Which one is the right fit for you? The choice between Scrum Master and Product Owner is not a matter of which role is “better.” Both roles are essential for successful Agile implementation. Rather, the choice is about whether to concentrate on your nonprofit’s primary focus or its most immediate need.

 

Each role supports one of those priorities in a team: 

• The Product Owner focuses on What and Why.
  
• The Scrum Master focuses on How and Team Efficiency. 

 

Considering becoming a Product Owner?

The Product Owner is the primary liaison between the team and stakeholders (e.g., donors or program participants). Their responsibility is to define, refine, and communicate the backlog (to-do list) of projects and ideas to achieve the mission. They focus on assessing the value of initiatives and consistently delivering a successful product or service in support of the nonprofit’s mission. To this end, they prioritize what to do next, and they ensure that the team understands why they are creating a specific product or service. These responsibilities require mastering techniques and metrics for prioritizing features, projects, and portfolios.

 

If your primary concern is the strategic direction and maximizing the value delivered, a Product Owner path, such as the Registered Product Owner for Nonprofits, is likely the right fit. Check out our team’s Chief Product Owner further explaining the PO role.

 

Considering becoming a Scrum Master?

The Scrum Master is the team’s coach and process cheerleader. Their concern is efficiency: coaching the team to work more effectively, removing organizational obstacles, and guiding them through the five Scrum events and processes. The Scrum Master also ensures that the team is happy, continuously improving together, and able to respond to change. These priorities help the team eliminate waste and keep members engaged.  In short, the Scrum Master focuses on how the team executes its work. They also champion the value of agility over traditional project management within the nonprofit, and help the organization implement broader Agile and Scrum practices. If your goal is to increase team happiness, continuously improve your process, and help your team respond to change, a Scrum Master path, such as the Registered Scrum Master for Nonprofits, is appropriate.

 

Learn more from our team’s Scrum Masters about the benefits of that role.

Considering both?

In smaller nonprofits, a single individual might play a hybrid role. In this case, consider the organization’s most immediate need for support: is it clarity of vision (Product Owner) or efficiency of process (Scrum Master)?

We can help point you in the right direction. Take our *FREE* Scrum Master vs Product Owner role quiz.