It is quite usual that people mix up Project Manager and Scrum Master. Some may think the two are interchangeable, and some may simply interpret a project manager working in scrum team is a scrum master. In fact, they are two different roles.
Project Manager
We normally have project managers under waterfall methodology. Project Manager has the authority over the project and manages the project stages – Initiation, Planning, Execution, Monitoring & Controlling, and Closure. Primarily, throughout the project period, project manages have to deal with the triple constraints, which are time, scope and cost.
Scrum Master
While, Scrum Master has the authority over the scrum process. The role is to ensure the scrum team understand and is following the practice. Instead of controlling the project for deliverables, scrum masters are coaches on scrum principles.
Project running in Scrum
We must understand that scrum is not a solely project management methodology. Scrum, actually, does not necessary to be applied to only projects. You may find the role Product Owner in scrum. From the word, it tells it can be applied to a sustaining product development.
Still, from my experience, we can apply scrum into projects. With the nature of “temporary” for projects, we may have a relative but continuously predictable time frame. While we will have valid business cases for scope and controlled budget. (Note: defined scope with possible changing backlog items)
However, we do not have the project manager role in scrum methodology. I will say, the duties “somehow” are shared among scrum master, product owner, and even developers. For example, product owner takes care of the budget, utilizes burndown chart for roadmap (overall schedule), liaises with users for feedbacks as one of the sources on requirement gathering; scrum master responds and clears conflicts and blockers. facilitates meetings.
Final words
You should be able to find lots of articles describing the responsibility of project manager and scrum master, I am not going to copy here. In sum, project manager and scrum master are distinct roles. They are not in conflict with each other nor in equal to each other. Although we do not have project manager role within the scrum team, we may have a dedicated project manager as a stakeholder, to take care of the duties which cannot be carried by the scrum team, such as HR aspect tasks and organizational management. We shall understand the role itself and arrange resources to fit in. We can have one person taking multiple roles. However, without a clear understanding on the roles, a business may be at risk of tasks without anyone taking the responsibility and accountability.