1. Working Methodology

The main difference between a Scrum Master and a Project Manager is the methodology that each uses to run their projects. Scrum Masters follow agile working principles, while Project Managers follow waterfall working principles. 

A Scrum Master will promote the principles of agile working within a ‘scrum team’ by following a scrum framework – breaking down projects into short ‘sprints’. Each sprint cycle lasts under a month, and a good Scrum Master will encourage a team to self-organise and self-manage each sprint, enabling them to be flexible, accountable and to respond quickly to changes. 

On the other hand, a Project Manager assumes overall responsibility for a project and will follow each step of a project in a linear (or waterfall) fashion. They will assign and manage team members but retain authority of all the day to day logistics of a project until that project is completed.  

2. Project Responsibilities

Working within an agile framework, a Scrum Master will facilitate scrum events for the scrum team, such as sprint planning and daily scrums as well as sprint reviews and inspections. This allows the team to continuously assess their progress and to make improvements before the next sprint cycle. 

A Project Manager is generally more concerned with the logistical elements of a project. He or she will set out the scope of the project then ensure all the right elements are in place for that project to be completed on time and on budget. That means hiring suitable staff, planning budgets and timelines, doing risk assessments, and allocating resources.

3. Leadership Style

Unlike traditional leadership styles, the Scrum Master assumes the role of a coach and mentor, guiding his or her team to self-organise, self-manage and to make decisions through collaboration. Scrum Masters will support the scrum team to complete their goals by removing barriers and obstacles that might hinder their progress. This style of leadership has led to Scrum Masters also being known as ‘servant leaders’.

This is different to a Project Manager who will lead from the top down by assuming complete authority over a project. They will assign tasks to team members and then manage staff to ensure that all elements of the project are being met and delivered according to the original scope.

4. Product versus Project

A Scrum Master is most concerned with creating a good product or service for a client. The agile methodology allows for reflection and adaptation at regular intervals so that continuous improvements can be made along the way. Success is measured on how efficiently a team delivers value to a client and how well they execute on the product goal.

A Project Manager is more concerned with carrying out a good project. This means managing all the logistics of a project from the planning stage through to final delivery. A successful project is one that is delivered on time, on budget and that meets a client’s objectives as laid out in the project scope.

5. Strategies for Improvement

Working within a scrum framework, a Scrum Master will facilitate regular inspection and adaptation during each sprint cycle. This constant reflection helps to create a self-sustaining team that continuously delivers value to the organisation while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

This is different to most project management strategies where the Project Manager will hold a ‘lessons learned’ meeting upon the completion of a project. This will be conducted with team members and clients to reflect on what went well and what areas could be improved upon, with a view to incorporating these reflections into future project planning.