What should a Scrum Master do if the Development Team lacks necessary engineering tools and infrastructure?

When a Development Team lacks the necessary engineering tools and infrastructure, the most effective approach a Scrum Master can take is to coach the team to improve over time and make adjustments to the Definition of Done. This option focuses on fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the team, which is essential for high-performance teams in a Scrum environment.

By coaching the team, the Scrum Master facilitates a collaborative approach to identifying gaps in tools and infrastructure. This coaching fosters self-organization, encourages team members to take ownership of the problem, and leads to collective problem-solving. The Scrum Master can help the team explore solutions, whether by advocating for resources from the organization or guiding the team in developing their processes to adapt to current limitations.

Adjusting the Definition of Done in response to these tool and infrastructure challenges helps set clear expectations for what is required to meet quality standards, even when not all tools are available. This adjustment is a pragmatic way to ensure that the team can still deliver work that meets thematically agreed-upon criteria, while also highlighting the areas that need improvement.

This approach builds the team's capability over time rather than providing immediate but possibly temporary fixes, ensuring that they become more resilient and self-sufficient in the long run.