Read more at: What is the Role of a Project Manager in Scrum?
If a PM takes the time to learn something of Software Design Patterns related to software development then it is likely that a PM could better fit the row of SCRUM master. Requirements analysis requires understanding the Process Patterns of an organization. So it should not be unreasonable to have some understanding of Software Design Patterns.
Whether a PM should play a role in Scrum or not depends on the nature and size of the project. For small project where there are only one or two scrums going at a time, the PM can play the role of a Scrum Master to let developer focus on where they should be spending most of their time. For a large project where multiple scrums may be going at the same time, it would be better for a PM to identify Scrum Masters for each scrum and himself manage the project at higher level integrating all scrums for successful project completion.
The short of it is that a project manager can be a Scrum Master and a Scrum master can be a project manager, just not at the same time. The scrum masters role is to ensure the team is able to do commit to the sprint and removes any impediments that get in the way. The scrum master can also be part of the scrum team.
I say that it also depends on the company culture & strategy, some companies make confusion between the two roles, so sometimes you find your self in hybrid situation, especially in weak matrix organisations: you have to manage all stakeholders (customer, team & hierarchy), risks (without making actions),…Etc, and at the same time you have to participate in technique details with your team and doing SM reponsibilities as known.
Finaly, when you are in such situation, you have to forget that you are PM to do well as SM.
The scrum team can be seen as a work stream for the PM with the SM there to facilitate the delivery. If the PM has to function as the SM, he/she must perform the delicate balancing act where he/she must remove the PM hat while in the scrum and put it back on while communicating to the enterprise.
Read more at: What is the Role of a Project Manager in Scrum?
