What should a Scrum Master do when a new Developer joins a Scrum Team, increasing its size to 11 members?

When a new Developer joins a Scrum Team, increasing its size to 11 members, the most effective course of action is to raise the issue of team size and assist the Developers in addressing it. In Scrum, it is generally advised to have teams of no more than 10 members for optimal collaboration, communication, and efficiency.

By bringing up the concern about team size, the Scrum Master encourages open dialogue, highlighting potential challenges that a larger team may face, such as coordination difficulties and the dilution of team dynamics. Assisting the Developers in navigating this transition is crucial because it empowers the team to reflect on their functioning and decide collectively whether to remain as a single team or consider splitting into two smaller teams to maintain effective collaboration and productivity.

This approach emphasizes the Scrum Master’s role as a servant leader, focusing on fostering self-organization within the team, promoting continuous improvement, and ensuring that the Scrum framework is implemented effectively for the benefit of the team and the project as a whole.