Scrum Master Accountability On A Scrum Team [Scrum Guide Video]
Please note: This is still the most current version of the Scrum Guide in 2025.
Video: Scrum Team - Scrum Master
This is from the official 2020 Scrum Guide by Ken Schwaber and Jeff Sutherland.
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Scrum Team: Scrum Master as defined in the official 2020 Scrum Guide
Scrum Master
The Scrum Master is accountable for establishing Scrum as defined in the Scrum Guide. They do this by helping everyone understand Scrum theory and practice, both within the Scrum Team and the organization.
The Scrum Master is accountable for the Scrum Team's effectiveness. They do this by enabling the Scrum Team to improve its practices, within the Scrum framework.
Scrum Masters are true leaders who serve the Scrum Team and the larger organization.
The Scrum Master serves the Scrum Team in several ways, including:
Coaching the team members in self-management and cross-functionality;
Helping the Scrum Team focus on creating high-value Increments that meet the Definition of Done;
Causing the removal of impediments to the Scrum Team's progress; and,
Ensuring that all Scrum events take place and are positive, productive, and kept within the timebox.
The Scrum Master serves the Product Owner in several ways, including:
Helping find techniques for effective Product Goal definition and Product Backlog management;
Helping the Scrum Team understand the need for clear and concise Product Backlog items;
Helping establish empirical product planning for a complex environment; and,
Facilitating stakeholder collaboration as requested or needed.
The Scrum Master serves the organization in several ways, including:
Leading, training, and coaching the organization in its Scrum adoption;
Planning and advising Scrum implementations within the organization;
Helping employees and stakeholders understand and enact an empirical approach for complex work; and,
Removing barriers between stakeholders and Scrum Teams.
References and Additional Learning Resources
View the “Scrum Team - Scrum Master” section in the Interactive Scrum Guide.
Listen to the “Scrum Team - Scrum Master Audio Clip” from the Scrum Guide Audio Book.
Listen to the official 2020 version of the Scrum Guide Audio Book.
View the official online digital version of the 2020 Scrum at InteractiveScrumGuide.com.
Watch the official 2020 Scrum Guide YouTube Playlist at sg20_playlist.mvizdos.com.
Learn more about Implementing Scrum with Michael Vizdos at ImplementingScrum.com.
Subscribe to your free weekly Saturday morning, emails with the original Scrum Chicken and Pig Cartoons about Implementing Scrum by visiting subscribe.mvizdos.com.
Finally, you can learn more about Michael Vizdos, creator of ImplementingScrum.com, the Scrum Guide Audiobook and the Interactive Scrum Guide at michaelvizdos.com.
Get even more FREE resources to learn about Implementing Scrum at learn.mvizdos.com.
About the Author: Michael Vizdos
Hi. I really do appreciate you reading this article. My name is Michael Vizdos and I’ve worked with thousands of people on teams all around the world for the past 30+ years of my professional career.
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