Before describing the role of Project Manager in software development company, I want to start with a quick introduction to the Scrum Guide.
In a nutshell, Scrum is an agile framework for managing and solving complex problems creatively and, above all, productively. Although initially created for the IT industry, it is currently gaining popularity in other sectors of the economy. However, the focus of this article will be only on IT.
Flexibility, openness, and transparency – these are the key features of companies professing and using Scrum in practice.
The times of commissioning your project and then waiting for half a year or more for the results, being completely unsure what to expect, are gone.
In companies that adhere to Scrum values, all elements of the development process are transparent, understandable, and available to the client so you can always control the progress of work.
Organisation of Work in Scrum Teams
The essence of Scrum is a Scrum Team. It consists of developers, Scrum Master, and Product Owner. Scrum team needs to be flexible, able to quickly, and efficiently adapt to the needs of the clients and their products. It is also important for both the client and the Scrum Team to remain open-minded and expect challenges and changes.
In Sprints, teamwork is organized for a maximum of one month, usually two weeks, ahead.
Scrum recommends four formal events:
- Sprint Planning (developing the scope of work to be performed),
- Daily Scrum (work planning for the next twenty-four hours and assessment of work performed), productive work,
- Sprint Review (inspection of the work done and presentation of the finished part of the product)
- Sprint Retrospective (work inspection and plan improvement).
What is the result of Sprint? The best in Scrum; some ready-made part of your product called Increment. You get pieces of your product gradually and systematically. It means that your risk is limited to the cost of one calendar month.
And what are other Scrum Artifacts? The Product Backlog is an ordered list of all tasks. The Sprint Backlog is the set of Product Backlog items selected for the Sprint, plus a plan for delivering the product Increment and fulfilling the Sprint Goal.
Who is a Project Manager?
Wait a second, the Scrum Team consists of developers, Scrum Master, and Product Owner. What about Project Managers?
Scrum does not have a role called “project manager.” But the Development Team members are working within the boundaries of their functional description.
At SoftwareHut, we assume that the Project Manager is a person involved in the project management who, depending on the type of project and the client’s needs, plays different roles. Of course, it’s never just the same person. Each of the PMs at SoftwareHut has a different set of skills, competences, and knowledge. Each specialises in a different field and industry.
What is the Role of Project Manager in Software Development Company?
Let’s discuss the role of the project manager using the example of SoftwareHut and TenderHut technological group.
Project Manager is:
- the organiser of teamwork ensuring compliance with the internal organisational processes of the TenderHut Group
- customer point of contact
- business analyst prompting how to effectively improve processes and functionalities in your project.
Project Manager as Scrum Master, a person additionally responsible for:
- promoting and supporting Scrum at TenderHut Group,
- Helping to maximise the value created
- Ensuring that goals, scope, and product domain are understandable
- Finding techniques for effective Product Backlog management
- Understanding and practicing agility
- Removing impediments to the progress.
Project Manager as support for the Product Owner, a person additionally responsible for:
- planning the work of the Development Team
- maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the Development Team.
- managing the Product Backlog; clearly expressing items, ordering the items to achieve set goals.
Why is it so important? Lack of transparency of the backlog leads to making wrong decisions, lowering the value of the product, and increasing the risk of not meeting your expectations.
Who is the Product Owner?
It’s you. You have a real influence on the execution of the project, as well as its final shape. You may think – “No, it’s not for me. I don’t know anything about it.”
However, you know better than anybody else what business goal you want to achieve for your company. Allow me to quote the exceptional Polish Nobel laureate – Marie Skłodowska-Curie “You should not be afraid of anything in your life, you should only understand it.”
The Project Manager in our organization will help you understand the software development process, fulfill your vision, and achieve the maximum value and quality of your project. They also help you make decisions by presenting possible consequences. They are your bridge between the business world and the IT world.
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