Scrummästarens roll som konflikthanterare : Konflikthantering i agila projekt

Sammanfattning: Companies show interest in agile methods, but this can be challenging since these methods to a certain degree stand against traditional project methods. If the use of agile methods increase it is of importance to clarify what mechanisms that are significant to a successful result. The aim of this study is to clarify the role of the scrum master regarding conflict management in agile groups. The goal of the study is to better prepare the ScrumMaster to be ready to help the group in a conflict situation. In this examination a qualitative method has been used where five scrum masters, active in agile projects, have been interviewed about their role in conflict management. Types of conflicts and situations where conflicts would appear where identified and categorised, and later compared to relevant theory. The results reveal that managing conflicts is an important part of the scrum masters role. This is shown by the respondents’ expressed experience in the conflict situations. In relevant literature, the role of the ScrumMaster is described in general and conflict management is vaguely outlined. The respondents also described that the ScrumMaster is attentive at signs of conflicts in the group and acts both to prevent and resolve conflicts. It is stated in literature that the scrum master has to be attentive, but it is only vaguely described that the ScrumMaster also prevent and resolve conflicts. The respondents described that certain conflicts was hard to solve. This applied to conflicts containing problems with attitude in particular. These kinds of conflicts appear to be out of reach for the ScrumMaster. It is described in literature that persons leaving the group may cause problems, but the description of the process building up to the break is often lacking.