Wondering, what is an Agile Framework? In the 1990s, several software development teams began to change their approach to the development cycle of a product, in response to the traditional (waterfall) approach. While trying to shift from the traditional, rigid methodology, one such software development team, in the spring of 2000, built the Agile software development methodology. Now, Agile has become one of the most popular software development methodologies and the first choice for many software development teams, around the globe.
As the agile methodology is quite less rigid and way more relaxed in nature, It requires an element of management, to ensure the perfect and timely delivery of the product. Agile Project managers are the ones tasked with bringing that element of management into the whole Agile or scrum team.
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Overview
In the world of Agile software development framework, the traditional job role of a product manager is vanishing or to the least evolving, project managers are required to adapt to the new circumstances, in order to remain effective in their agile or scrum team.
Often, in an agile framework, the job responsibilities of a traditional project manager are split between the product owner and the other members of the team. So, the product manager will need to bring something else to the table, it often becomes a matter of doing whatever it takes to keep the project up and running.
Many times, product managers even complain that while working in an agile environment, the company or the scrum team just doesn’t draw the line, about what constitutes their job and what does not. The job role and responsibilities of an Agile product manager vary quite a lot for different companies and teams. Hence, it becomes quite a task to understand the role of a product manager in an agile framework.
In order to achieve the successful implementation of the product and its delivery, the product owners have to fulfill several different roles effectively, that the company or the scrum team expects them to do. These roles can be divided majorly into three categories – team-level roles, enterprise-level roles, and a hybrid of traditional and agile roles.
- Team – Level Agile Roles –
It is the role of the project manager to manage the scrum team and keep them motivated throughout the development of the product. The project manager can act as a consultant to the team, and do whatever it requires to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the team. Like allocating the right personnel, resources, and processes for the right task. He/she can act as a coach to the team, advising and guiding the team members on how to increase their efficiency within the project.
- Enterprise-Level Agile Roles
As a project manager, you might be handling multiple Agile or scrum teams. You need to effectively manage all these teams. Working and managing massive and complex projects make this role a significant challenge for any Agile Project Manager to handle.
- Hybrid-level Role
Many companies and teams execute the software development process, by combining both agile frameworks with non-agile methods, like the waterfall method, hence naming the method as the Hybrid Agile process. It can be a challenge to undertake a hybrid level agile role, As the project manager needs to apply traditional techniques alongside the Agile framework.
Responsibilities of a Project Manager in an Agile environment
As discussed earlier, the project manager role in agile can vary quite a lot depending on the company, the project, and the agile or scrum team you are managing. But in general, the following are the major responsibilities of a project manager in an agile framework or scrum framework.
- Doing whatever possible to help the team achieve a high level of quality and performance of the product or the project. Resolving any issues or obstacles that may arise in front of the team, during any stage of the software development.
- Mentoring and guiding the less experienced members of the team.
- Providing support to the product owner or the scrum master in managing and communicating with the team or the internal and external stakeholders.
- Make sure that each and every member of the product management is making an effective and meaningful contribution to the product and is fully engaged in it.
Difference Between the Roles and Responsibilities of the Scrum master and Agile Project Manager. In the world of agile software development project management, one may view the scrum master as the same position as the project manager, as the roles of both project manager and the scrum master are nearly the same, but unlike the project manager, the scrum master is not the one responsible for the success or failure of the project.
The scrum master is an expert on the processes and gets the scrum team to work more effectively and to perform at their best. While the project manager also has many of the traditional responsibilities of managing the vision, cost, risk, and personnel.
What are the Skills Required to Become an Agile Project Manager?
Given the enormous amount of responsibilities, the Agile Project Manager is required to fulfill by the company and team. A good skill set becomes quite essential to have. Let us briefly discuss the list of skills you should possess in order to become a project manager.
1 ) You should be able to work well with others, as managing, guiding, and mentoring the members of your agile or scrum team is one of the important roles you need to complete.
2 ) Excellent communication skills, as you need to regularly collaborate with the team, management, and non-other team individuals.
3 ) Ability to remain calm or even work better under pressure, is another skill you might require.
4 ) Great understanding of Scrum or other management methodology.
Conclusion
Like any traditional project manager, Agile project managers are the ones responsible for the scope, cost, personnel, risk management, and ultimately for the successful execution of the product delivery. Hope! You have got a good idea about the responsibilities of an Agile Project Manager.
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