What Dungeons & Dragons Can Teach Us About Project Management
Nov 05, 2025When most people hear “project management,” they don’t immediately think of Dungeons & Dragons. But as Bridget Davis points out, the parallels are striking—and surprisingly practical.
In D&D, the Dungeon Master’s role looks a lot like that of a Scrum Master. The Dungeon Master doesn’t fight the battles or complete the quests. Instead, they guide the process, keep the rules in play, and help the team move forward when things get messy. Sound familiar?
Bridget explains that in both Scrum and D&D, the real work happens when the team is locked in together. Each member brings unique strengths, contributes differently, and must collaborate to overcome obstacles. And just like in projects, unexpected turns are inevitable. Dice rolls go badly, characters wander off course, or side quests take over. That’s when agility matters most.
What makes the comparison even richer is how D&D builds trust. Players need a safe environment to fail, recover, and keep going. In Scrum, the same principle applies. When accountability comes with curiosity rather than blame, team members admit what went wrong, learn, and improve.
So whether you’re leading a software rollout, a curriculum redesign, or a fantasy quest, the lessons are the same: trust the process, build safety for your team, and adapt when surprises arise. You don’t have to play D&D to understand project management—but you might learn faster if you do.
Reflection Prompt: What unexpected hobby or interest in your life might hold lessons for how you lead projects?
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