Concepts
A critical area of proficiency is understanding how to practice resolving the root cause of an organizational impediment. Organizational impediments are internal or external factors that hinder teams from achieving their goals. For a ScrumMaster, it is not only important to identify and address these impediments but also to delve deeper to understand and resolve their root causes for long-term organizational agility and productivity.
I. Identifying the Root Cause:
The first step towards resolving the root cause of an organizational impediment is to identify it. Usually, the signs of an impediment are visible through declining productivity, increased team conflict, or missed deadlines, etc. However, these are the symptoms, not the real problems. It would be similar to treating a fever without diagnosing the underlying infection causing it. A ScrumMaster should employ techniques like “5-Whys” root cause analysis or Cause and Effect Diagrams (also known as Fishbone Diagrams or Ishikawa Diagrams) to trace back these symptoms to their origin.
II. Investigating the Root Cause:
Once the root cause has been identified, it should be investigated thoroughly. This could involve discussing with various team members, holding brainstorming sessions, or examining past instances of similar impediment. This step involves understanding the impact of the root cause, how it has evolved over time, and why it wasn’t addressed before. It’s critical during this stage to maintain an open, blame-free environment where team members feel safe to express their views and ideas.
III. Resolving the Root Cause:
The process of resolving the root cause varies greatly depending on the impediment at hand. It may entail changes in processes, team structures, skill development, or even redefinition of roles and responsibilities. The ScrumMaster should plan the resolution in collaboration with the team, ensuring that it doesn’t disrupt the flow of ongoing sprints. When implementing the measures to resolve the root cause, it’s also important to set measurable goals and review progress frequently.
IV. Preventing the Recurrence:
After resolving the root cause, measures must be taken to prevent its recurrence. This can involve creating a lessons-learned document, periodically revisiting the resolved impediment, and reassessing the solution’s effectiveness.
To provide an example, let’s consider a team faced with recurring missed deadlines. On the surface, it may seem like the issue lies with planning or estimation. However, using the ‘5 Whys’ technique, we derive the following:
- Why are we missing deadlines?
- Because tasks are taking longer than estimated.
- Why are tasks taking longer than estimated?
- Because estimates provided are often inaccurate.
- Why are the estimates inaccurate?
- Because team members aren’t well-versed with the task areas.
- Why aren’t team members well-versed with the task areas?
- Because skillsets are siloed; team members stick to their areas of expertise.
- Why are skillsets siloed?
- Because there is no process in place for cross-skill training.
From analyzing this chain, we can identify the root cause is inadequate cross-skill training amongst team members. To resolve this root cause, the ScrumMaster can then plan training sessions or pair programming exercises.
In conclusion, effectively resolving the root cause of an organizational impediment requires analytical thinking, open communication, thorough planning, and constant feedback and reviews. It is a continual process of improvement that goes hand in hand with the Scrum principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation. With expertise in this area, you will be better prepared for the A-CSM exam and a more capable ScrumMaster.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: An organizational impediment is a type of problem that prevents a team from reaching their goals.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Correct answer: 1) True
What is the first step in resolving the root cause of an organizational impediment?
- 1) Identifying the symptoms
- 2) Ignoring the problem
- 3) Resolving minor issues
- 4) Using a direct approach to solve major issues
Correct answer: 1) Identifying the symptoms
In a Scrum environment, who is primarily responsible for identifying and resolving organizational impediments?
- 1) Product Owner
- 2) Scrum Team
- 3) Agile Coach
- 4) ScrumMaster
Correct answer: 4) ScrumMaster
True or False: Root Cause Analysis is a set of techniques used to uncover the real cause of a particular problem or issue.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Correct answer: 1) True
Why is it important to identify and resolve the root cause of an organizational impediment?
- 1) To improve the organization’s efficiency
- 2) To maintain high employee morale
- 3) To keep the projects on the track
- 4) All of the above
Correct answer: 4) All of the above
Multiple select: Which of the following techniques are used in Root Cause Analysis?
- 1) 5 Whys
- 2) Mind Mapping
- 3) Affinity Diagram
- 4) Pareto Analysis
Correct answer: 1) 5 Whys, 2) Mind Mapping, 3) Affinity Diagram, 4) Pareto Analysis
True or False: A ScrumMaster should always solve organizational impediments single-handedly.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Correct answer: 2) False
Which of the following is not an example of an organizational impediment?
- 1) Communication gaps within the team
- 2) Misalignment of project goals with organizational strategy
- 3) High performing team
- 4) Lack of necessary skills or expertise to complete the task
Correct answer: 3) High performing team
In considering resolving the root cause of an organizational impediment, it is essential to:
- 1) Avoid confrontation at all costs
- 2) Address the symptoms of the problem, not the cause
- 3) Acknowledge and confront the problem directly
- 4) None of the above
Correct answer: 3) Acknowledge and confront the problem directly
True or False: Once an organizational impediment has been resolved, it is unnecessary to check on its progress or any recurrence.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Correct answer: 2) False
A ScrumMaster needs to display the skill of “active listening” in order to:
- 1) Understand the problem clearly
- 2) Show respect to the speaker
- 3) Absorb as much information as possible
- 4) All of the above
Correct answer: 4) All of the above
Multiple select: Which of the following factors can contribute to the occurrence of organizational impediments?
- 1) Poor communication channels
- 2) Strict hierarchy that stifles innovation
- 3) A high level of trust among team members
- 4) Insufficient resources for project completion.
Correct answer: 1) Poor communication channels, 2) Strict hierarchy that stifles innovation, 4) Insufficient resources for project completion.
Great post! It’s crucial to identify and address the root cause of impediments rather than just treating symptoms.
Absolutely agree with you. Addressing the root cause helps in the long-term growth of the organization.
Thanks for sharing this insightful blog!
Can anyone share some techniques for identifying root causes in a Scrum framework?
Root cause analysis can significantly improve team productivity. Have you guys tried the 5 Whys technique?
Appreciate the blog post. Well written and informative!
What role does the Scrum Master play in identifying and resolving the root causes of impediments?
Good point on fishbone diagrams. They are really useful!