Scrum Masters Are a Waste of Time and Money

I completely agree with the statement that Scrum Masters are a waste of time and money, and I don’t hesitate to say that we should get rid of them. While the Scrum approach can be somewhat effective when implemented correctly, the role of Scrum Masters often becomes redundant and futile when the culture of the organisation in which they operate is a blocker to progress.

Scrum Masters are supposed to facilitate the adoption of Scrum, invite the removal of impediments, and improve the overall effectiveness of the team. However, in most cases, the company culture and policies are too rigid to allow the Scrum Master to operate effectively. This results in the Scrum Master being unable to drive change, improve the team’s performance, or add any significant value.

Furthermore, the cost of hiring a Scrum Master can be exorbitant, and it is an unnecessary expense when a team can adopt the Scrum methodology on their own. Smart team members can learn the Scrum framework and apply it to their projects, without the need for a dedicated Scrum Master.

In conclusion, Scrum Masters are a waste of time and money if the culture or organisation in which they operate is not receptive to change (which is most organisations). Therefore, I strongly advocate for companies to evaluate their need for a Scrum Master based on their willingness to change their culture, and thus their ability to adopt and implement Scrum effectively, rather than blindly hiring one because it is the norm.