What role does a Scrum Master play during sprint planning?

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The roles of a Scrum Master and a Project Manager are different in terms of their focus, responsibilities, and how they operate within a team or organization. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences.  

During sprint planning, a Scrum Master plays the role of a facilitator and guide, ensuring that the event is productive, collaborative, and aligned with Scrum principles. They do not decide what work will be done—that is the responsibility of the Product Owner and the Development Team—but they create the right environment for effective planning.

The Scrum Master begins by ensuring the Product Owner presents a well-prioritized and refined product backlog, so the team has a clear understanding of the most valuable items. They help clarify any doubts, encourage open discussion, and make sure everyone shares the same understanding of the sprint goal.

They also facilitate collaboration between the Product Owner and Development Team. This includes guiding the conversation to focus on value, feasibility, and capacity. The Scrum Master ensures that the team considers its past velocity, available resources, and dependencies when selecting items for the sprint.

To keep the meeting efficient, the Scrum Master applies facilitation techniques such as timeboxing, brainstorming, or estimation methods (like Planning Poker or T-shirt sizing). They help the team break down backlog items into manageable tasks without micromanaging.

Most importantly, the Scrum Master protects the team from external pressure—for example, preventing unrealistic commitments or last-minute scope changes. They reinforce the idea that the team decides how much work they can take on.

In short, the Scrum Master’s role in sprint planning is to guide, facilitate, and protect the team, ensuring that the sprint goal is clear, commitments are realistic, and collaboration drives the planning process.

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