How Do Teams with Scrum Masters Differ from Those Without?
Teams with Scrum Masters are more likely to have a Definition of Done, hold Sprint Planning, measure velocity, and work in shorter iterations. However, there’s no apparent difference in whether they run Sprint Reviews or maintain Product and Sprint Backlogs.
One might expect Scrum Masters to have an even impact across all aspects of Scrum, yet in practice many place disproportionate focus on facilitation.
Metaphor
Having a Scrum Master is like having a gym coach versus working out solo. With a coach, you’re more likely to warm up, follow a structured plan, and track progress—though you might still skip the occasional cool-down or nutrition log.
Likewise, teams with Scrum Masters often adopt core Scrum practices like DoD, velocity, and shorter iterations, but don’t necessarily improve on reviews or backlog maintenance.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking: (1)