Where does the scrum master report in your organization?

[Paul Cummings]

By way of background, I would say we have a highly functional scrum-
based development.

I'm considering some reorganization as our company has grown and our
engineering team has grown. We may now be able to support a full time
scrum master.

I would like to hear from successful scrum folks about
organizationally where (to whow/to what role) their scrum masters
report. Any thoughts on your rationale are also greatly appreciated.

Is it to the development manger? development VP (e.g. peer to
development manager), to qa? to product management? to release
management?

Thanks for reading my post and for any information you can provide,

Paul

[LESLIE SCANTLING]

I am a scrummaster in a large IT department - we have close to 14 dev teams (with matrixed QA), we have 5 IT Directors over those teams - I report direct to the CIO.  I like the structure and philosophy behind it because it says that the committment to scrum and agile is supported at the top levels of the organization and I get my charter right from the top. 
 

> Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:48:03 -0700
> Subject: [Scrum] Where does the scrum master report in your organization?
> From: ptcum...@gmail.com
> To: scruma...@googlegroups.com

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[Timothy D. Korson]

First, Reporting has a very different meaning in the Scrum world - See Denning's book on Radical Management. But given that caveat, the Scrum Master would report to the same person to whom the Product Owner reports.

Second, ideally you don't have all the management you allude to. You might have a portfolio owner to whom the PO and ScrumMaster "report."

But given an organization in transition that still has all that middle management - and if I had to pick from your list - I'd pick product management. A key to Scrum success is having cross-function teams. I want a reporting structure that discourages silo thinking and facilitate cross-functional collaboration.

Tim

[Paul Cummings]

Tiim,

Thanks for your response. Please don't feel restricted in picking
from my list - I just included it as possibilities. In fact, these
aren't necessarily reflective of our company but may be for other
folks.

But I am looking for real life examples from working scrum masters,
rather than a theoretical or idealized discussion. So ff you're a
working scrum master or have scrum masters in your company, I'd be
interested on where they report.

THANKS,
Paul

[Paul Cummings]

Leslie,

Thanks for your response. This is exactly what I was looking for -
real examples and the rationale/commentary behind it.

If there are other examples, I would greaty appreciate them.

THANKS,
Paul

On Oct 25, 4:41 pm, LESLIE SCANTLING <teamscantl...@msn.com> wrote:
> I am a scrummaster in a large IT department - we have close to 14 dev teams (with matrixed QA), we have 5 IT Directors over those teams - I report direct to the CIO.  I like the structure and philosophy behind it because it says that the committment to scrum and agile is supported at the top levels of the organization and I get my charter right from the top.  
>  > Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 11:48:03 -0700
>
>
>
> > Subject: [Scrum] Where does the scrum master report in your organization?

> > From: ptcummi...@gmail.com

> > To: scruma...@googlegroups.com
>
> > By way of background, I would say we have a highly functional scrum-
> > based development.
>
> > I'm considering some reorganization as our company has grown and our
> > engineering team has grown.  We may now be able to support a full time
> > scrum master.
>
> > I would like to hear from successful scrum folks about
> > organizationally where (to whow/to what role) their scrum masters
> > report.  Any thoughts on your rationale are also greatly appreciated.
>
> > Is it to the development manger? development VP (e.g. peer to
> > development manager), to qa? to product management? to release
> > management?
>
> > Thanks for reading my post and for any information you can provide,
>
> > Paul
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Scrum Alliance - transforming the world of work." group.
> > To post to this group, send email to scruma...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to scrumallianc...@googlegroups.com.

> > For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/scrumalliance?hl=en.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Paul Cummings]

Tiim,

Thanks for your response. Please don't feel restricted in picking
from my list - I just included it as possibilities. In fact, these
aren't necessarily reflective of our company but may be for other
folks.

But I am looking for real life examples from working scrum masters,
rather than a theoretical or idealized discussion. So ff you're a
working scrum master or have scrum masters in your company, I'd be
interested on where they report.

THANKS,
Paul

On Oct 25, 4:43 pm, "Timothy D. Korson" <T...@qualsys.org> wrote:

[Steven Mak]

The worst one I know of: reports to PO
The best one I've heard of: reports to the Team

[Kevin Koithan]

They report to Director level at my organization.

