a focal point for coordination, fosters shared ways of working, and safeguards Scrum values at scale.

By synchronizing cadences and facilitating effective communication, the Chief Scrum Master reduces delivery risk and improves predictability across the program.

Key Terms & Clauses

  • Scrum of Scrums (SoS): A regular forum where representatives from each team coordinate and surface cross-team issues.
  • Cross-Team Impediment Backlog: A visible list of impediments that affect more than one team, tracked until resolved.
  • Definition of Done (Shared): Agreed standards for integration, testing, and quality across teams.
  • Chief Product Owner (CPO): The product leader coordinating Product Owners; partners with the Chief Scrum Master on planning and dependencies.
  • Escalation Path: Clear steps for raising unresolved issues to program leadership or external stakeholders.
  • Release/Integration Cadence: Agreed timing for integrated builds, system demos, and release planning.

How to Develop/Evaluate

Developing the role:

  • Identify the need when two or more Scrum Teams work on closely coupled components or a large product.
  • Select an experienced Scrum Master with strong facilitation, negotiation, and scaling experience.
  • Define responsibilities, decision boundaries, and escalation mechanisms with stakeholders.
  • Establish cadences: Scrum of Scrums, integration checkpoints, and periodic scaled retrospectives.

Evaluating effectiveness:

  • Track aging and throughput of cross-team impediments.
  • Monitor dependency lead time and failed integration rates.
  • Assess release predictability and alignment to the roadmap.
  • Gather feedback from Scrum Masters and Product Owners on collaboration quality.

How to Use

  • As an output: The Chief Scrum Master role is created when forming coordination structures for large projects (e.g., Form Scrum of Scrums) or during scaling setup.
  • As an input: The role is used in Conduct Scrum of Scrums to facilitate coordination and update the cross-team impediment backlog.
  • As an input: Supports Develop Release Plan at scale by aligning dependencies, integration milestones, and team capacities.
  • As an input: Enables Resolve Impediments by escalating external blockers and negotiating cross-team solutions.
  • As an input: Contributes to Retrospect at scale by aggregating systemic improvements and standardizing practices.

Example Snippet

Five Scrum Teams work on a single product with shared services. The Chief Scrum Master hosts a twice-weekly Scrum of Scrums, maintains a visible program board of dependencies, and tracks cross-team impediments.

When a shared API change threatens multiple sprints, the Chief Scrum Master facilitates a quick alignment session with affected teams and the Chief Product Owner, reorders integration work, and secures temporary platform support to mitigate risk.

Risks & Tips

  • Risk: Acting like a command-and-control project manager. Tip: Coach, facilitate, and enable teams to solve problems.
  • Risk: Becoming a bottleneck for decisions. Tip: Promote direct team-to-team collaboration and clear escalation paths.
  • Risk: Vague authority on cross-team standards. Tip: Agree on shared Definition of Done and integration policies with teams.
  • Risk: Over-focusing on status reporting. Tip: Prioritize removing impediments and improving flow across teams.
  • Risk: Conflicts with Product Ownership. Tip: Partner with the Chief Product Owner on priorities and release alignment.

PMP/SCRUM Example Question

Multiple Scrum Teams are building a single product. Frequent integration failures are delaying the release. What should the Chief Scrum Master do first?

  1. Reprioritize the product backlog to reduce cross-team work.
  2. Assign tasks to developers across teams to speed up integration.
  3. Facilitate a Scrum of Scrums to surface dependencies and establish a shared integration cadence and Definition of Done.
  4. Ask each Scrum Master to send weekly status reports to leadership.

Correct Answer: C — Facilitate a Scrum of Scrums to surface dependencies and establish a shared integration cadence and Definition of Done.

Explanation: The Chief Scrum Master enables cross-team coordination and standards that reduce integration failures. Reprioritizing the backlog is a Product Owner responsibility; assigning tasks and status reports do not address the systemic cause.

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