What should an organization do if it lacks scrum expertise when selecting a scrum master?

Hiring an external Scrum Master is a strategic approach for organizations lacking in-house Scrum expertise. An external Scrum Master brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from different environments, facilitating the introduction and adoption of Scrum practices more effectively. They can provide coaching, mentoring, and support to the team, helping them understand the framework's principles and ensuring that Scrum is implemented correctly.

An experienced Scrum Master can identify and mitigate risks in the transition to Agile practices while fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. They can also guide the organization in overcoming common pitfalls and challenges associated with Scrum, leading to a more successful implementation.

Other options, while having their merits, could lead to complications. Elevating someone from within without adequate experience might result in a misapplication of Scrum principles. A volunteer from the team might also lack the necessary skills, potentially causing confusion among team members or a lack of proper facilitation. Delaying the Scrum process could hinder the organization’s progression towards Agile transformation, which might be detrimental in a fast-paced business environment.