The two primary roles that confuse professionals in project management are project manager and scrum master. These roles aim to take the project towards success, approach, responsibilities, and methodologies.

For a fresher or someone who is looking to enter the IT industry, the roles of project manager and scrum master are pretty similar but distinct from each other. They take different approaches while working on a project to make it successful.

While we will understand the differences between the project manager and scrum master further, the project manager plays the leadership role by leading the plan and execution of the project. However, scrum masters support the team members while working closely with the team and ensuring they follow agile principles correctly.

Who is a scrum master?

The scrum master is an individual who works with scrum teammates by creating large products in short cycles or iterations. It involves handling the tasks and focusing on completing the backlog of planned work, assessing the completed step, and perfecting the work to reach set goals. Their role is to ensure that the scrum team adheres to the scrum principles to get the best results in the product development stage.

Also, check:what is a scrum master

Roles and Responsibilities of Scrum Master

1. The scrum team ensures their team members focus on producing high-quality work and following the scrum principles.
2. The scrum team guides its unit and focuses on the backlogs to complete its goals.
3. Its role involves facilitating the daily scrum meeting to assess the team's program towards the set goals and make iterations when required.
4. We are helping the teams increase the speed of their work.
5. Focus on monitoring the sprint progress. 
6. Focus on removing the barriers so the team members can focus on completing their work.
7. Record and assist in improving the team dynamics.

For additional insights, explore further for more information: Roles and Responsibilities of Scrum Master

Who is a Project Manager? 

The project manager manages the leadership roles, handling essential logistical elements of the project. Project managers involve individuals with strong management skills such as planning, organizing, scheduling, and ensuring the project is completed before the specified deadline. The project manager role involves sticking through its life cycle from beginning to end. 

The project manager hands the roles and responsibilities down to the individual level. They are focused on defining the project scope and overlooking their budget and risk involved in handling the risk associated with the project, deliverables, managing the schedule, and sourcing and approving resources till the project is completed. The project manager collaborates with stakeholders and other project managers to ensure the project's progress. 

Read more:How to Become Project Manager 

Roles and Responsibilities of Project Manager

1. The project manager's responsibilities include project planning, team management, risk mitigation, and smooth communication between stakeholders.
2. It is associated with traditional project management methodologies like agile and waterfall.
3. The role involves managing the project's human resources, such as interviewing and hiring team members and other people related to the work. 
4. The project manager role involves overseeing the project tasks, managing resources, and ensuring the project is completed within the specified plan.
5. The role involves updating the stakeholders on the project's progress, changes, and challenges.
6. It requires identifying and mitigating the risks to prevent potential issues impacting the project's success.
7. It involves handling the project's initial elements, including defining the scope and making plans that allow the smooth flow of the project.

To Gain more insights, read here: Project manager roles and responsibilities

Differences: Project Manager vs. Scrum Master

Similarities between Project Manager and Scrum Master

1. The scrum master and project manager focus on communicating effectively at every project stage to ensure there is no room for errors. They both work together for feedback, mitigating the risk and enabling great bonding within the team.
2. Both of their designations are on a similar level with supreme authority. The scrum master reports to the product owner alongside clients and stakeholders, whereas project managers report directly to stakeholders and clients.
3. Both of their roles require room for continuous improvement. The project managers and scrum masters encourage learning from experience while scrum works on post-project reviews. They both seek ways to enhance processes, efficiency, and project outcomes.

Salaries of Project Manager vs. Scrum Master

What should you choose between Project Manager vs. Scrum Master?

The choice between being a project manager and a scrum master depends upon one's skills, preferences, and career aspirations. The professionals in either role want something that matches their strengths and interests. Consider that career paths are often dynamic, and individuals may transition between the roles as their skills and goals evolve.

Looking to pursue a career as a Project Manager, check the Project Manager Career Path here. 

Conclusion

Both scrum master and project manager have different roles and responsibilities, which require you to determine what you want to become. If your skills and capabilities involve guiding the team through the individual increments of the project to reach a successful outcome, then scrum master is the best option for you. 

If your skill set matches managing the project's logistics requirements from the planning and implementation stages through completion, then working as a project manager is better for you.

Simpliaxis has courses for beginners and experienced people looking to pursue their careers in project management or scrum masters in agile methodologies. You can complete some certifications in the short term or pick the one that suits your skill to become the next project manager or scrum master.