Chief Scrum Master
In large or complex projects, the Chief Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum of Scrums (SoS) meeting and works to remove impediments that affect more than one team.
Key Points
- Coordinates multiple Scrum teams to align goals, dependencies, and delivery plans.
- Moderates Scrum of Scrums and ensures clear information flow across teams and stakeholders.
- Removes or escalates cross-team blockers and systemic impediments.
- Servant-leader for team Scrum Masters, not a traditional people manager.
Example
In a program with eight Scrum teams building a shared platform, the Chief Scrum Master runs the SoS, surfaces a dependency where Team A needs an API from Team C, negotiates priority with Product Owners, and partners with architecture and DevOps to enable a shared test environment, clearing the cross-team blocker before the next sprint.
PMP Example Question
On a large agile program, several Scrum teams face recurring cross-team blockers. What is the Chief Scrum Master primarily expected to do?
- Prioritize the product backlog for all teams.
- Facilitate the Scrum of Scrums and address impediments that affect multiple teams.
- Approve changes to each team's sprint scope.
- Manage individual team member performance reviews.
Correct Answer: B - Facilitate the Scrum of Scrums and remove cross-team impediments
Explanation: The Chief Scrum Master focuses on cross-team coordination via SoS and resolves systemic blockers that impact multiple teams.
