In Scrum, what does the Scrum Master do during a Sprint?

The role of the Scrum Master is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the Scrum process. During a Sprint, the Scrum Master ensures that the Development Team adheres to Scrum practices and principles, which involves facilitating Scrum events, coaching the team on Agile and Scrum methodologies, and helping to remove any obstacles that hinder the team's progress. By focusing on these aspects, the Scrum Master empowers the team to self-organize and function effectively within the Scrum framework.

The Scrum Master's commitment to upholding Scrum practices not only helps the team improve its performance but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, which is essential in Agile environments. This guidance allows the team to focus on delivering value without getting bogged down by misunderstandings of the Scrum process.

In contrast, directly managing the Development Team's progress or assigning tasks contradicts the principles of self-organization that are fundamental to Scrum. Similarly, defining project scope and deliverables is typically a collaborative effort that involves the Product Owner's input rather than a role for the Scrum Master. Hence, the Scrum Master's focus on ensuring adherence to Scrum practices is essential for the success of the Scrum team during a Sprint.