Common Roles

Purpose

People usually have different roles on the Crews and Forums they participate in. To understand what team members can expect from each other regarding their contributions and responsibilities, they can use the Common Roles patterns as a starting point. These patterns offer a selection of typical role descriptions and responsibilities.

Instead of starting from scratch, it could be less work to use these role patterns as a basis and then only define the cases where the team wants to deviate from the default descriptions.

On top of that, you can use these Common Roles in many combinations. For example, a Team Lead on one team could commit to playing the role of Captain and Coordinator, while an Agile Coach agrees to play the role of Coach and Producer.

While people can take one or more roles, they do not need to stick to these roles forever. It is possible to rotate roles between different Crew members or Forum participants.

Chief

A Chief is one of the managers of the Base responsible for the success of the business from the perspective of all stakeholders.

• A Chief carries ultimate accountability for all that happens with the Base.
• Only a Chief can be the line manager of people working across the Base. & The role of Chief exists only in the Governance Crew and nowhere else.
• There are typically multiple Chiefs in a Governance Crew.

Captain

The Captain is responsible for the success of the job that needs to be done by a Crew from the perspective of its stakeholders.

• The Captain represents a Crew towards Chiefs and other stakeholders.
• The Captain may act as a tie-breaker in the case of difficult team decisions.
• The Captain is a leader with a job to do, not a line manager or people manager.
• There is typically only one Captain in a Crew but pairing and rotation are good options.

Chair

The Chair is responsible for moderating and overseeing the work done in a Forum and may be a point of contact for its stakeholders.

• The Chair is a leader of a self-organizing group, not a line manager or people manager.
• The Chair may act as a tie-breaker in the case of difficult team decisions.
• The Chair may represent a Forum towards Chiefs and other stakeholders.
• There is typically only one Chair in a Forum but pairing and rotation are good options.

Enabler

The Enabler gets things organized for a Crew or Forum so that team members can focus on value rather than logistics.

• The Enabler schedules meetings and prepares agendas.
• The Enabler can set up and manage a team’s tools and processes.
• The Enabler supports the team in any other team-specific logistics.
• There is typically only one Enabler but pairing and rotation are good options.

Scribe

The Scribe is responsible for overseeing the documentation and artifacts of all things that matter to the Crew or Forum.

• The Scribe is responsible for taking notes during meetings.
• The Scribe ensures that records are kept of essential decisions.
• The Scribe makes documents and artifacts accessible to stakeholders.
• There is typically only one Scribe but pairing and rotation are good options.

Envoy

The Envoy acts like a representative or ambassador of a Crew or Forum while participating in another Crew or Forum.

• The Envoy works like a liaison between multiple Crews or Forums.
• The Envoy protects the interests of the Crew or Forum they represent.
• The Envoy acts like the eyes and ears of the Crew or Forum they represent.
• There is typically only one Envoy but pairing and rotation are good options.

Agent

The Agent is an intermediary or messenger who offers themselves to be the single point of contact (SPOC) to the outside world.

• The Agent monitors and manages communication with external stakeholders.
• The Agent protects team members by shielding them from requests and interruptions.
• The Agent acts as a proxy for the team in contact with other Crews and Forums.
• There is typically only one Agent but pairing and rotation are good options.

Guide

The Guide helps people find their way in a Crew, Forum, or Base and supports them in their journey to adding more value.

• The Guide helps people grow and develop themselves.
• The Guide coaches a team on team dynamics and work methods.
• The Guide helps the team and individuals reflect on innovation and productivity.
• There is typically only one Guide but pairing and rotation are good options.

Producer

The Producer’s job is to create the best possible environment for a Crew or Forum to excel at what they are doing.

• The Producer ensures the funding, tools, and environment for the team.
• The Producer may find and offer the best talent for the team.
• The Producer removes impediments that are obstructing the team.
• There is typically only one Producer but pairing and rotation are good options.

Director

The Director’s job is to maintain the vision of the job that needs to be done and to direct the team toward a great result.

• The Director deeply understands the team’s users and customers.
• The Director sets objectives and priorities for the value to be created.
• The Director acts like the manager and protector of the value stream.
• There is typically only one Director but pairing and rotation are good options.

Guru

The Guru helps a Crew, Forum, or Base with solicited and unsolicited advice as a consultant, mentor, or counselor.

• The Guru helps people get up to speed, producing more value.
• The Guru advises a team on tools, technologies, and domain-specific knowledge.
• The Guru helps the team and individuals improve their skills and expertise.
• There can be multiple Gurus, possibly with different areas of expertise.

Creator

The Creator is a developer, artist, engineer, or builder whose aim is to make great stuff for their users and customers.

• The Creator’s responsibility is to make a physical or digital product.
• The Creator’s time investment results in output that others can use.
• The Creator wants to be recognized for their skill in production.
• There can be multiple Creators, possibly with different areas of expertise.

Performer

The Performer is a player, actor, or doer who aims to offer their time doing some valuable activity for their users and customers.

• The Performer’s responsibility is to offer a physical or digital service.
• The Performer’s time investment results in an activity that is valuable to others.
• The Performer wants to be recognized for their skill in execution.
• There can be multiple Performers, possibly with different areas of expertise.

Maven

The Maven is a master, specialist, or expert who aims to spend their time offering their expertise to their users and customers.

• The Maven’s responsibility is to give access to their knowledge and experience.
• The Maven’s time investment results in expertise to share with others.
• The Maven wants to be recognized for their know-how and mastery.
• There can be multiple Mavens, possibly with different areas of expertise.

Custodian

The Custodian is a guardian, keeper, or steward aiming to protect quality and value by setting standards for the team.

• The Custodian improves quality by providing guidelines for other team members.
• The Custodian investigates work done to ensure cohesion and completeness.
• The Custodian protects a value stream from deteriorating due to bad quality.
• There can be multiple Custodians, possibly with different areas of expertise.

Inspector

The Inspector is a tester, researcher, or detective aiming to improve quality and value by searching for problems and solutions.

• The Inspector researches potential solutions or workarounds to known issues.
• There can be multiple Inspectors, possibly with different areas of expertise.
• The Inspector assures quality by evaluating the work of other team members.
• The Inspector investigates output and possible problems before this leaves the team.