Selbstorganisiert und dennoch geführt – eine explorative Studie zur Führung durch Scrum Master

This article published in the journal Group. Interaction. Organization. (GIO) presents an exploratory study on the leadership success of scrum masters. The scrum method, which is widely used in software development, describes the scrum team as self-managing team and the role of the scrum master as servant leader, although in practice their leadership behaviour varies greatly.

Based on eleven expert interviews with scrum team members, a qualitative analysis was used to develop a process model that describes successful leadership behaviour of scrum masters and the antecedents for leadership success.

The process model shows that successful leadership behaviour of scrum masters is characterized by empowering leadership, support for team members, and good relationships with the team members. Dimensions of servant leadership that go beyond empowerment play only a minor role in leadership success. An important antecedent of for successful leadership is the technical, organisational, and communicative competence of the scrum master. Leadership success is also closely related to the team’s self-organization and knowledge management.

The process model developed in the study is suitable for the quantitative validation in future research and provides guidance for the selection and development of scrum masters.