Difference Agile Coach vs. Project Manager: Can I do both?

Agile Coaches and project managers usually have very different roles. But what exactly do they look like? 

There is also the question of whether the roles of Agile coach and project manager should be combined in one person. The dynamic between agility and traditional project management presents companies with the challenge of finding optimal structures.

Let’s take a closer look in the following article!

Agile Coach vs. Project Manager

Differences: Agile Coaches vs. Project Managers

The role of a Agile coach and the role of a project manager differ in various aspects, as they are each based on different approaches and principles in the management of projects and teams. Here are some key differences:

1. Focus on processes vs. focus on people:

   • Project manager: The project manager primarily concentrates on planning, monitoring and controlling project activities. The focus is on achieving objectives, adhering to schedules and budgets.
   • Agile Coach: The Agile Coach focuses on developing and promoting an agile mindset within the team. The focus is on collaboration, continuous improvement and adapting to change.

2. Working method:

   • Project manager: Often work according to traditional project management methods such as the waterfall model, in which phases are run through sequentially.
   • Agile Coach: Often works with agile methods such as Scrum or Kanban, where the focus is on iterative, incremental progress.

3. Flexibility and adaptation to change:

   • Project manager: May have difficulty adapting to changes in the course of the project, especially if they are not easily predictable.
   • Agile Coach: Emphasizes adaptability and flexibility. Agile teams are designed to adapt to changing requirements.

4. Team dynamics:

   • Project manager: Can take an authoritative role and make decisions to achieve project goals.
   • Agile Coach: Acts more as a mentor and facilitator, empowering the team to work in a self-organized way, make decisions and solve problems.

5. Communication and collaboration:

   • Project manager: Focused on formal communication channels and reporting. Collaboration can be hierarchical in nature, with the project manager giving instructions.
   • Agile Coach: Emphasizes open and transparent communication within the team. Collaboration tends to be collaborative, with the Agile coach encouraging team members to actively share ideas and concerns.

6. Performance measurement:

   • Project manager: Often measures success against defined targets, timetables and budgets.
   • Agile Coach: Emphasizes success through continuous improvement, customer satisfaction and the team’s ability to adapt flexibly to change.

7. Self-organization and personal responsibility:

   • Project manager: May tend to assign tasks and responsibilities and take more control of the team.
   • Agile Coach: Supports the self-organization of the team, promotes personal responsibility and encourages members to take on their tasks autonomously.

8. Long-term perspective:

   • Project manager: Focuses on the fulfillment of project goals and the achievement of predefined milestones.
   • Agile Coach: Emphasizes long-term sustainability and continuous improvement, even beyond the completion of the current project.

To summarize, the project manager is traditionally focused on meeting specific project objectives, while the Agile coach focuses on developing an agile mindset and continuous improvement.

In many agile environments, project managers and Agile coaches naturally work together. The project manager can focus on the organizational aspects, while the Agile coach supports the team in agile principles and practices. In this case, however, it should be assumed that it is an agile-trained project manager who knows the agile mindset.

Agile Coach vs. Project Manager

Agile Coach vs. Project Manager Goals: Differences

To go a little deeper: What might the goals of scrum masters vs. project managers look like? Here are a few examples that are roughly in line with the SMART criteria.

Goals for a Agile Coach:

1. Conduct training courses:

   • SMART goal: Within the next six weeks, the Agile coach conducts agile training, with at least 80% of the team members actively participating in the training.

2. Self-moderation and improvement:

   • SMART goal: Over the next twelve weeks, the Agile coach encourages the team to moderate at least 20% of the retrospectives themselves and to implement at least ten specific suggestions for improvement.

3. Introducing the “Agile Coffee Hour”:

   • SMART goal: Within the next eight weeks, the Agile Coach will introduce a weekly “Agile Coffee Hour,” with a participation rate of at least 30% of the teams.

Goals for a Project Manager:

4. Successful implementation:

   • SMART goal: Over the next twelve weeks, the project manager leads the team through the implementation of a new software module while staying within budget.

5. Active stakeholder participation:

   • SMART goal: During the next release planning phase, the project manager ensures that all key stakeholders are actively represented and that their requirements are clearly defined.

This should make it clear that these are truly different roles. In some companies, however, combining them is considered - often for financial reasons. Should you do this, and if so, what should be taken into account?

Agile Coach vs. Project Manager

Agile Coach and Project Manager in one role?

The question of whether both roles, namely that of the Agile Coach and the Project Manager, should be combined in one person could simply be answered with “no.” Both roles are very time-consuming if you want to perform them properly. Nevertheless, the financial reality in some companies does not allow this. 

A recommendation on this will depend on several factors, including the size of the project, the corporate culture and the specific needs of the organization. Here are some considerations:

Advantages of combining the role:

1. Efficiency: A person with skills of both a Agile coach and a project manager may be able to make communication and coordination more efficient as they understand the requirements of both roles.

2. Holistic approach: The integration of both perspectives enables a holistic approach to project implementation, taking into account both agile principles and traditional project management techniques.

3. Flexibility: In smaller organizations or projects with limited resources, the combination of both roles can help to manage tasks more effectively.

Challenges:

1. Conflicts in focus and principles: Agile Coaches and project managers often have different focuses and principles. Combining both roles in one person could lead to conflicts, especially if the principles of agility and traditional project management are at odds.

2. Excessive demands: The requirements of both roles can lead to an overload in larger or more complex projects, as the responsibilities and tasks can be extensive.

3. Lack of specialization: The lack of specialization in either role could lead to important aspects being neglected. For example, a specialized Agile coach can focus more deeply on the development of agile practices.

In many cases, it makes sense for Agile Coaches and Project Managers to work closely together in order to utilize their respective strengths. But combining both roles? Difficult. In any case, it is important to consider the specific needs of the organization and ensure that the chosen structure is effective and sustainable.

Incidentally, a specific tool can help you with this challenge.

Agile Coach vs. Project Manager

A tool for the dual role

We are talking about Echometer. If you don’t have a dedicated Scrum Master in your agile teams, let alone a Agile coach, our tool has been developed for you. 

Echometer is a digital tool that helps agile team leads with agile retrospectives and team Health Checks. Whether remote, hybrid or on-site: it makes team coaching measurable and professionalizes your work while saving you a lot of work. Just take a look at our website to find out more: www.echometerapp.com.

If you as a project manager also assume Agile Coaching responsibility, communicate your respective roles very clearly to team members.

Christian Heidemeyer, Psychologist & Scrum Master

KALM (Keep Add Less More)

Conclusion - Agile Coach and Project Manager

Integrating both roles can be efficient, but requires a balanced consideration of agile principles and traditional management approaches - and is generally not recommended. Your decision should always reflect the specific needs and contexts of the organization to ensure successful project execution.

Finally, a reminder: If you would like to try out how it feels to further develop your team with our tool: You can start an agile retrospective without logging in below, in this case the “Keep, Stop, Start” workshop. 

Alternatively, simply forward our website to the responsible colleagues: www.echometerapp.com.