Traversing the Agile seas: a Scrum Master’s journey

The idea of helping people to help themselves is probably the key factor which drew me towards becoming a Scrum Master.

My journey into Agile, not just Scrum, has been a long one. I was one of the first three Scrum people certified in Malta (one other Scrum Master and a Scrum trainer).

Can you tell us a bit about your professional journey in this field?

Agile and Scrum were practically non-existent on the island back in 2007. Along with the other qualified Scrum Master, we had started an NGO called Agile Malta. Through this NGO, we used to hold Agile focused conferences and used to help companies to transition to the Agile mentality.

Over time, I learnt different Agile methodologies which have progressed towards scaled Scrum.

Can you provide an overview of your role as a Scrum Master at eCabs Technologies? What are your primary responsibilities and objectives?

When I joined eCabs, one of the very first things I noticed – and liked – was that the company was not developing a ride-hailing platform separate from everything else. But as a consolidated operator platform, integrating app, phone, web and API integrated bookings, amongst others.

My role has evolved from aiding eCabs Technologies’ tech team to understanding Scrum, to helping them to understand their autonomy and self-responsibility.

My primary objective is to ensure that we give back the flow of work from our customer and product team’s minds, along with our company experience, to our customers with a high level of quality.

eCabs Technologies is known for its tech-driven culture. How does the Scrum framework contribute to the development and improvement of these solutions?

Scrum fosters the creation and maintenance of a mentality of small increments totaling up to one great improvement. Based on how the local and foreign customers and business are progressing over time.

Changing people’s behaviour is never easy. But the Agile/Scrum perspective comes to the rescue in the form of small changes over time. In terms of what we communicate, as well as when and how. All the while focusing on how people are feeling during the communication exchange.

At eCabs Technologies, my main objective is getting the tech teams to functional in a holistic and professional manner. In the long run, my end game is to foster collaboration and self-management across the entire company.

Communication is enhanced with the use of informative automated boards. As well as the use of Slack and Scrum’s correlated rhythmical set of meetings, one of which occurs daily.

Getting all team players rowing in the same direction at the same time, where all the company is working as a team, will allow us to beat groups of any size.

What advice would you give to aspiring Scrum Masters who are looking to excel in their careers within the tech industry?

It is good to always keep in mind that Scrum is not unique or special only to tech companies. Social sciences use what they call a ‘grounded thinking’ methodology, which involves the cyclical application of inductive reasoning.

In anything in life – not only in the tech industry – start small and cyclically build yourself. All the time, adapting your current short-term plan towards achieving a long-term goal, which is also an ever evolving and constantly changing process.

For instance, improvements through small increments is also an aspect of physical therapy (which I travel abroad yearly for after a nasty incident a few years ago which left me in need of the aforementioned therapy.)

My personal experience has taught me that, sometimes, even those things that are deemed impossible or unlikely, are achievable. With the right mindset, the appropriate direction, and a dose of hard work from your end. And I try to apply that reasoning to everything I do.

Interested in joining the eCabs Technologies team?

Check out our current job openings here.

By eCabs Technologies’ Scrum Master Aldo Cauchi Savona