[Michael James]

On Nov 4, 2011, at 5:22 AM, Steven Mak wrote:

> The worst one I know of: reports to PO
> The best one I've heard of: reports to the Team

+1.

Also ideally, the ScrumMaster is *chosen* by the Team and PO.

--mj

[Michael Mallete]

From my previous employment, reports directly to the VP/CIO but coaches teams on another organization in the company (development group).

[Paul Cummings]

THANKS everybody,

I appreciate the real world information!

More replies, particularly with rationale, are greatly appreciated.

Paul

[RonJeffries]

Hi Vishal,

On Oct 28, 2012, at 2:20 PM, Vishal Agarwal <vishal1...@gmail.com> wrote:

Defining the proper hierarchy for Team and Scrum Master is important. I know Scrum works in flat hierarchy, but hierarchy plays major role.

 

In my organisation Scrum masters reports to VP Software Engineering, with other Team members. Release Management is a separate tower and same with Product Management and QA. But, all reports to SVP.

So, at any point of time I found Tean keeps commitements of VP Software Engineer over Release Management. That always creates odd situation for Release Management and Scrum Master who is commiting to Release Management.

 

VP Software Engineering keeps his priorities and defines their way of working, and that leaves Release Management in odd situations.

 

I believe Scrum Master with whole (at lease development team) should come under Release Management and Release Management should come under Product Management. VP Software Engineering should be a sub function of Release Management.

Or, you could just do what Scrum teaches. Has your organization ever considered trying that?

Ron Jeffries

www.XProgramming.com

Everything that needs to be said has already been said.

But since no one was listening, everything must be said again. -- Andre Gide

[Joerg Henning]

As far as I understand Scrum, Scrum Master technically does not report to anyone, at least not in operational matters. It's the PO who acts as the interface between team and management, so in that situation there should be a PO coordinating between the different parts of the organization and the team (e.g. he should negotiate releases with VP Software Engineering and Release Management?) 

As an SM I see my job in helping PO and team understanding exactly that, if there is anything I "report" it's impediments and maybe feedback on the teams mood. Besides, I'm trying to play a moderation role in all that communication (At least I'm trying to get better at it). Also have to help "cultural translation" as I'm working on-site with a far-shore team.

Regards,

Joerg

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[Kurt Häusler]

I think the Scrum Master should report to the team, and all those VPs and managers should report to the Team as well.

Some of the organisation you describe will enforce a kind of functional specialisation that may conflict with the way Scrum works best. I suspect there are many aspects of your hierarchy the Scrum Masters should be encouraged to fight against.

On 28 Oct 2012, at 19:20, Vishal Agarwal <vishal1...@gmail.com> wrote:

Defining the proper hierarchy for Team and Scrum Master is important. I know Scrum works in flat hierarchy, but hierarchy plays major role.

 

In my organisation Scrum masters reports to VP Software Engineering, with other Team members. Release Management is a separate tower and same with Product Management and QA. But, all reports to SVP.

So, at any point of time I found Tean keeps commitements of VP Software Engineer over Release Management. That always creates odd situation for Release Management and Scrum Master who is commiting to Release Management.

 

VP Software Engineering keeps his priorities and defines their way of working, and that leaves Release Management in odd situations.

 

I believe Scrum Master with whole (at lease development team) should come under Release Management and Release Management should come under Product Management. VP Software Engineering should be a sub function of Release Management.

 

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[LESLIE SCANTLING]

Joerg - as the SM in my organization, I report directly to the CIO, since it is the IT organization as a whole that has the largest vested interest in the effeciancy of Agile and the impact of my role.
 
Leslie
 

---

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:18:50 +0700
Subject: Re: [Scrum] Re: Where does the scrum master report in your organization?
From: hennin...@gmail.com
To: scruma...@googlegroups.com

[Joerg Henning]

Well, it's not to different in my organization. However, I don't really like the term "reporting" as it sounds too much like C&C. I prefer to call it feedback. I admit that might be a bit nitpicking ;-)