Scrum Master Guide

This guide is specifically designed for Scrum Masters using NASA - Not Another Standup App to facilitate effective team meetings and standups.

Role Overview

As a Scrum Master in NASA, you have the highest level of permissions and responsibilities:

• Create and configure streams for your team

• Manage participants and their roles

• Start, lead, and end meetings

• Configure settings including board connections, filters, and notifications

• Flag items for follow-up during meetings

• Delete or rename streams when needed

Getting Started as a Scrum Master

Setting Up Your First Stream

1. Access NASA from the Jira sidebar

2. Click Create New Stream or the + button

3. Name your stream (e.g., "Development Team Daily Standup")

4. Select the Jira board to associate with this stream

5. Choose the meeting type

6. Configure the schedule (days and time)

7. Click Create to finish

Configuring User Roles

1. Go to Settings → Users

2. Set yourself as the Scrum Master if not already assigned

3. Add Coverers who can lead meetings in your absence

4. Add Participants who will join the meetings

5. Click Save to apply changes

Tip: Assign at least one Coverer to ensure meetings can proceed if you're unavailable.

Essential Stream Configuration

1. Meeting Board: Link to the appropriate Jira board

2. Time & Date: Set recurring schedule and timer options

3. Notifications: Configure Slack reminders

4. Suggested Issues: Set up filters for relevant Jira issues

5. Meeting Questions: Customize questions for your team's needs

Running Effective Meetings

Before the Meeting

1. Send reminders: Ensure Slack notifications are configured

2. Check preparation: Monitor who has completed their My Update

3. Review previous journal: Note any follow-up items from last meeting

4. Prepare your own update: Complete your My Update as an example

Starting the Meeting

1. Wait for participants to join the lobby

2. Click Start Meeting when most team members are ready

3. Begin with a brief introduction or context-setting

4. Follow the established order of speakers or topics

During the Meeting

For Standups:

• Manage the timer: Keep each person within their time limit

• Facilitate discussion: Ensure updates are concise and relevant

• Flag items for follow-up: Mark items needing further discussion

• Address blockers: Identify who can help with reported blockers

• Keep focus: Redirect off-topic conversations to follow-ups

For Team Meetings:

• Navigate between topics: Move through the agenda efficiently

• Manage topic timers: Ensure appropriate time for each topic

• Create new items: Add items on the fly as needed

• Reorder topics: Adjust the agenda based on priorities

• Document decisions: Ensure key decisions are captured

Ending the Meeting

1. Summarize key points and decisions

2. Review flagged follow-up items

3. Assign owners to follow-up items if appropriate

4. Click End Meeting to finalize and save to Team Journal

5. Thank participants for their time

Advanced Scrum Master Features

Managing Follow-ups

1. Review the Follow-up Items tab in the Team Journal

2. Create Jira issues for actionable follow-ups

3. Add important follow-ups to the next meeting's agenda

4. Track resolution of recurring blockers

Stream Management

• Edit Stream Settings: Update configuration as team needs evolve

• Create Streams: Create new streams for new projects or teams

• Manage Participants: Add or remove team members as needed

• Role Reassignment: Change roles if team structure changes

Meeting Customization

• Custom Questions: Modify standup questions to suit your team

• Agenda Templates: Create effective topic structures for Team Meetings

• Timer Adjustments: Fine-tune time allocations based on team feedback

• Filter Refinement: Update Jira filters to keep suggested issues relevant

Best Practices for Scrum Masters

• Lead by example: Always prepare your update thoroughly

• Start on time: Respect the team's schedule

• Keep meetings focused: Use the timer effectively

• Encourage preparation: Remind team members to complete My Update

• Review the Team Journal: Use it to track progress and patterns

• Iterate on format: Adjust your approach based on what works

• Balance participation: Ensure everyone has a voice

• Follow up on blockers: Don't let impediments linger

• Collect feedback: Regularly ask how meetings could improve

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Participants not preparing: Send personal reminders or adjust notification timing

• Meetings running long: Review timer settings or consider switching meeting types

• Low engagement: Try different question formats or meeting structures

• Technical issues: Check the Troubleshooting section for solutions

Next Steps

• Explore Meeting Settings for detailed configuration options

• Learn about Team Journal to make the most of meeting records

• Check Features to discover all capabilities available to you

For guidance specific to other roles, see the Participant Guide.