How Does A Scrum Master Remove Impediments?

What Are Impediments In Scrum?

Impediments (or blockers) refer to obstacles or barriers that hinder the progress of a Scrum team in delivering value to the customer. These obstacles can come in various forms and can impact the efficiency and effectiveness of the Scrum team.

How To Identify An Impediment

In order to address impediments in Scrum, it's crucial to first identify them. Impediments can arise from various sources and can include issues related to team dynamics, communication, technical challenges, external dependencies, or organizational policies. Identifying impediments requires keen observation and active communication within the Scrum team. Team members should regularly engage in open and transparent discussions during Scrum ceremonies like the Daily Standup, Sprint Review, and Sprint Retrospective to surface any impediments that are affecting the team's progress.

Common Impediments In Scrum

Impediments in Scrum can manifest in different ways. Some common types of impediments include:

1) Technical Debt: Tech debt refers to the accumulated cost of delaying necessary software development work. It can hinder the team's ability to deliver value in a timely manner and can result in increased effort and time required for future development. Technical debt can arise from shortcuts, quick fixes, or incomplete work, and it can impact the quality and maintainability of the software.

2) Dependencies: Dependencies occur when a Scrum team relies on external teams or resources to complete their work. Delays or issues with external teams can become impediments for the Scrum team, as it can prevent them from delivering value to the customer as planned. Dependencies can arise from cross-team dependencies, third-party services, or organizational policies that limit the team's autonomy.

3) Communication Challenges: Effective communication is crucial in Scrum, and any breakdown in communication can become an impediment. This can include miscommunication, lack of clarity in requirements, or misunderstandings among team members. Poor communication can lead to delays, rework, and misaligned expectations, impacting the team's ability to deliver value.

What To Do When Your Scrum Team Is Experiencing A Growing List Of Impediments?

Once impediments are identified, it's important to take appropriate actions to address them. 

Here are some ways to address impediments in Scrum:

Prioritize and Remove

The Scrum team should work together to prioritize the impediments based on their impact and urgency. The team should then take actions to remove or mitigate the identified impediments. This may involve re-prioritizing work, resolving technical debt, addressing dependencies, or improving communication practices.

Collaborate and Seek Help

Scrum encourages collaborative problem-solving, and the team should work together to find solutions. If the team is unable to resolve an impediment on their own, they should seek help from relevant stakeholders, such as the Product Owner or the Scrum Master. Collaborating and seeking help can lead to innovative solutions and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Monitor and Adapt

Impediments can arise at any point during the Scrum process, and it's important to continuously monitor for new impediments and adapt accordingly. Regularly reviewing the progress of the Scrum team and discussing any impediments during the Sprint Retrospective can help identify areas for improvement and ensure that actions taken to address impediments are effective.

Conclusion

It's important to actively identify and address impediments to ensure smooth and successful delivery. It’s important to keep an eye out for impediments in your Scrum journey and take proactive actions to remove them, allowing your Scrum team to thrive and deliver outstanding results.